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2003-01-22
It looks like the Chinese did set many of their units to
equal rational metric ones. Thus, many went from an FFU to a slang
metric unit. I wonder if the BWMA is aware of this
change.
John
liang
a traditional Chinese weight unit. During the European colonial period the
liang was equal to 1/16 catty, 1/12 pound,
or about 37.8 grams; this made it the same as a tael. In modern
China, the liang equals 1/10 jin or 10 qian; this is
exactly 50 grams (1.7637 ounces).
jin
a traditional unit of weight in China, comparable to the English pound. During the
European colonial era the jin was identified with the catty, a Malay
unit widely used in various forms throughout East and Southeast Asia. Like the
catty, the jin was then equal to 1 1/3 pounds or 604.79 grams. Traditionally, it
was divided into 16 liang. In modern
China, however, the jin is a metric unit equal to exactly 500 grams (1.1023
pounds) and divided into 10 liang. The kilogram itself is usually called the
gongjin, or "metric jin." The spellings chin and gin also
have been used for the jin.
qian
a traditional Chinese weight unit. In modern China the qian is equal to 0.1
liang, or
exactly 5 grams (0.1764 ounce).
catty
a weight unit of the colonial period in East and Southeast Asia, originating
as the kati in Malaya. The catty varied a little from market to market.
Typically it was equal to about 4/3 pound avoirdupois
(604.79 grams), and it is still equal to that weight in Malaysia. In Thailand,
the catty is used now as a metric unit equal to exactly 600 grams (1.3228
pounds). In China, the catty was identified with the jin, a traditional
Chinese unit.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, 2003-01-21 23:39
Subject: [USMA:24553] RE: Non Metric
Recipe Du Jour
2003-01-21
Sure it is included. It looks like from the
definition below that it is strongly related to British Imperial/British
Colonial units. I just wonder if it is still in use and if so, if it has
been redefined to a rational metric value like the European pounds set equal
to 500 g.
tael or tahil
a traditional unit of weight used throughout eastern Asia. During the
colonial period, the tael was more or less standardized throughout the region
at 4/3 ounce
avoirdupois (1/16 catty, 1/12 pound, or about
37.8 grams). In Japan, however, the tael was identified with a slightly
smaller traditional unit and is considered equal to 1.323 ounces (37.51
grams). The tael is usually considered equal to the Chinese liang.
John
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, 2003-01-21 20:08
Subject: [USMA:24552] RE: Non Metric Recipe Du
Jour
> You mean that you
no longer include the tael in FFU?
>
> A very sad tael
indeed.
>
> Bill Potts, CMS
> Roseville, CA
>
http://metric1.org [SI
Navigator]
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
> >Behalf Of kilopascal
>
>Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 15:36
> >To: U.S. Metric
Association
> >Subject: [USMA:24551] RE: Non Metric Recipe Du
Jour
> >
> >
> >2003-01-21
> >
>
>FFU was not meant as an alternative name for USC or Imperial. It was
meant
> >as a catch-all phrase for ALL non-SI units. Even
Chinese ones. But, for
> >all practical purposes FFU is taken
to mean USC and Imperial because they
> >are the only remaining
"systems" still left. Or at least the only ones
> >looking for
international acceptance.
> >
> >John
>
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