The School of International Law at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law organized a Chinese intangible heritage cultural salon on Oct 22, inviting international students to explore traditional techniques and arts firsthand.

The salon featured four immersive heritage sessions, offering participants a close-up view of China's rich traditional craftsmanship.

Four "cultural heritage ambassadors", including members of the tea ceremony club and opera club, together with a konghou harp inheritor and a student skilled in making handmade sachets, guided participants through traditional crafts. They introduced Chinese tea culture, Peking Opera facial makeup, konghou-pattern paper cutting, and sachet embroidery, helping participants appreciate both the artistry and the cultural meaning of each practice.

The tea art session featured traditional tea-savoring steps, including preparing utensils, warming cups, placing tea, rinsing leaves, brewing, and serving. From selecting tea sets to tasting the brew, participants experienced the Chinese tea spirit of harmony, tranquility, joyfulness, and truth, gaining insight into a millennia-old heritage.

Students used knives and paper to create the patterns inspired by the konghou, a popular ancient instrument along the Silk Road. They marveled at the intricacy of Chinese paper cutting techniques and appreciated the philosophy of expressing spirit through form.

The Peking Opera facial makeup session gave participants a deeper understanding of the unique aesthetics of traditional Chinese opera. By drawing facial makeup themselves, they learned the symbolism behind colors and lines, such as red for loyalty and black for integrity.

In the handmade sachets session, students selected embroidery threads and fabrics to stitch sachets of various shapes, filling them with herbs like mugwort. The instructor explained that craft symbolizes protection from illness and the wish for blessings, and then invited students to take part in hands-on embroidery practice.

The event aimed to explore the protection of cultural heritage from both legal and cultural perspectives. It prompted thoughtful discussions on how to safeguard intangible heritage through legal frameworks and how to enhance its international reach.

As the event concluded, Chinese and international students stood together, holding their handmade heritage works to commemorate this inspiring cultural experience.

Source: Official WeChat account of SHUPL School of International Communication and Exchange at "Study-at-SHUPL"