Spouting hope: Disabled man becomes teapot craftsman

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Dingshu town, in Jiangsu Province is famous for its pottery and the place of origin of Yixing clay. Among Dingshu’s many crafts, Yixing clay teapots stand out as the star product.

With better plasticity and less shrinkage during the process of drying and baking, the clay here is favored by craftsmen and pottery collectors. It is said that Yixing clay teapots make tea thicker and richer. The fame attracts many people who are willing to pay a high for a teapot made by the masters.

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Among this elite is Ge Zhi, who grew up in Dingshu. For Ge, teapots are not only a way of earning a living, or simply a utensil. Rather they helped him find new hope in life.

Ge Zhi / CGTN Photo

CGTN Photo

When Ge was 19, a car accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. The pain in his body and the gloom in his projected future almost put out the flame of his life. "I didn't know what I could do. I couldn't accept it for so long and often wept throughout the night," he remembers.

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Ge’s mother's tears, however, made him see clearly and snap out of depression. "My mother is a tough woman. I don't want her to cry again," says Ge. He decided to make use of the resources in his hometown and learn to make teapots. "I should at least try to live," he thought.

Cao Wanfen (right), a master of arts and handicrafts /CGTN Photo

In 2006, he became a pupil of Cao Wanfen, a master of arts and handicrafts. Every day, Ge's father would take him to Cao’s workshop in a wheelchair at 11 a.m., and pick him up at 5 p.m.

CGTN Photo

He couldn't keep his balance at first, and kept falling forward in the chair. His mother had to bind him to the wheelchair with a rubber band. The spine injury caused pain in the fingers, making him unable to hold bigger pots. However, he could make very delicate teapots, up to 400ml.

CGTN Photo

Sometimes he had spasms and lost balance. To gain more control, Ge exercised his arms to gain strength. He’s good at pull-ups now, and although he still needs the support brace, he knows that "the world looks so different when you stand up!"

After a year's learning, Ge could make quality teapots on his own. A friend from Singapore wanted to buy his first teapot. But it was too precious to Ge: "I said, ‘Not this one.’ It symbolized my new starting point."

CGTN Photo

Having work to do and an objective to achieve completely changed Ge's outlook.

Aside from taking back control of his life, Ge feels content that he now is able to take care of his parents. "I have to make money,” he says. “At the end of the day, I need to support them. Anyway, my mother is proud of me."

As his career has progressed, Ge has become the bread winner of the family.

Ge Zhi and his parents /CGTN Photo

Ge Zhi's parents /CGTN Photo

"Dongguan, Nanchang… this year we went to Chengdu. Twice to Dalian." Speaking of the places her son has taken them to, Ge's mother is filled with happiness. "We thought we had to look after him, but he is now taking care of us."

Ge likes to compare himself to a pigeon with broken wings. Through his own efforts, he has managed to fly high again.

The story is one in The 1.3 Billion series exploring the diverse lives that make up China.