Chinese units of measurement

Short description: Traditional system of measurement used by Han Chinese

Chinese units of measurement

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Chinese units of measurement, known in Chinese as the shìzhì ("market system"), are the traditional units of measurement of the Han Chinese. Although Chinese numerals have been decimal (base-10) since the Shang, several Chinese measures use hexadecimal (base-16). Local applications have varied, but the Chinese dynasties usually proclaimed standard measurements and recorded their predecessor's systems in their histories.

In the present day, the People's Republic of China maintains some customary units based upon the market units but standardized to round values in the metric system, for example the common jin or catty of exactly 500 g. The Chinese name for most metric units is based on that of the closest traditional unit; when confusion might arise, the word "market" (市, shì) is used to specify the traditional unit and "common" or "public" (公, gōng) is used for the metric value. Taiwan, like Korea, saw its traditional units standardized to Japanese values and their conversion to a metric basis, such as the Taiwanese ping of about 3.306 m2 based on the square ken. The Hong Kong SAR continues to use its traditional units, now legally defined based on a local equation with metric units. For instance, the Hong Kong catty is precisely 604.78982 g.

Note: The names lí (釐 or 厘) and fēn (分) for small units are the same for length, area, and mass; however, they refer to different kinds of measurements.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Republican Era
* 1.2 People's Republic of China
* 1.3 Hong Kong
* 1.4 Macau
* 2 Ancient Chinese units
* 2.1 Length
* 2.2 Mass
* 2.3 Time
* 2.4 Volume
* 3 Modern Chinese units
* 3.1 Length
* 3.1.1 Chinese length units promulgated in 1915
* 3.1.2 Chinese length units effective in 1930
* 3.1.3 Metric length units
* 3.1.4 Hong Kong and Macau length units
* 3.2 Area
* 3.2.1 Chinese area units promulgated in 1915
* 3.2.2 Chinese area units effective in 1930
* 3.2.3 Metric and other area units
* 3.2.4 Macau area units
* 3.3 Volume
* 3.3.1 Chinese volume units promulgated in 1915
* 3.3.2 Chinese volume units effective in 1930
* 3.3.3 Metric volume units
* 3.3.4 Macau volume units
* 3.4 Mass
* 3.4.1 Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915
* 3.4.2 Mass units in the Republic of China since 1930
* 3.4.3 Mass units in the People's Republic of China since 1959
* 3.4.4 Metric mass units
* 3.4.5 Hong Kong and Macau mass units
* 3.4.6 Hong Kong troy units
* 3.5 Time
* 4 Historiography
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 6.1 Notes
* 6.2 Citations
* 6.3 Sources

## History

Bronze ruler from the Han dynasty (206 BCE to CE 220); excavated in Zichang County; Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an

History of science and
technology in China

* Inventions
* Four Great Inventions
* Discoveries

By subject

* Mathematics
* Astronomy
* Calendar
* Units of measurement
* Cartography
* Geography
* Printing
* Ceramics
* Metallurgy
* Coinage
* Alchemy
* Traditional medicine
* herbology
* Agriculture
* sericulture
* Silk industry
* Architecture
* classic gardens
* bridges
* Transport
* navigation
* Military
* naval

By era

* Han
* Tang
* Song
* Yuan
* People's Republic
* agriculture
* space

* v
* t
* e

According to the Liji, the legendary Yellow Emperor created the first measurement units. The Xiao Erya and the Kongzi Jiayu state that length units were derived from the human body. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, these human body units caused inconsistency, and Yu the Great, another legendary figure, unified the length measurements. Rulers with decimal units have been unearthed from Shang dynasty tombs.

In the Zhou dynasty, the king conferred nobles with powers of the state and the measurement units began to be inconsistent from state to state. After the Warring States period, Qin Shi Huang unified China, and later standardized measurement units. In the Han dynasty, these measurements were still being used, and were documented systematically in the Book of Han.

Astronomical instruments show little change of the length of chi in the following centuries, since the calendar needed to be consistent. It was not until the introduction of decimal units in the Ming dynasty that the traditional system was revised.

### Republican Era

See also: Physics:Taiwanese units of measurement

On 7 January 1915, the Beiyang government promulgated a measurement law to use not only metric system as the standard but also a set of Chinese-style measurement based directly on the Qing dynasty definitions (营造尺库平制).[1]

On 16 February 1929, the Nationalist government adopted and promulgated The Weights and Measures Act[2] to adopt the metric system as the official standard and to limit the newer Chinese units of measurement (Chinese: 市用制; pinyin: shìyòngzhì; literally: 'market-use system') to private sales and trade in Article 11, effective on 1 January 1930. These newer "market" units are based on rounded metric numbers.[3]

These units are still retained for use in the Republic of China-controlled territories of Kinmen and Matsu nowadays.

