By Lianyun (Peggy) Pang and Byerikbol Yerbol
On the evening of February 2, Embodied Wisdom: Tea, Stillness, and the Senses took place at Performance Café, offering students a quiet and immersive tea experience. Designed and facilitated by Prof. Lianyun Pang of the Language and Culture Center,the session formed part of her Infusions of Thought experiential learning series. Through embodied participation, sensory awareness, and collective stillness, the event invited students to engage with Chinese tea culture in a holistic way, while also providing a restorative space amid the demands of academic life.
That evening, Performance Café was thoughtfully transformed into a temporary “bamboo grove.” Soft lighting, bamboo arrangements, carpets, and floor cushions created an atmosphere of calm and enclosure. Participants entered one by one, washed their hands, and took their seats. This deliberate sequence of physical actions gently guided them from the pace of everyday campus life into a more attentive and grounded state. The spatial design and flow of the experience were not merely aesthetic choices, but integral pedagogical elements—supporting students in reconnecting with their senses and settling their emotions in preparation for tea and reflection.
Guided by a tea master and facilitators, the session unfolded through the careful rituals of tea preparation. From warming the teapot and rinsing the utensils to pouring and serving, each gesture was treated as part of the practice rather than a procedural step. Oolong tea was selected for the evening, and participants were invited to close their eyes, inhale the aroma, and sip slowly, attending to the sensations arising in their bodies. A small dessert followed as a continuation of the sensory journey, encouraging participants to remain present with taste and feeling.
Unlike traditional lecture-based cultural activities, the experience was structured around three learning goals: cultivating embodied awareness, fostering reflective dialogue, and reimagining traditional culture as a lived and accessible practice for contemporary students. Through silent tasting, sensory observation, and group sharing, participants moved beyond simply “learning about” tea culture to encountering it at a bodily level.
During the closing discussion, one student asked which types of tea are most suitable for winter. The tea master responded with an analogy: choosing tea, she explained, is like choosing clothing—what matters most is how one’s own body responds, rather than following fixed rules. Another participant shared her gratitude for ending a busy Monday evening in such a calm and complete way, describing the session as a rare opportunity to slow down.
As an integral part of the Infusions of Thought series, this event marked a continued exploration of experiential cultural learning on campus. Looking ahead, the series will continue to integrate tea, embodied experience, and intercultural dialogue, offering students accessible pathways to engage with Chinese culture while gradually developing self-awareness, intercultural communication, and reflective practice. A single cup of tea becomes an entryway into cultural understanding and human connection—precisely the kind of learning Infusions of Thought seeks to cultivate across the campus community.
2 月 2 日晚，“Embodied Wisdom：Tea, Stillness, and the Senses”沉浸式茶体验活动在 Performance Café 温暖展开。本次活动由语言文化中心庞恋蕴老师策划，作为其“Infusions of Thought”茶文化体验式学习系列的重要一场，旨在通过身体参与、感官觉察与集体静心，引导学生以更整体的方式理解中国茶文化，同时为高强度学习生活中的学生提供一处可安放身心的空间。
当晚，Performance Café 被精心布置为一处“临时竹林”：竹影摇曳，灯光柔和，地毯与坐垫营造出安静而包裹的空间感。参与者依次入场、洗手、落座，在这一连串有意识的身体动作中，逐渐从日常的忙碌节奏过渡到更为专注、松弛的状态。这样的空间与流程设计，并非单纯的氛围营造，而是希望通过环境引导与身体参与，帮助学生重新觉察感官、安顿情绪，为随后的品茶与反思创造条件。
活动在茶艺师与引导者的共同带领下展开。从温壶、洗具到注水、出汤，每一个动作都被视为练习的一部分，而非程序性的操作。当天所选为乌龙茶，参与者被邀请在品饮前闭眼闻香，缓慢啜饮，细致体会茶汤在身体中的变化。随后搭配的小点心，也作为感官体验的延续，引导大家继续停留在当下。
不同于传统“讲解式”的文化活动，本次体验围绕三个学习目标展开：培养身体觉察、引导反思性对话，以及将传统文化转化为可被当代学生真实体验的生活实践。通过静默品茶、感官观察与集体分享，参与者不再只是“了解”茶文化，而是在身体层面与之相遇。
在随后的交流环节中，一位同学询问冬季适合饮用何种茶。茶艺师以“选茶如选衣”为喻，提醒大家关注自身感受而非固定规则。另一位同学分享道，在忙碌的周一晚上能够参与这样一场安静而完整的体验，让她感到格外感恩——这是一次难得的“慢下来”的时刻。
作为“Infusions of Thought”系列的重要组成部分，本次活动也标志着校园中体验式文化学习的持续探索。未来，系列将继续融合茶、具身体验与跨文化对话，为学生提供更多可进入的学习路径，让学生在真实体验中理解中国文化，并逐步发展自我觉察、跨文化交流与反思意识。让一杯茶成为通往文化理解与彼此连接的入口——这正是“Infusions of Thought”系列希望在校园中持续培育的学习方式。
