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Chamberlain, Things Japanese

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The following is the result of character recognition on Chamberlain's section on weight. It looks curiously reminiscent of Cardelli's effort... ?


Weights and Measures. 499 

Notice how much longer the inch and foot of Cloth Measure 
are than the measures of Distance similarly named. In order to 
distinguish the two kinds of foot, the Cloth Measure foot is 
often called kujira-jdku, the Distance foot kane-jaku. In cheap 
material the Ian is apt to be short, in expensive stuffs long. 
Superficies. 

36 square sJiaku i bu = 3.9538 square yards. 

30 bu i se =119 (about) ,, ,, 

10 se i tan 0.2451 acre. 

10 Ian = i cho = 2.4507 acres. 

This is how agricultural land is measured. Town lots and 
buildings go by tsubo only, whatever their size: i tsubo=i bu, 
An English acre is nearly equivalent to 1,210 Isubo, or 4 Ian 
and 10 bu. It may be useful to remember that the Isubo (bu) 
is exactly the size of two Japanese mats laid side by side. The 
area of rooms is computed in mats (jo), which are always 6 
shaku long by 3 shaku broad. 
Capacity. 

10 sfiau=i gi> -J pint 3 I 76 pint. 

10 go =i sho .> i ^- quart 7 1.5881 quart. 

TO sho i/o & j 4 S allons > or 1 j 3-9703 gallons. 
t j J bushel " j 4g62 bushe] 

4/0 =i hyo | 2 bushels 1-9852 bushel. 

TO in -T ^/v/ " \ 4 g allons " S 39-7033 gallons. 
1 or 5 bushels j 4.9629 bushels. 

It was in koku shall we translate it "bales?" of rice that the 
incomes of Daimyos and their retainers were formerly computed, 
while the rations of the lower grade of Samurai were computed 
in hyo or " bags." The hyo of charcoal is of indeterminate size, 
as is also the iva, or " bundle," of fire-wood. 
Weight. 

10 mo =i rin = .5797 grain avoirdupois 

10 rin = i fun = S-797 2 grains ,, 

10 fun = i momme =2.12 drachms 

i6omomme= i kin (pound) = 1.32 2 7 Ib. 

i,ooomom?ne= T kwan or fizt a?n?ne=S.2Sij Ibs. ,, 


Other references

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Review: New Scientist 25 January 1997 (should have a paper copy somewhere)