### People's Republic of China

The Government of the People's Republic of China continued using the market system along with metric system, as decreed by the State Council of the People's Republic of China on 25 June 1959, but 1 catty being 500 grams, would become divided into 10 (new) taels, instead of 16 (old) taels, to be converted from province to province, while exempting Chinese prescription drugs from the conversion to prevent errors.[4]

On 27 February 1984, the State Council of the People's Republic of China decreed the market system to remain acceptable until the end of 1990 and ordered the transition to the national legal measures by that time, but farmland measures would be exempt from this mandatory metrication until further investigation and study.[5]

### Hong Kong

Main article: Physics:Hong Kong units of measurement

In 1976 the Hong Kong Metrication Ordinance allowed a gradual replacement of the system in favor of the International System of Units (SI) metric system.[6] The Weights and Measures Ordinance defines the metric, Imperial, and Chinese units.[7] As of 2012, all three systems are legal for trade and are in widespread use.

### Macau

On 24 August 1992, Macau published Law No. 14/92/M to order that Chinese units of measurement similar to those used in Hong Kong, Imperial units, and United States customary units would be permissible for five years since the effective date of the Law, 1 January 1993, on the condition of indicating the corresponding SI values, then for three more years thereafter, Chinese, Imperial, and US units would be permissible as secondary to the SI.[8]

## Ancient Chinese units

### Length

Gilded Bronze Ruler - 1 chi = 231 mm. Western Han (206 BCE–8 CE). Hanzhong City

Traditional units of length include the chi (尺), bu (步), and li (里). The precise length of these units, and the ratios between these units, has varied over time. 1 bu has consisted of either 5 or 6 chi, while 1 li has consisted of 300 or 360 bu.

Length in metres[9] Dynasty  | chi  | bu  | li

|
|
|

= 5 chi  | = 6 chi  | = 300 bu  | = 360 bu
Shang (c. 1600 – c. 1045 BC)  | 0.1675  | 0.8375  | 1.0050  | 301.50  | 361.80
0.1690  | 0.8450  | 1.0140  | 304.20  | 365.04
Western Zhou (c. 1045–771 BC)  | 0.1990  | 0.9950  | 1.1940  | 358.20  | 429.84
Eastern Zhou (c. 771–256 BC)  | 0.2200  | 1.1000  | 1.3200  | 396.00  | 475.200
0.2270  | 1.1350  | 1.3620  | 408.60  | 490.32
0.2310  | 1.1550  | 1.3860  | 415.80  | 498.96
Qin (c. 221–206 BC)  | 0.2260  | 1.1300  | 1.3560  | 406.80[10]415.80[11][12] | 488.16
Han (c. 202 BC–9 AD; 25–220 AD)  | 0.2300  | 1.1500  | 1.3800  | 414.00  | 496.80
0.2381  | 1.1805  | 1.4286  | 415.80[13] 415.80[11][12] 428.58[10] | 514.30
Wei - Sui (c. 220–266 AD; 581 to 618 AD)  | 0.2550  | 1.2750  | 1.5300  | 459.00  | 550.80
Tang (c. 618–690 AD; 705–907 AD)  | 0.2465  | 1.2325  | 1.4790  | 369.75  | 443.70
0.2955  | 1.4775  | 1.7730  | 443.25  | 531.90
Song (c. 960–1279 AD)  | 0.2700  | 1.3500  | 1.6200  | 405.00  | 486.00
Northern Song (c. 960–1127 AD)  | 0.3080  | 1.5400  | 1.8480  | 462.00  | 554.40
Ming (c. 1368–1644 AD)  | 0.3008–0.3190  | 1.5040–1.5950  | 1.8048–1.9140  | 451.20–478.50  | 541.44–574.20
Qing (c. 1636–1912 AD)  | 0.3080–0.3352  | 1.5400–1.6760  | 1.8048–2.0112  | 462.00–503.89  | 554.40–603.46

This section is missing information about different systems of chi and derived units: the trio of tailor's (裁衣尺), land-surveyor's (量地尺), and camp-builder's (营造尺) in Ming and Qing; also earlier variations, all found on the corresponding Chinese page. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (June 2025)

|

### Mass

Ancient Chinese weight units are mostly defined around the jin or catty. Blanks in the table means that the derived unit is not used in the era.

