PHOTOS: Jilin's Real-Life Edward Scissorhands

By Tristin Zhang

A real-life version of Edward Scissorhands has been discovered in Jilin province and his name is Sun Jifa (lionized as ‘Sun Tieshou’ or Sun Ironarms). 

A farmer hailing from Huanmashan village, Sun, 63 years old, lost his hands 36 years ago when testing a self-made explosive detonator, a habit he developed in the artillery, according to China Daily. Refusing to be the burden on his family but unable to afford prosthetics, Sun resolved to build himself a new pair of arms.


He fabricated his first pair of arms using iron sheets, plastic and rubber, but wasn’t content with their functionality. Throwing himself into the study of mechanics, Sun assembled a pair with flexible fingers, which enable him to brush his teeth, saw timbers, play chess and harmonica and even drive a tractor.

Developed over the span of over 30 years into the ‘fourth generation’ it is today, Sun’s iron arms, weighing 0.9 kilograms each, have made him a celebrity in his village. Neighbors often ask him to lend an ‘iron’ hand in renovations and wielding jobs, among other heavy labors.

In an effort to help others, Sun set up a workshop where over 1,000 iron arms have been assembled for those in need.

[Images via news.hxsd.com.]

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