China's labour medal scheme highlights skilled jade carver but masks broader worker realities
By
The Economist
Summary
The article profiles Yang Fuyu, a Chinese jade carver who won a national labour medal for his intricate craftsmanship. Despite his humble self-description as "simply a jade maker," his work involves months of painstaking effort transforming raw stone into elaborate mythological pieces like "Nine dragons offering a jade disc." The article suggests the medal scheme may obscure the true identity and struggles of China's hardest labourers.
Source
Key quotes
· 3 pulledI AM SIMPLY a jade maker
Nine dragons offering a jade disc
the creatures look like they wouldn't give it up without a fight
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