The Ancient Weights and Measures of China ( Chinese 中國 傳統 度量衡 / 中国 传统 度量衡 , Pinyin Zhōngguó Chuántǒng Dùliànghéng - “Traditional Weights and Measures of China”) is also still in use in modern China , parallel to the International System of Units . The standard of the system of units from the imperial era of China is called Shìzhì ( 市 制 ), also Shìyòngzhì ( 市 用 制 ), so "market standard ", rarely "city standard ", and was established at the beginning of the 20th century depending on the corresponding SI unitsredefined and used. Since then, mainly decimal factors, where previously, in addition to decimal factors, hexadecimal factors were also common. The reformed "Shizhi system" (market standard system) from June 25, 1959 was officially recognized and used until 1990. Today, for example, some old traditional crafts still use the “Shizi system”.
In Hong Kong and Macau because of is colonial history still has the old "unreformed" market standard ( "Shizi system," partly a factor of 16) next to the international SI system and the "English system" ( english Imperial Unit System ) used in everyday life. While in Taiwan the own Taiwan system ( 台 制 ) is used alongside the SI system. The prefix ( Prefix ) shī- 市 , thus "market" or "urban" is used to distinguish with the same SI units, which, if appropriate, the prefix 公 , gōng - "general" can be prefixed . The small units “ Lí ” (Li 2 ) - 釐 / 厘 and “ Fèn ” (Fen 4 ) - 分 have the same name for length, area and mass. The great unit “ Dàn ” (Dan 4 ) - 石a for area and “ Dàn ” (Dan 4 ) - 擔 / 担 for mass and volume have the same name.
The Japanese Shakkanhô is a system of measurement adopted from ancient China and adapted to Japanese culture and is therefore related to one another.
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aThe character 石 has two different pronunciations. 1. “ Shí ” - 石 in general for stone and 2. “ Dàn ” (Dan 4 ) - 石 as a unit of measurement of the market standard for volume or regionally as a unit of area . Furthermore, the character " Dàn " (Dan 4 ) - 石 is also used as a counting word , like every unit in general.
bThe two " Li " s 釐 / 厘 and 里 are not only spelled differently, they are also spoken differently. The " Lí " (Li 2 ) - 釐 / 厘 , lí is pronounced in the second tone , while the " Lǐ " (Li 3 ) - 里 , lǐ , which is also known as the "Chinese mile", is pronounced in the third tone
Trivia
There were four different foot sizes in Canton ( 尺 , chǐ ).
cThe area measure " Dan - 石 , dàn " is a regional unit of area and has therefore not been standardized. There was both the definition 10 mu = 1 dan and 1 mu = 1 dan. It is homophonic to the weight measure " Dan - 擔 / 担 , dàn " and volume measure " Dan - 石 , dàn " and should not be confused with these.
The prefix 方 , fāng 'square-' is used to express a unit of area. The more common today Prefix 平方 , Pingfang, square 'is equivalent to the prefix 方 , fāng, square'.
Weight
Traditional Chinese weight measurement instruments (various scales etc.), 2007
Chinese weight measure - market standard ( 市 制 , Shìzhì )
eThe volume measure " Dan - 石 , dàn " is homophonic and not to be confused with the other unit " Dan - 擔 / 担 , dàn " for weight and the regional unit " Dan - 石 , dàn " for area.
^ Society of learned and practical merchants: General encyclopedia for merchants and manufacturers, as well as for businessmen in general: Or a complete dictionary. Verlag Otto Wigand, Leipzig 1843, p. 218
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