shēng [Chinese]

Also romanized as shêng¹, cheng.

In China since 1959, a unit of capacity in both the standard metric system (gong zhì) and the market system (shì zhì), = 1 liter in both. Click on the symbol for a chart showing the sheng’s relation to the other units of liquid capacity in the gong zhi or shì zhì link to table showing relationships between Chinese units of liquid capacity system.

Previously a dry measure approximately 0.52 liters.

Ideograms for common units are often simple, as is that of the sheng. Like many other such units, the sheng has an alternative form (勝) which is much more difficult to alter and can be used in documents like receipts and invoices.

United Nations 1966.

History

A government survey in 1936 found 32 different values in use for the sheng, ranging from 0.5 to 8 liters.

Dynasty Dates Value of sheng
in milliliters
Huang-ti After 2697 bce
2254 – 2204 bce
Hsia 2204 – 1765 bce
Shang 1765 – 1121 bce
Chou 1121 – 220 bce 193.7
Ch'in 349 – 205 bce 342.5
Former Han 205 bce – 8 ce 342.5
Hsin Mang 9 – 24 ce 198.1
Later Han 25 – 220 ce 198.1
Wei 220 – 265 ce 202.3
Western Tsin 265 – 316 ce 202.3
Eastern Tsin 317 – 430 202.3
Former Chao 318 – 319
Liu-Sung 420 – 478
South Ch'i 479 – 501 297.2
Liang 502 – 557 198.1
Chen 557 – 588 198.1
Later Wei & West Wei 386-557
Later Wei & East Wei 495 – 550 396.3
North Ch'i 550 – 557 396.3
North Chou 557 – 566 157.2
North Chou 566 – 581 210.5
Sui 581 – 606 594.4
Sui 607 – 618 198.1
Tang 618 – 906 594.4
Five Dynasties 907 – 960 594.4
Song 960 – 1279 664.1
Yuan 1279 – 1368 948.8
Ming 1368 – 1644 1073.7
Qing 1644 – 1911 1035.5
Republic   1000

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