Jia-liang fine standard measure, 1st year of the Xin dynasty, 9-China Archive

Image Number: K1A002384N000000000PAB
Dynasty: Xin dynasty
Category: Bronzes
Function: measure
Material: Mineral/Metal/Bronze
Description:
Cylindrical, simple and unadorned. The whole device consists of five measuring containers. The upper part of the device is “Hu”, the lower part is “Dou”, the left ear is “Sheng”, the upper part of the right ear is “He”, and the lower part is “Yue”. The conversion relationship of the five gauges is one meter and ten meters, one meter and ten liters, one meter and ten meters, one meter and two meters, basically reflecting the metric concept of decimal system. There are six inscriptions on the outer wall of each measuring body, explaining the size, capacity value and calculation method. The “Hu” tribe also cast long inscriptions, which issued an edict for Wang Mang to unify the national measurement and balance, conveying the background of the founding of the new dynasty and the political idea of restoring the ancient system. Jialiang was made by Liu Xin in the first year of the founding of Xinmang (9) according to the Zhou Rites, and was used as the unit benchmark for measuring grains throughout the prefecture. Xinmang measuring scales are often found in archaeological discoveries, Zoucheng, Shandong