“Crafting Medicine Pouches and Passing on Cultural Heritage” — First Session of SJTU's Traditional Culture Experience Workshop Successfully Concludes.

To deepen international students’ understanding of traditional Chinese culture, the International Student Center and the International Student Service Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University successfully hosted a Traditional Chinese Medicine Sachet Crafting Workshop on April 2, 2025, at Building 3 of Donghui Yuan (International Center). More than 20 students from countries including China, Germany, Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Russia, and Pakistan came together to embark on a unique journey of cultural exploration.

At the beginning of the event, we invited Chaoyue ZHEN and Fuzi YE, students from the School of Pharmacy, to share the thousand-year history of the traditional Chinese medicine sachet — a cultural accessory rooted in ancient wisdom. They introduced its techniques and applications, allowing participants to truly explore the depth of Chinese civilization embodied in this small sachet.

During the DIY session, we prepared 18 types of traditional Chinese herbs, including argy wormwood leaf, mint, and cablin potchouli herb. With assistance from pharmacy students, participants created personalized herbal blends based on their preferences. From selecting and grinding the herbs to filling the pouches, everyone was highly engaged in crafting their own unique medicine pouch.

The workshop also served as a wonderful platform for intercultural exchange. Surrounded by the soothing fragrance of herbs, students from different countries engaged in lively conversations about cultural differences, filling the room with cheerful laughter in multiple languages.

This immersive class in traditional Chinese medicine not only gave international students hands-on experience with herbal wisdom, but also became a vibrant showcase of cross-cultural understanding on campus. We look forward to seeing you in the next session!

Source：Study at Shanghai Jiao Tong University