Guided by Chinese tutors, Timothy Hutagaol, an Indonesian student, skillfully crafted zongzi by rolling the bamboo leaves into a funnel-like form, filling it with sticky rice, mixing in red dates and various fillings, softly pressing and sealing these leaves. "Creating zongzi is a new venture for me, proving somewhat harder than making dumplings, yet my manually made zongzi taste superior," he said with a smile.
As the Dragon Boat Festival approached this year, the School of International Education at Tianjin University organized a special event for zongzi-making. More than 60 international teachers and students from nations including Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Mongolia gathered to explore Chinese culinary tastes and experience traditional Chinese culture.
At the event, ingredients like glutinous rice, red dates, red beans, and bamboo leaves were neatly arranged on the table. Sun Shuo, pursuing a master’s degree in Chinese Language International Education at the school, demonstrated how to make zongzi while introducing its origins to the foreign participants.
“According to reports, the Chinese invented zongzi as a memory to honor the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who perished by drowning in the river. To this day, individuals persist in this age-old tradition as a way to convey their hopes for prosperity and well-being," said Sun Shuo. In recent years, people have also been experimenting with new variations, adding ingredients like salted egg yolk, sweet bean paste, and pork to suit a range of preferences including those of children and the elderly, among others.
Exchanging tips and experiences, the international teachers and students remarked, "I believe I might have put inadequate rice," and added, "Tie the string tightly, or it will leak." Overcome with laughter and joy, they showcased their zongzi, thereby learning about this traditional Chinese delicacy.
"Numerous traditional Chinese celebrations correspond with similar meals, each carrying lovely connotations. For example, zongzi represents blessings and warding off evil, and mooncakes symbolize reunion." It mirrors the extensive historical and cultural legacy of China," expressed Dr. Shishir Sharma, a faculty at Tianjin University's School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology.
Sharma comes from Nepal, has been living in China for nearly ten years and loves eating zongzi. "In the fragrant glutinous rice of zongzi, I sense China’s profound taste, ancestral memories, and the longing for a fulfilling life. The same feelings are common among various nations."
After making zongzi, they can exchange their handmade ones for those cooked. "Eating zongzi after making them gives a particularly delightful taste," remarked Mroivili Faouzia, a student from Comoros.
These foreign participants believe that through these activities, they have gained a deeper understanding of the history and cultural significance of the Dragon Boat Festival, appreciated the profoundness of Chinese culture, and increased their interest and affection for it.
Furthermore, engaging activities such as making sachets and weaving colorful cords equally fascinated everyone. They used various colored fabrics to sew "mosquito-repellent“ sachets, or wove colorful cords to wear on their wrists, symbolizing happiness and fortune.
"I love the centuries-old traditions of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. It’s a kind of Chinese romance!" said Russian girl Bitsaeva Liudmila, hanging her handmade sachet on her backpack. She is eager to participate in another important Dragon Boat Festival activity—dragon boat racing.
"The Dragon Boat Festival is the first Chinese festival to be listed as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage. We hope that by hosting this event, we can provide international teachers and students with an immersive experience of the beauty of Chinese folk customs, promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding," said Li Qiang, Dean of the School of International Education, Tianjin University.
By Qin Mian
