Measurements for Length in Ancient China

In the period of Three Kingdoms, the measurements for length, capacity and weight mostly imitated the system of the former dynasties. When you come to learn Chinese in China, you may be told that the measurements in South and North Dynasties were in disorder and began to become systematic after that.

One thing that the foreign learners who study Chinese in China should know is that there were two kinds of system at that time, the small system and the large system. Usually, the small system was used to measure the tone of music, shadow of sunshine, medicine intake and making costumes and the others need the large system. If you are interested in history when you learn Chinese in China, you may know Emperor Wen in Sui Dynasty uniformed the measurements for length, capacity and weight again and fixed many measures.

From Tang Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, the measurements for length, capacity and weight were relatively stable and the system became more perfect. When you study Mandarin in China, you should have known Song Dynasty created a kind of precise measures instruments named Deng which can weigh very little amount. It also developed in Ming Dynasty because of the capitalism.