Mass in grams  Dynasty  | shi/dan (石)[lower-alpha 1] | jun (鈞)  | jin (斤)  | liang (兩)  | zhu (銖)  | qian (錢)  | fen (分)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

120 jin | 30 jin | 1 jin | ​1⁄16 jin | ​1⁄384 jin | ​1⁄160 jin | ​1⁄1600 jin
Pre-Qin  | 30000 | 7500 | 250 | 15.625 | 0.651[lower-alpha 2] | 1.5625 | 0.15625
Qin | 30360 | 7590 | 253 | 15.8125 | 0.658854166667 | 1.58125 | 0.158125
Western Han | 29760 | 7440 | 248 | 15.5 | 0.645833333333  | 1.55  | 0.155
Eastern Han, Three Kingdoms, Jin  | 26400 | 6600 | 220 | 13.8 | 0.575 | 1.375 | 0.1375
N. & S. | S. Qi | 39600 | 9900 | 330 | 20.625 | 0.859375 | 2.0625 | 0.20625
Liang, Chen | 26400 | 6600 | 220 | 13.75 | 0.575 | 1.375 | 0.1375
N. Wei & N. Qi | 52800 | 13200 | 440 | 27.5 | 1.1458333333333 | 2.75 | 0.275
N. Zhou | 79200 | 19800 | 660 | 41.25 | 1.71875 | 4.125 | 0.4125
Sui | Small system | 26400 | 6600 | 220 | 13.75 | 0.575 | 1.375 | 0.1375
Large system | 79320 | 19830 | 661 | 41.3125 | 1.721354166667 | 4.13125 | 0.413125
Tang
Song, Yuan | 75960 | 18990 | 633 | 39.5625 | 1.6484375 | 3.95625 | 0.395625
Ming, Qing | 70800 | 17700 | 590 | 36.875 | 1.536458333333 | 3.6875 | 0.36875

### Time

Main article: Astronomy:Traditional Chinese timekeeping

For daytime and nighttime units, the following assume a standardized sundown of yǒu shí central 1 kè (19:12 in 24-hour notation).

Table of time units  Unit name  |  | Unit value  | Notes

|
|
|

Character  | Relative  | Metric/modern
miǎo | 秒 | ​1⁄100 fēn | 144 milliseconds | Defined in 1280
fēn | 分 | ​1⁄6000 day | 14.4 second |
kè | 刻 | (minor) 1/6 major kè | 144 seconds  | The major kè was defined at ​1⁄100 (rarely ​1⁄96, ​1⁄108, or ​1⁄120) day during most of Chinese history. It became established at ​1⁄96 day after the Qing dynasty, becoming the same as the modern kè.
(major) ​1⁄100 day | 14 minutes 24 seconds
shí/shíchén[14] | 時/時辰 (T)
时/时辰 (S) | ​1⁄12 day | 2 hours | Daytime unit
diǎn | 點 (T)
点 (S)  | ​1⁄6 gēng | 24 minutes | Nighttime unit
gēng | 更 | ​1⁄10 day | 2.4 hours | Nighttime units
rì / tiān | 日/天 | (basic unit) | 1 day

### Volume

According to Book of Han, the fundamental unit of volume was the yuè (龠), the volume of 1200 grains of proso millet. 100 yuè makes a gě (合), and 10 gě makes a shēng (升, about 0.2 L). For dry measure, the dǒu (斗, "ladle"), hú (斛), and shi or dàn (石, "[basket for] a stone['s weight]") were used for larger amounts.

The amounts of grains were also used as a measure of monthly and annual salary, particularly for official posts in the imperial bureaucracy.

The volume units have evolved through the Dynasties. By the Qing Dynasty, the shēng had become very close to the metric liter.[1]

## Modern Chinese units

Chinese measurement law in 1915

All "metric values" given in the tables are exact unless otherwise specified by the approximation sign '~'. Certain units are also listed at List of Chinese classifiers → Measurement units.

