The Factors of Religious Architecture Influencing Students' Perception of Beauty and Art: Evidence from Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

This study explores the impact of religious architecture on the aesthetic perceptions of elementary school students in Hanoi, Vietnam, focusing on students majoring in fine arts. Employing regression analysis, the research assesses the influence of six key dimensions: architectural design and details, cultural and historical context, spiritual symbolism, emotional impact, context and setting, and students' perceptions of beauty and art. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire developed from a thorough literature review and expert consultations and administered to a randomly selected sample during Vietnam's Lunar New Year in January 2024. The results revealed that each dimension significantly contributes to students' perceptions of beauty, with context and setting having the most pronounced effect. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed via Cronbach's alpha, indicating high internal consistency across all scales. The regression analysis validated the theoretical framework, establishing that religious buildings' architectural and contextual elements significantly shape students' aesthetic judgments. These findings underscore the importance of integrating architectural aesthetics into educational curricula, highlighting how environmental and cultural contexts influence educational outcomes in art and aesthetics. This research contributes to filling a significant gap in understanding the academic impact of cultural heritage, offering significant implications for educational practices and policies in culturally diverse settings.