On the evening of October 30, 2025, the Tea Room on the third floor of the Duke Kunshan University Library was filled with the fragrance of tea and the warmth of reflection. 49 members of the DKU community gathered for the event Infusions of Thought: The Circulation of Meanings in Tea, Trade, and Cultural Translation—an experiential exploration of tea culture and intercultural understanding.
The event was organized and hosted by Dr. Lianyun Pang from the Language and Culture Center.It aimed to engage participants in embodied learning through tea culture, inviting them to reflect on history, culture, and communication not only intellectually but also through sensory and emotional experience.
The evening began with an introduction and demonstration, guiding participants through the origins and evolution of Chinese tea, the distinctions among different varieties such as green, black, oolong, and dark teas, and the aesthetic and philosophical values embodied in tea practice. Through storytelling and hands-on engagement, participants discovered how tea symbolizes harmony between humans and nature.
Subsequently, the discussion situated tea within a global historical and intercultural context, examining tea not merely as a beverage but also as a cultural symbol, a traded commodity, and a mirror of colonial encounters. The exploration revealed how the movement of tea across borders reflects the intertwined dynamics of economy, empire, and cultural exchange, helping participants understand tea’s place in everyday life from a broader perspective.
In the experiential segment, participants observed and practiced gongfu-style brewing, appreciating the etiquette, precision, and mindfulness embodied in each gesture—from warming the teaware to pouring the final infusion. Through this process, they experienced tea as both a ritual and a form of cultural expression, and reflected on how the act of serving and sharing tea conveys respect, humility, and human connection across cultures.
The evening concluded with small-group discussions guided by reflective questions, encouraging participants to consider the social, economic, and symbolic meanings of tea from multiple perspectives. Many shared that the event deepened their understanding of tea—not simply as a drink, but as a living artifact of human connection and cultural translation.
As the night grew deeper and the aroma of tea lingered in the air, participants continued their conversations over the final cups. Through this collective experience, Infusions of Thought revealed how tea can serve as a medium of dialogue, reflection, and understanding, allowing participants to sense the circulation of culture and thought within each infusion.
2025年10月30日晚，杜克昆山大学图书馆三楼茶室茶香袅袅、意趣流转。来自校内的42位师生齐聚一堂，参加了“思之浸，茶文化”主题活动。这是“Infusions of Thought（思之浸）”系列的一次跨文化探索与实践。
本次活动语言与文化中心庞恋蕴老师策划与主持。活动旨在通过茶文化的具身体验，探索跨文化语境中的学习与反思，让参与者在感官与心灵的层面上共同思考历史、文化与沟通的意义。
活动伊始，通介绍与演示，参与者了解了中国茶的起源与演变，认识到绿茶、红茶、乌龙茶、黑茶等多样类型的特征，并体会到茶文化中蕴含的审美意境与哲学思想。在故事与体验的交织中，大家感受到茶所体现的人与自然的和谐之道。
随后将茶置于全球历史与文化交流的语境之中，探讨了茶不仅是一种饮品，更是一种文化符号、贸易商品与殖民历史的镜像。展示了茶的流动如何折射出经济、帝国与文化互动的复杂脉络，使参与者从更宏观的角度理解日常生活中的“茶”。
在活动体验环节中，进行了工夫茶冲泡的展示与体验，重点呈现了泡茶过程中所体现的礼仪、专注与心境。参与者积极参与、观察与提问，在实践中体验到茶作为一种具身仪式与文化表达的深层意义。同时，奉茶与共饮的过程也让大家思考了尊重、谦和与人际交流在不同文化中的体现。
活动最后，六个反思性问题的引导下，参与者分组展开讨论，从社会、经济与文化象征等角度探讨茶的多重意义。许多人表示，通过此次活动，他们重新认识了茶——它不只是饮品，更是一种承载人际连接与文化翻译的“活的文物”。
夜色渐深，茶香未散，参与者们在最后一杯茶间流连交流，感受到宁静、好奇与共鸣。通过这一共同体验，“思之浸”系列再次展现了茶作为对话、反思与理解之媒介的独特力量，也让人们在一盏茶中感受文化与思想的流动。
