On the afternoon of June 7, during the Dragon Boat Festival, the International Faculty Club hold a themed event, "Tea Aroma and Dragon Boat Festival Spirit," at Building No.50 in Yan Nan Yuan, Peking University. Both Chinese and foreign teachers gathered to drink tea and make friends, enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival, and explore China's rich cultural heritage.
The event began with a historical introduction to Building No.50 in Yan Nan Yuan, which is the former residence of Professor Xiang Da, a history professor and the former director of PKU library. Professor Xiang is renowned both domestically and internationally as a historian, archaeologist, and bibliographer, for his in-depth research on the history of cultural relations between China and other countries. His academic spirit and achievements not only inspired the teachers present but also added a dignified and respectful tone to the event.
During the Dragon Boat Festival tradition sharing session, the international faculty members, while enjoying sweet and sticky rice dumplings, listened to rich traditions associated with the festival. As one of China's four major traditional festivals, the Dragon Boat Festival has a long history. Since the Han Dynasty, the loyalty and sacrifice of Qu Yuan became the core of the festival's commemoration. By the Tang Dynasty, rice dumplings had become a symbol of the festival to commemorate Qu Yuan and express condolences. In the Song Dynasty, dragon boat racing became prevalent and became an important tradition of the festival. By the Yuan Dynasty, the celebrations became even more colourful, with customs like scented sachets gradually taking shape. Every tradition, from Qu Yuan’s loyalty and sacrifice to the symbolism and taste of rice dumplings, the passion and unity of dragon boat racing, and the delicate and prayerful scented sachets, carries deep cultural significance and historical heritage.
The event then turned to introducing the history and culture of tea. Tea, as a cultural symbol of China, has an equally extensive history. From the popularity of tea in the Han Dynasty and the foundation of tea culture laid by Lu Yu's "The Classic of Tea" in the Tang Dynasty, to the rise of the art of tea ceremony in the Song Dynasty and the development of tea planting and production techniques in the Yuan Dynasty, the historical heritage of tea has been continuously enriched and evolved through the dynasties.
Tea not only has a profound historical foundation in China but also has a wide influence worldwide. In the 17th century, tea was introduced to UK and became an important part of British culture, forming the custom of afternoon tea. In Japan, the tea ceremony has become a symbol of Japanese culture, reflecting Japanese aesthetics and philosophy. In India, the development of tea cultivation and processing technology has made it one of the world's major tea-producing countries. During the event, various types of tea such as black tea, green tea, and dark tea were presented, each with its unique flavour and story, which inspired everyone on site.
The live demonstration of tea art and tea ceremony is the highlight of the event. Tea masters, with their exquisite skills, showcased the elegance of tea art and the profundity of the tea ceremony. Daniele Macuglia, a researcher at the Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and Giummarra Giuseppina, an Italian lecturer from the School of Foreign Languages, personally experienced the tea ceremony, closely appreciating the beauty of tea art. The international faculty members also handcrafted traditional Dragon Boat Festival scented sachets, learned the craft techniques and experienced the precision and artistry of Chinese handicrafts.
In the intertwining of tea aroma and culture, everyone had an unforgettable Dragon Boat Festival. Foreign teachers not only experienced the charm of a traditional Chinese festival, but also built a bridge of communication and understanding through exchange and experience.
