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
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.
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 | — |
Yü | 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 |
Copyright © 2000 Sizes, Inc. All rights reserved.
Last revised: 8 May 2001.