Hunan Daily·New Hunan Client reported on June 9 (correspondents Ouyang Yongqiang and Luo Yi) Zhang Weifang, winner of the 2025 "National Model Worker" and leader of the blue-dotting group of Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., is a cloisonné craftsman who "changed his career" halfway through. He had never been exposed to cloisonné craftsmanship before, but with his spirit of hard work, he grew from an ordinary apprentice to a leader in the blue-dotting craftsmanship of Yongxing silver jewelry in less than 6 years.

Zhang Weifang is meticulously working in the blue-dotting workshop at Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. After the initial filigree process, the body of the small silver pot in her hands is already covered with patterns. Now, she needs to fill these patterns with various colored glazes, a process called "blue-dotting." This process is the most detailed and complex of the six steps in cloisonné production, requiring filling in a small space. Even the slightest shake of the hand can cause color transfer.

Zhang Weifang, a National Model Worker and leader of the blue-dotting team at Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said: "A large vase can have dozens or even hundreds of colors. This process is very complicated and cannot be completed in just a few months or even a year. For example, I started this industry in 2017, and in 2018 I only made a small wine glass."

Although Zhang Weifang is now very adept at the blue-dot craft, before 2017, she had no exposure to cloisonné craft. Instead, she worked on the assembly line of a local electronics company in Yongxing. The job was relatively monotonous and did not fit her life pursuits, so Zhang Weifang thought about changing her "track".

Zhang Weifang, a National Model Worker and leader of the cloisonné team at Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said: "Chaoyang Fuyin was hiring at the time, so I came here. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cloisonné silverware and jewelry. The colorful cloisonné patterns were so beautiful. I was very interested in this craft and wanted to learn it, so I stayed in the cloisonné department as an apprentice."

However, the cloisonné craft proved far more complex than Zhang Weifang had imagined. Her apprenticeship was filled with setbacks. From uneven coloring to inconsistencies in the blue application, to the blue becoming stiff and melting during the baking process—Zhang Weifang encountered every common beginner pitfall. Undeterred, she immersed herself in her studies with extraordinary perseverance and focus. To cultivate a consistent technique, she often worked in the same posture for hours on end. To master the art of mixing enamel glazes, she experimented repeatedly, recording every change in the ratio.

Xu Lanxin, General Manager of Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said: "I think Zhang Weifang's most valuable spirit is her hard work and persistence. Although she is not the most talented, her willingness to learn, work hard and never give up has made her what she is today."

Hard work pays off. In 2020, her cloisonné enamel tea set, the "Blue and White Porcelain Xishi Pot," won third prize at the Second Hunan Women's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition. After thousands of trials and experiments, she led her team to develop 16 innovative enamel glaze color combinations never before seen on the market. These new color combinations not only enrich the visual appeal of the products but also distinguish Fuyin's products in the market. In 2021, products using the new process generated 30 million yuan in sales for the company, a record high. Zhang Weifang, leader of the blue-dotting team, employs a "master-apprentice" teaching model, providing hands-on instruction in the art of blue-dotting.

Chen Huiling, an employee of the Blue Team at Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said: "Whenever we don't understand something, she generously teaches us everything she knows and carefully explains how to do it. If we do something wrong, she patiently guides us to correct it."

In 2021, Yongxing County Vocational Secondary School and Fuyin Company signed a cooperation agreement for a "Training and Internship Base for Industry-Education Integration." Zhang Weifang has taken on a new role: a silverware production and blue-dotting instructor. Twice a week, she visits the school to teach students the theoretical knowledge and practical techniques of cloisonné craftsmanship, fostering a deep understanding and love for cloisonné. Under Zhang Weifang's guidance, students have mastered the basic blue-dotting techniques, and many have chosen to pursue careers in the silverware industry after graduation.

Hard work pays off. In 2020, her cloisonné enamel tea set, the "Blue and White Porcelain Xishi Pot," won third prize at the Second Hunan Women's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition. After thousands of trials and experiments, she led her team to develop 16 innovative enamel glaze color combinations never before seen on the market. These new color combinations not only enrich the visual appeal of the products but also distinguish Fuyin's products in the market. In 2021, products using the new process generated 30 million yuan in sales for the company, a record high. Zhang Weifang, leader of the blue-dotting team, employs a "master-apprentice" teaching model, providing hands-on instruction in the art of blue-dotting.

Chen Huiling, an employee of the Blue Team at Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said: "Whenever we don't understand something, she generously teaches us everything she knows and carefully explains how to do it. If we do something wrong, she patiently guides us to correct it."

In 2021, Yongxing County Vocational Secondary School and Fuyin Company signed a cooperation agreement for a "Training and Internship Base for Industry-Education Integration." Zhang Weifang has taken on a new role: a silverware production and blue-dotting instructor. Twice a week, she visits the school to teach students the theoretical knowledge and practical techniques of cloisonné craftsmanship, fostering a deep understanding and love for cloisonné. Under Zhang Weifang's guidance, students have mastered the basic blue-dotting techniques, and many have chosen to pursue careers in the silverware industry after graduation.

   Zhang Weifang, a national model worker and leader of the blue-dotting team at Hunan Fuyin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said: "In my future work, I will continue to improve my skills and strive to produce more high-quality products so that more people can see them. Especially young people, I want to attract them to join our industry, so that our ancient skills can be carried forward."