The units in the following tables can be grouped into a few types:

* Traditional-derived units for length, area, volume, and mass.
* On the Chinese mainland, these units were defined in three batches. The Republic of China government promulgated in 1915 a metric version of the Qing Dynasty Yingzao Chi Kuping Zhi (Chinese: 营造尺库平制; literally: 'Camp-builder's chi and Treasury's weights unit system'). The ROC government then promulgated the "market unit" (Chinese: 市制) system in 1930, redefining traditional units as simple fractions of metric units. Finally, the People's Republic of China modified the "market unit" mass system to divide 1 jin into 10 instead of the traditional 16 liang for ease of calculation.
* In Hong Kong and Macau the mass units were defined in terms of the British pound, specifically the 1878 definition of 0.45359 kg. The volume units were inherited from the Qing dynasty units, with a small difference compared to the 1915 definition. The length units were based on the unusually large chi found in the area of Guangdong (see Chi (unit) § Historical values). The source of the area unit is unknown, as it appears to be based on a different chi of 35.6 centimetres (14.0 in) (obtained by taking the square root of the metric value of cek3, the square-chi).
* Chinese names for metric units and prefixes. This includes time units.

### Length

#### Chinese length units promulgated in 1915

Table of Chinese length units promulgated in 1915[1] Unit name  | Unit value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
háo  | 毫 | ​1⁄10000 | 32 μm  | 0.00126 in |
lí | 釐 (T) or 厘 (S)  | ​1⁄1000 | 0.32 mm  | 0.0126 in  |
fēn | 分 | ​1⁄100 | 3.2 mm  | 0.126 in  |
cùn | 寸 | ​1⁄10 | 32 mm  | 1.26 in  | Chinese inch
chǐ | 尺 | 1  | 0.32 m  | 12.6 in  | Chinese foot
bù | 步 | 5  | 1.6 m  | 5.2 ft  | Chinese pace
zhàng | 丈 | 10  | 3.2 m  | 3.50 yd  | Chinese yard
yǐn | 引 | 100  | 32 m  | 35.0 yd  |
lǐ | 里 | 1800  | 576 m  | 630 yd  | Chinese mile, this li is not the small li above, which has a different character and tone

#### Chinese length units effective in 1930

Chinese measurement law in 1929, effective 1 January 1930 Chinese measuring tape Table of Chinese length units effective in 1930[3] Unit name  | Unit value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
háo  | 毫 | ​1⁄10 000 | ​33 1⁄3 μm  | 0.00131 in | Chinese mil
lí | 釐 (T) or 厘 (S)  | ​1⁄1000 | ​1⁄3 mm  | 0.0131 in  | Chinese calibre
fēn | 市分 | ​1⁄100 | ​3 1⁄3 mm  | 0.1312 in  | Chinese line
cùn | 市寸 | ​1⁄10 | ​3 1⁄3 cm  | 1.312 in  | Chinese inch
chǐ | 市尺 | 1  | ​33 1⁄3 cm  | 13.12 in  | Chinese foot
zhàng | 市丈 | 10  | ​3 1⁄3 m  | 3.645 yd  | Chinese yard
yǐn | 引 | 100  | ​33 1⁄3 m  | 36.45 yd  | Chinese chain
lǐ | 市里 | 1500  | 500 m  | 546.8 yd  | Chinese mile, this li is not the small li above, which has a different character and tone

#### Metric length units

The (Mainland) Chinese word for metre is 米 mǐ; this can take the Chinese standard SI prefixes (for "kilo-", "centi-", etc.). There exists, however, a system based on renaming traditional units, rounding them up to the closest metric unit.

* For the centimeter and above, the name is constructed as 公 gōng ("public", i.e. metric) followed by the traditional unit name. For example, a kilometre is popularly known as the 公里 gōnglǐ "metric lǐ".
* For smaller units, a different convention exists in the engineering field. The traditional unit is appropriated without adding the gōng prefix. For example, the Chinese word 絲 (T) or 丝 (S) sī is used to express 0.01 mm.

Table of Chinese length units  Name  | Value  | Note

|
|

Customary  | PRC Standard  | Meters  | Metric value
Pinyin | Characters
hū | 忽 | 微米 | ​1⁄1000000 | 1 μm |
sī | 絲 (T) or 丝 (S) | 忽米 | ​1⁄100000 | 10 μm | 1959 standard name for centimillimetre, not seen in newer standards.
háo | 毫 | 絲米 (T) or 丝米 (S) | ​1⁄10000 | 100 μm
lí | 釐 (T) or 厘 (S) | 毫米 | ​1⁄1000 | 1 mm |
gōngfēn | 公分 | 釐米(T) or 厘米(S) | ​1⁄100 | 10 mm |
gōngcùn | 公寸 | 分米 | ​1⁄10 | 100 mm |
gōngchǐ | 公尺 | 米 | 1 | 1 m |
gōngzhàng | 公丈 | 十米 | 10 | 10 m |
gōngyǐn | 公引 | 百米 | 100 | 100 m |
gōnglǐ | 公里 | 千米 | 1000 | 1000 m |

