Analysis of Doubts in the Artificers' Record

The Wise create things. The Skillful transmit and preserve them. The world calls them artisans.

One must have knowledge that encompasses all thingsoriginal: "zhou wan wu" (周萬物). This implies a cosmic level of understanding where one understands the nature and potential of every material in the universe. before one is able to create. The Sage Kings—Fu Xi, Shen Nong, the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun—were such people. The "Skillful" were the heads of government departments, such as the legendary masters Gong Chui, Shu Qiang, and Bo Yu. They were able to understand the intent of the Sages, following their lead to bring these ideas to fruition and fully realize the principles of manufacturingoriginal: "zhizuo" (制作). In this Chinese philosophical context, this refers to the sacred act of bringing order to the world through the creation of tools and systems.. As for the common artisans, they simply preserve the established methods from generation to generation. As the Record of the Wheelwright A specific section within the "Record of Trades" focusing on the construction of wheels and carriages. states: "The skillful one harmonizes them"—this refers specifically to those who are talented among the artisans.

The work of the various artisans was all created by the Sages

The Great Commentary to the Book of Changes Also known as the Xici Zhuan, this is a foundational text that explains the origins of human civilization through the invention of tools by ancient Sages. states: The creation of nets and snares, plows and shares, clothing, boats and carts, gates and night-watchman’s clappers, mortars and pestles, bows and arrows, inner and outer coffins, palaces and houses, and written records—these all originated from the Sages of high antiquity, or from...