Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 262: Title: Heavenly Craftsmanship! Discussion on Patent Law [Request for Submission]

Liu Kuan said: "The first thing is to establish a new system for grading and evaluating craftsmen."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Doesn't our Ming Dynasty have a system of craftsman grades and evaluations? Isn't that possible?"

Liu Kuan learned about the original craftsman hierarchy system of the Ming Dynasty when he reformed the Liuhe Iron Works - apprentice, lower craftsman, middle craftsman, upper craftsman, and master craftsman.

Later, in order to encourage craftsmen to make progress, Zhu Yuanzhang added the rank of "Grand Master" above the master craftsman.

This system of rank was considered advanced in the feudal era, but it was far from sufficient for a country on the verge of industrialization. Furthermore, the current Ming Dynasty craftsman evaluation method also had many loopholes.

"Your Majesty, if we want to develop science and technology and industrialize the Ming Dynasty, we must establish a more rigorous and practical system for grading and evaluating craftsmen. The current system in the Ming Dynasty is good, but it's not good enough."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Oh, then tell me, how should the craftsman grades and evaluation system be reformed?"

Liu Kuan said, "Based on the experience of later generations and some relevant theories, I believe that there should be more and more detailed levels - the first four levels of apprentice, lower craftsman, middle craftsman, and upper craftsman can remain unchanged."

"Further up, we can add five more levels: Master Craftsman, Master Craftsman, Grand Master Craftsman, and the title of Heavenly Craftsman. Adding up, there are nine levels, which corresponds exactly to the extreme of numbers."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "I understand the last four levels you mentioned, but what does the title 'Tiangong' mean?"

Liu Kuan said, "My humble opinion is that the various craftsman skills are actually divided into only eight levels. In other words, if we only consider the skills, the craftsman will reach the top when he reaches the Grand Master Craftsman level."

"As for the title of 'Tiangong,' it is a special honor. Only a master or great master craftsman who has made outstanding contributions to the country in terms of craftsmanship can be awarded the title of 'Tiangong' by the Ming Emperor."

"A title is a prefix that can be used to describe a person's achievements. For example, if a blacksmith has made significant contributions to ironwork, Your Majesty can bestow upon him the title of 'Iron Art Master'."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Your idea is not bad, but the title 'Tiangong of Iron Art' is a bit vulgar. It would be better to use a four-character prefix and ask a professional scholar to come up with it."

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "Of course, your Majesty has the final say on this matter."

"Is there anything else?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.

"If a craftsman's skills can reach the level of a master craftsman, he or she will be considered a rare and important talent, and the state should provide a certain annual salary to support him or her."

"At the same time, craftsmen should be given a sufficiently high social status. For example, if they reach the level of master craftsman, their status will be equivalent to that of a scholar. A master craftsman will be equivalent to a juren. A master craftsman will be equivalent to a jinshi. A master craftsman will be equivalent to a hanlin scholar."

After hearing what Liu Kuan said, Zhu Biao opened his mouth to speak.

He felt that if the court suddenly gave craftsmen a status comparable to that of scholars, it would probably cause opposition from scholars all over the world.

But thinking of the importance of craftsmen to the country and that now was the best time for Ming Dynasty to reform, he swallowed his words - he knew very well that if his father could not accomplish this, it would be even more difficult to do it after he ascended the throne.

Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Liu Kuan's suggestion to improve the social status of craftsmen. He did not say whether it was okay or not. Instead, he asked, "How should the level of craftsmen be assessed?"

The evaluation method for craftsmen before the Ming Dynasty was quite simple. As long as a master craftsman of the same category and the chief official in charge of the craftsman recognized his skills, his level could be determined.

There's a lot of room for maneuvering inside.

Many craftsmen do not get the level and treatment they deserve because they offended others; similarly, many craftsmen who are good at scheming and have connections get the level and treatment that exceeds their level, but they just hold the position but do nothing.

If the social status of craftsmen is improved and annual salaries are given to the chief craftsmen and the great chief craftsmen, then the interests involved will be even greater.

Without a reasonable and rigorous method for assessing craftsman levels, the effectiveness of the new craftsman level system in promoting craft development will be greatly reduced.

Liu Kuan said, "The Ministry of Works could establish a new office to take charge of this matter. The most important thing is that the invigilators must come from a variety of backgrounds and be as impartial as possible."

"For example, apprentice craftsmen only need to register with the county officials and do not need to be examined. However, low-level, middle-level, and high-level craftsmen need to be examined by the officials in the prefecture. The examiners can be one local craftsman, one foreign craftsman, or one master craftsman, an official from the Ministry of Works, an official sent by the prefectural government, and an official sent by the Provincial Surveillance Commission."

"Master Craftsmen and Master Craftsmen must be assessed in provincial capitals. This can be divided into two parts: a written test and a practical test. The invigilation configuration will be based on the provincial level."