The Republic of China uses the gōng-prefixed names as the standard, legal names of the corresponding units.[15]

#### Hong Kong and Macau length units

Table of Chinese length units in Hong Kong[7] and Macau[8] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Jyutping | Character  | English  | Portuguese  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
fan1 | 分 | fan | condorim  | ​1⁄100 | 3.71475 mm | 0.1463 in  |
cyun3 | 寸 | tsun | ponto  | ​1⁄10 | 37.1475 mm | 1.463 in  | Hong Kong and Macau inch
cek3 | 尺 | chek | côvado  | 1  | 371.475 mm | 1.219 ft  | Hong Kong and Macau foot

These correspond to the measures listed simply as "China" in The Measures, Weights, & Moneys of All Nations.[16]

### Area

#### Chinese area units promulgated in 1915

Table of Chinese area units promulgated in 1915[1] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
háo | 毫 | ​1⁄1000 | 0.6144 m2 | 0.7348 sq yd  |
lí | 釐 (T) or 厘 (S)  | ​1⁄100 | 6.144 m2 | 7.348 sq yd  |
fēn | 分 | ​1⁄10 | 61.44 m2 | 73.48 sq yd  |
mǔ | 畝 (T) or 亩 (S)  | 1  | 614.4 m2 | 734.82 sq yd  | Chinese acre, or 60 square zhang
qǐng | 頃 (T) or 顷 (S)  | 100  | 6.144 ha  | 15.18 acre  | Chinese hide
Table of Chinese square units effective in 1915[1] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
fāng cùn | 方寸 | ​1⁄100 | 10.24 cm2 | 1.587 sq in  | square cun
fāng chǐ | 方尺 | 1  | 0.1024 m2 | 1.102 sq ft  | square chi
fāng zhàng | 方丈 | 100  | 10.24 m2 | 110.2 sq ft  | square zhang

#### Chinese area units effective in 1930

Table of Chinese area units effective in 1930[3] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
háo | 毫 | ​1⁄1000 | ​2⁄3 m2 | 7.18 sq ft  |
lí | 釐 (T) or 厘 (S)  | ​1⁄100 | ​6 2⁄3 m2 | 7.973 sq yd  |
fēn | 市分 | ​1⁄10 | ​66 2⁄3 m2 | 79.73 sq yd  |
mǔ | 畝 (T) or 亩 (S)  | 1  | ​666 2⁄3 m2 | 797.3 sq yd
0.1647 acre  | Chinese acre
6000 square chi per Article 5 of the 1930 Law (六千平方尺定為一畝)
60 square zhang
1/15 of a hectare
qǐng | 頃 (T) or 顷 (S)  | 100  | ​6 2⁄3 ha  | 16.47 acre  | Chinese hide
Table of Chinese square units effective in 1930[3] Name  | Value  |

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial  | Notes
fāng cùn | 方寸 | ​1⁄100 | ​11 1⁄9 cm2 | 1.722 sq in  | square cun
fāng chǐ | 方尺 | 1  | ​1⁄9 m2 | 172.2 sq in
1.196 sq ft  | square chi
fāng zhàng | 方丈 | 100  | ​11 1⁄9 m2 | 119.6 sq ft
13.29 sq yd  | square zhang

#### Metric and other area units

Metric and other standard length units can be squared by the addition of the prefix 平方 píngfāng. For example, a square kilometre is 平方公里 píngfāng gōnglǐ.

#### Macau area units

Table of Chinese area units in Macau[8] Name  | Value

|

Jyutping | Portuguese  | Character  | Relative value  | Relation to traditional Chinese units (Macau)  | Metric value  | Imperial value
cek3 | côvado  | 尺 | 1  | ​1⁄25鋪 | 0.1269 m2 | 1.366 sq ft
pou3 |  | 鋪 | 25  | ​1⁄4丈 | 3.1725 m2 | 34.15 sq ft
3.794 sq yd
zoeng6 | braça  | 丈 | 100  | ​1⁄6分 | 12.69 m2 | 136.6 sq ft
15.18 sq yd
fan1 | condorim  | 分 | 600  | ​1⁄10畝 | 76.14 m2 | 91.06 sq yd
mau5 | maz  | 畝 (T) or 亩 (S)  | 6000  | None  | 761.4 m2 | 910.6 sq yd

The units cek3 and zoeng6 are also names of traditional length units. This is an ancient practice with Chinese units of measurement, where area units derived by squaring length units simply take on the same name. Modern derivations would add a prefix 方 or 平方 "square".

