Zhang Jian gave great support to the 1912—1915 Yuan Shikai’s administration, brainstorming for its founding, assuming the office of agricultural and commercial minister and chairing the governmental projects of economic development. Within his time of taking office, Zhang laid out a series of policies, decrees and regulations for economic development, laying a lawbased foundation for economic development and promoting rapid development of national economy in the early days of the Republic of China. Therefore, an objective summarization of Zhang Jian’s function in Yuan Shikai’s administration and reasons for rapid economic development in the early days of the Republic of China will pave a better way for studies of the society in the day.

Zhang Jian; Yuan Shikai’s administration; industry in the early days of the Republic of China; economic development