On January 10th, the USC US-China Institute co-hosted a cultural exchange event with Chinese Language Teachers’ Association of Southern California (CLTA-SC), Global Asian Women Artists (GAWA) and Chinese Language Program at USC Dornsife, centered on Yixing purple clay teapots, offering educators from across the United States an immersive introduction to one of China’s most celebrated artistic and cultural traditions. Designed to support classroom teaching and cross-cultural understanding, the event combined hands-on learning with direct engagement from artists and cultural leaders.
A highlight of the program was a virtual session with renowned Yixing artist Master Wu Qijing, who connected with participants from her studio early in the morning to accommodate the program’s schedule. Master Wu guided participants through her workspace and shared in-depth insights into the craftsmanship, aesthetics, and philosophy behind Yixing purple clay teapots. Her willingness to open her studio and teaching process to a broader audience reflected a deep dedication to cultural education. For many attendees, the session offered not only technical knowledge but also a powerful example of artistic discipline, care, and generosity.
We attracted over 80 registrants, and the event brought together 33 educators onsite, ranging from elementary school teachers to community college instructors, along with 15 additional educators joining online from five states across the U.S. With a strong focus on K–12 education, the program emphasized practical ways to introduce traditional Chinese culture into classrooms. To support experiential learning, each onsite participant received an authentic Yixing purple clay teapot to bring back to their school, allowing students to engage with a cultural object and the stories it carries. We want to thank the Chinese Language Teachers’ Association of Southern California (CLTA-SC) and also the President of CLTA-SC, Bin He, and the Master Lecturer, Hsiao-Yun Liao, from USC Dornsife East Asian Language & Cultures, as they supported the in-person discussion and came up with lesson plans that focus on intercultural competency.
The Institute also extends special thanks to Esa Wang, founder of GAWA, a global platform dedicated to supporting and elevating Asian women artists. More than a space for networking or resource-sharing, GAWA focuses on connecting people with living cultural traditions through direct encounters with artists and their work. Through this collaboration, participants experienced culture not as an abstract concept but as something tangible, personal, and present. Holding an authentic Yixing teapot while listening to a master artist speak in real time made the tradition feel immediate and alive. By bringing together artists, educators, and institutions, the event exemplified the power of people-to-people exchange in fostering cross-cultural understanding. Through hands-on learning, meaningful dialogue, and sustained collaboration, the USC US–China Institute continues to support educators in bringing global perspectives into their classrooms and helping students engage with the world in deeper, more informed ways.