### Volume

These units are used to measure cereal grains, among other things. In imperial times, the physical standard for these was the jialiang.

#### Chinese volume units promulgated in 1915

Table of Chinese volume units effective in 1915[1] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | US  | Imperial
sháo | 勺 | ​1⁄100 | 10.354688 mL | 0.3501 fl oz  | 0.3644 fl oz  |
gě | 合 | ​1⁄10 | 103.54688 mL | 3.501 fl oz  | 3.644 fl oz  |
shēng | 升 | 1  | 1.0354688 L | 2.188 pt  | 1.822 pt  |
dǒu | 斗 | 10  | 10.354688 L | 2.735 gal  | 2.278 gal  |
hú | 斛 | 50  | 51.77344 L | 13.68 gal  | 11.39 gal  |
dàn | 石 | 100  | 103.54688 L | 27.35 gal  | 22.78 gal  |

#### Chinese volume units effective in 1930

Table of Chinese volume units effective in 1930[3] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | US  | Imperial
cuō | 撮 | ​1⁄1000 | 1 mL  | 0.0338 fl oz  | 0.0352 fl oz  | millilitre
sháo | 勺 | ​1⁄100 | 10 mL  | 0.3381 fl oz  | 0.3520 fl oz  | centilitre
gě | 合 | ​1⁄10 | 100 mL  | 3.381 fl oz  | 3.520 fl oz  | decilitre
shēng | 市升 | 1  | 1 L | 2.113 pt  | 1.760 pt  | litre
dǒu | 市斗 | 10  | 10 L  | 21.13 pt
2.64 gal  | 17.60 pt
2.20 gal  | decalitre
dàn | 市石 | 100  | 100 L  | 26.41 gal  | 22.0 gal  | hectolitre

#### Metric volume units

In the case of volume, the market and metric shēng coincide, being equal to one litre as shown in the table. The Chinese standard SI prefixes (for "milli-", "centi-", etc.) may be added to this word shēng.

Units of volume can also be obtained from any standard unit of length using the prefix 立方 lìfāng ("cubic"), as in 立方米 lìfāng mǐ for one cubic metre.

#### Macau volume units

Table of Chinese volume units in Macau[8] Name  | Relation to traditional Chinese units (Macau)  | Metric value

|
|

Jyutping | Character
cyut3 | 撮 | ​1⁄10甘特 | 1.031 L
gam1 dak6 | 甘特 | ​1⁄10石 | 10.31 L
sek6 | 石 | None  | 103.1 L

### Mass

These units are used to measure the mass of objects. They are also famous for measuring monetary objects such as gold and silver.

#### Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915

Table of Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915[1] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
háo | 毫 | ​1⁄10000 | 3.7301 mg  | 0.0001316 oz  |
lí | 釐 | ​1⁄1000 | 37.301 mg  | 0.001316 oz  | cash
fēn | 分 | ​1⁄100 | 373.01 mg  | 0.01316 oz  | candareen
qián | 錢 | ​1⁄10 | 3.7301 g  | 0.1316 oz  | mace or Chinese dram
liǎng | 兩 | 1  | 37.301 g  | 1.316 oz  | tael or Chinese ounce
jīn | 斤 | 16  | 596.816 g  | 1.316 lb  | catty or Chinese pound

#### Mass units in the Republic of China since 1930

Table of mass units in the Republic of China since 1930[3] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
sī | 絲 | ​1⁄1600000 | 312.5 μg  | 0.00001102 oz |
háo | 毫 | ​1⁄160000 | 3.125 mg  | 0.0001102 oz |
lí | 市釐 | ​1⁄16000 | 31.25 mg  | 0.001102 oz | cash
fēn | 市分 | ​1⁄1600 | 312.5 mg  | 0.01102 oz | candareen
qián | 市錢 | ​1⁄160 | 3.125 g  | 0.1102 oz  | mace or Chinese dram
liǎng | 市兩 | ​1⁄16 | 31.25 g  | 1.102 oz  | tael or Chinese ounce
jīn | 市斤 | 1  | 500 g  | 1.102 lb  | catty or Chinese pound
dàn | 擔 | 100  | 50 kg  | 110.2 lb  | picul or Chinese hundredweight