"As for the examinations for the Master Craftsman and Grand Master Craftsman, they will naturally be held in the capital, supervised by representatives from the Ministry of Works, the Academy of Heavenly Works, and the Censorate. Your Majesty may also participate in the decision-making of the Grand Master Craftsman's examination results."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused for a moment and said, "Your assessment method does sound more rigorous than before, but is it feasible to use a written test to assess craftsmen? Aren't there many craftsmen who can read?"

Liu Kuan said, "Your Majesty, there are indeed not many literate craftsmen at present, but we can train literate craftsmen. Craftsmen who can read and write have much greater potential than those who cannot, and can contribute more to the development of the country's industry."

"My humble opinion is that we can establish schools dedicated to training craftsmen in provincial capitals, prefectural capitals, and even county towns. We can call them crafts schools."

"This school not only teaches young people interested in becoming craftsmen various craftsmanship skills, but also teaches them literacy, arithmetic, and even knowledge of the natural sciences." "If we follow this method, in five to ten years, the Ming Dynasty will have a group of skilled craftsmen who can read and calculate, and understand some of the principles of natural science. We may even give birth to a group of future masters of craftsmanship, great masters of craftsmanship, and even masters of nature!"

Zhu Yuanzhang scratched his beard and thought for a moment before saying, "Since we're changing the Science and Technology Department into the Institute of Craftsmanship, why not let the Institute be responsible for reforming the craftsman grades and evaluation system?"

"In the future, the assessment of the craftsmen's grades and the establishment and management of the crafts schools will also be the responsibility of the Tiangong Academy."

"Since you are to serve as the director of the Tiangong Academy, when you return, please write a memorial regarding these matters and submit it to the cabinet for formalities."

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words in the tone of "assigning tasks", Liu Kuan was stunned and thought: Why did he say so much, and in the end all the work fell on me?
Am I not digging a hole for myself?

Seeing Liu Kuan in a daze, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Why, you don't want to do this?"

Liu Kuan came back to his senses and immediately bowed and said, "Your humble servant is willing."

Speaking of which, all aspects of the Science and Technology Department's affairs are now on track, and for him as the chief officer, there is really no challenge - after the spring, in addition to handling daily official business in the Science and Technology Department, he has spent a lot of time reading books and drinking tea, just like retirement.

I don’t know if Lao Zhu knew about his work status and that’s why he added more burden to him.

In addition, if the Tiangong Academy is really established and technical schools are built in various places, he is indeed the most suitable person to be responsible for supervision.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction.

He did feel that Liu Kuan had become a little lazy after he finished his work at the railway transportation company - the fact that he looked a little fatter than before was the best proof.

"Don't you say that to accelerate technological development, we need to do two things? What is the other thing?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Liu Kuan said, "Your Majesty, the world is bustling with people seeking profit. If you want the people of the Ming Dynasty to value science and technology, and even to produce more scientists and inventive talents, you must let them see the tangible benefits."

"The court's promotion of the status of artisans is only one aspect of its commitment to craftsmen. It would be best if it could be linked to wealth."

"Therefore, I suggest the introduction of a 'Patent Law' so that inventors can gain wealth through patents, thereby encouraging the people to research useful technologies."

"Patent law?" Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were both confused.

Because there was no concept of patent protection in feudal China - in fact, other countries did not have this concept either, and it was only in modern times that this law was gradually established.

Even in modern times, some countries in India ignore some international patent laws and continue to do as they please.

Therefore, it was difficult for Mr. Zhu and his son to understand the concept of patent based on the literal meaning.

Liu Kuan explained, "Your Majesty, the so-called 'patent' refers to exclusive rights and interests. The patents I am referring to are mainly invention patents."

"For example, the steam loom was invented by the Machinery Manufacturing Bureau under the imperial court. But as it spread to the general public, it was inevitable that someone would try to imitate it."

"Originally, the Machinery Manufacturing Bureau could have earned back the money and grain spent on researching these machines by producing steam looms and selling them to the public, potentially earning a profit a million times over."

"But if someone else had cracked the steam loom long ago and imitated it, they could also sell it and seize the market."

"This behavior will undoubtedly cause the Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, which has spent a lot of time and money to painstakingly develop the steam loom, to lose a lot of profits."

"If we don't restrict this kind of behavior, who in the world will invest the time, energy, and money to develop new technologies? Wouldn't everyone just wait to imitate others? This would be a huge disadvantage for the development of science and technology!"

"Therefore, as countries began to attach importance to science and technology and develop industry, they all introduced corresponding patent protection laws, and even international patent protection laws."

"It is to encourage people to delve into science and technology, to continuously invent and create better machines and higher technologies, and to promote the development of science and technology."

Although Liu Kuan's words were simple, their logic was very new, so Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao fell into deep thought after listening to them.

About two minutes passed before Old Zhu finally digested what he said. He frowned and asked, "According to what you said, if someone in the private sector develops an important invention in the future, and the court wants to use his invention extensively, wouldn't they also have to pay him?"

"And this person can rely on this invention to become increasingly wealthy, and even his descendants can continue to receive huge sums of money from the court through patents?"

　First update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)