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People: Craftsman shapes his future with exquisite skill

Ru porcelain, one of the five great porcelain varieties from the Song Dynasty (960-1127), is distinguished by its smooth and sky blue glaze. Fewer than 100 complete examples of Ru ceramics exist today, mostly in museums. Baofeng county in Henan province boasts a long history of high-quality Ru manufacturing. Wang Guoqi, a 43-year-old craftsman in the county, has dedicated the past two decades to perfecting his techniques in this ancient art. From selecting and allocating materials to carving, coloring and firing, dozens of procedures are needed to make Ru porcelain. "I hope to pass on the skill to future generations," Wang said.