#### Mass units in the People's Republic of China since 1959

Table of mass units in the People's Republic of China since 1959[4] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character[17] | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
lí | 市厘 | ​1⁄10000 | 50 mg  | 0.001764 oz | cash
fēn | 市分 | ​1⁄1000 | 500 mg  | 0.01764 oz | candareen
qián | 市錢 | ​1⁄100 | 5 g  | 0.1764 oz  | mace or Chinese dram
liǎng | 市兩 | ​1⁄10 | 50 g  | 1.764 oz  | tael or Chinese ounce
jīn | 市斤 | 1  | 500 g  | 1.102 lb  | catty or Chinese pound
formerly 16 liang = 1 jin
dàn | 市擔 | 100  | 50 kg  | 110.2 lb  | picul or Chinese hundredweight

#### Metric mass units

The Chinese word for gram is 克 kè; this can take the Chinese standard SI prefixes (for "milli-", "deca-", and so on). A kilogram, however, is commonly called 公斤 gōngjīn, i.e. a metric jīn.

The PRC translated the non-SI quintal (100 kg) as 公擔 gōngdàn ("metric dàn") in 1959, but abandoned the unit in newer publications.[18]

#### Hong Kong and Macau mass units

Table of Chinese mass units in Hong Kong[7] and Macau[8] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Jyutping | Character  | English  | Portuguese  | Relative value  | Relation to traditional Chinese units (Macau)  | Metric value  | Imperial value
lei4 | 厘 | li, cash | liz  | ​1⁄16000 | ​1⁄10 condorim  | 37.79931 mg | 0.02133 dr | Not defined in Hong Kong. Macanese definition may not be correct when dividing catty.
fan1 | 分 | fen, fan, candareen | condorim  | ​1⁄1600 | ​1⁄10 maz  | 377.9936375 mg | 0.2133 dr  | Macanese definition of 377.9931 mg may not be correct when dividing catty.
cin4 | 錢 | qian, tsin, mace | maz  | ​1⁄160 | ​1⁄10 tael  | 3.779936375 g | 2.1333 dr  | Macanese definition of 3.779931 g may not be correct when dividing catty.
loeng2 | 兩 | liang, leung, tael | tael  | ​1⁄16 | ​1⁄16 cate  | 37.79936375 g | 1.3333 oz  | Macanese definition of 37.79931 g may not be correct when dividing catty.
gan1 | 斤 | jin, kan, catty | cate  | 1  | ​1⁄100 pico  | 604.78982 g  | 1.3333 lb  | Hong Kong and Macau share the definition.
daam3 | 擔 | dan, tam, picul | pico  | 100  | None  | 60.478982 kg  | 133.3333 lb

#### Hong Kong troy units

These are used for trading precious metals such as gold and silver.

Table of mass (Hong Kong troy) units[7] Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

English  | Character  | Relative  | Metric  | Imperial
fen (candareen) troy | 金衡分 | ​1⁄100 | 374.29 mg  | 0.096 drt  |
qian (mace) troy | 金衡錢 | ​1⁄10 | 3.7429 g  | 0.96 drt  |
liang (tael) troy | 金衡兩 | 1  | 37.429 g  | 1.2 ozt  |

### Time

Modern Chinese time units largely correspond one-to-one to Western units.

Table of modern time units  Name  | Value  | Notes

|
|

Pinyin  | Character
miǎo | 秒 | 1 second |
fēn | 分 | 1 minute |
kè | 刻 | 15 minutes (i.e. one quarter-hour) | Same definition since Qing dynasty
shí
xiǎoshí | 時
小時 | 1 hour | shí is more technical than xiǎoshí. Also used is diǎn for reporting the time-of-day (3 diǎn means 3 o'clock)
rì / tiān | 日/天 | 1 day

In addition to the above units, the ancient shíchén is occasionally used with the value of exactly 2 hours.

## Historiography

As there were hundreds of unofficial measures in use, the bibliography is quite vast. The editions of Wu Chenglou's 1937 History of Chinese Measurement[19] were the usual standard up to the 1980s or so, but rely mostly on surviving literary accounts. Newer research has put more emphasis on archeological discoveries.[20] Qiu Guangming & Zhang Yanming's 2005 bilingual Concise History of Ancient Chinese Measures and Weights summarizes these findings.[21] A relatively recent and comprehensive bibliography, organized by period studied, has been compiled in 2012 by Cao & al.;[22] for a shorter list, see Wilkinson's year 2000 Chinese History.[20]

## See also

* Chinese numbers and classifiers
* Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
* Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese units of measurement
* Taiwanese and Hong Kong units of measurement
* Units, systems, and history of measurement

## References

### Notes

1. ↑ The unit 石/䄷 was pronounced the same as the same as the noun 石 "stone" in Eastern Han Dynasty, corresponding to modern Mandarin shí. An alternate pronunciation for the unit, corresponding to today's dàn, evolved later from the word for a carrying pole, 擔/担.
2. ↑ 1 zhu was in turn divided into 100 shu (黍). Shu meaning proso millet, i.e. the mass of a millet grain. Similar to grain (unit).

### Citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "權度法 [Quándù Fǎ"], 政府公報 [Zhèngfǔ Gōngbào, Government Gazette], 957, Beijing: Office of the President, 7 January 1915, pp. 85–94, http://gaz.ncl.edu.tw/eng/detail.jsp?sysid=D1500002 . (in Chinese)
2. ↑ "The Weights and Measures Act: Legislative History". Ministry of Justice (Republic of China). http://law.moj.gov.tw/Eng/LawClass/LawHistory.aspx?PCode=J0100052.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "The Weights and Measures Act (1929)". Legislative Yuan. http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 (in Chinese) 1959 Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, No. 180, pages 311 to 312
5. ↑ Decree of the State Council Concerning the Use of Uniform Legal Measures in the Country
6. ↑ Yearbook HK. "Yearbook." Metrication. Retrieved on 26 April 2007.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Cap. 68 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Law No. 14/92/M ((in Chinese) 第14/92/M號法律; (in Portuguese) Lei n.o 14/92/M)
9. ↑ Schinz, 1996
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Schinz, p. 476.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Dubs (1938), pp. 276-280; (1955), p. 160, n. 7.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hulsewé (1961), pp. 206–207.
13. ↑ Hill (2015), "About the Measurements", pp. xxiii-xxiv.
14. ↑ Nachum Dershowitz, Edward M. Reingold, "Calendrical calculations", page 207
15. ↑ s:zh:度量衡法 (民國43年), The ROC Measurements Law of ROC year 43 (1954).
16. ↑ W. S. B. Woolhouse (1859), The Measures, Weights, & Moneys of All Nations (And an Analysis of the Christian, Hebrew, and Mahometan Calendars), J. Weale, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4252729;view=1up;seq=71
17. ↑ (in Chinese) 1959 Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, No. 180, page 316
18. ↑ s:zh:統一公制計量單位中文名稱方案, from 1959 Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China No. 16 (page 316)
19. ↑ 吳承洛 (1937), 《中國度量衡史》 [Zhōngguó Dùliànghéng Shǐ] , 2nd ed. in 1957, 3rd ed. in 1993. (in Chinese)
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Wilkinson, Endymion (2000), Chinese History: A Manual (2nd ed.), Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center, pp. 244–245, ISBN 978-0-674-00249-4 .
21. ↑ 丘光明 (2005), Zhang, Yanming, ed., 《中国古代计量史图鉴》 [Zhōngguó Gǔdài Jìliàng Shǐ Tújiàn], Hefei: Hefei University Press, ISBN 7-81093-284-5 . (in Chinese) & (in English)
22. ↑ Cao Jin et al. (2012), Chinese, Japanese and Western Research in Chinese Historical Metrology: A Classified Bibliography (1925-2012), Tübingen: Institute for Chinese and Korean Studies at the University of Tübingen, https://publikationen.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/handle/10900/47035 .

### Sources

* Hill, John E. (2015) Through the Jade Gate - China to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. Vol. I. John E. Hill. CreateSpace, Charleston, South Carolina. ISBN 978-1-5006-9670-2.
* Homer H. Dubs (1938): The History of the Former Han Dynasty by Pan Ku. Vol. One. Translator and editor: Homer H. Dubs. Baltimore. Waverly Press, Inc.
* Homer H. Dubs (1955): The History of the Former Han Dynasty by Pan Ku. Vol. Three. Translator and editor: Homer H. Dubs. Ithaca, New York. Spoken Languages Services, Inc.
* Hulsewé, (1961). "Han measures." A. F. P. Hulsewé, T'oung pao Archives, Vol. XLIX, Livre 3, pp. 206–207.
* Chinese Measurement Converter \- Online Chinese / Metric / Imperial Converter
* Chinese/Metric/Imperial Measurement Converter
* Schinz, Alfred (1996). The magic square: cities in ancient China. Edition Axel Menges. pp. 428. ISBN 3-930698-02-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=qhcRYkz-I3YC.

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