Stone (Chinese mass)
Encyclopedia
Stone is the English word for a historical Chinese unit of mass. While the character "石" is normally pronounced shí (pinyin
: shí; Cantonese: sek6), as a unit of measure it is pronounced dàn (pinyin
: dàn; Cantonese: daam3).
Historically, during the Qin
and Han
dynasties, the stone was used as a unit of measurement. One stone was equal to 120 catties
. Government officials at the time were paid in grains, counted in stones. The amount of salary in weight was then used as a ranking system for officials, with the top ministers being paid 2000 stones.
In the early days of Hong Kong
as a British colony, the stone (with its Chinese pronunciation listed was shik) was used as a measurement of weight. One stone equals 120 catty
, which is about 72.5747784 kilograms (160 lb). It was made obsolete due to a subsequent overriding legislation in 1885, which made no reference to this unit.
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: shí; Cantonese: sek6), as a unit of measure it is pronounced dàn (pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: dàn; Cantonese: daam3).
Historically, during the Qin
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
and Han
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
dynasties, the stone was used as a unit of measurement. One stone was equal to 120 catties
Catty
The catty , symbol 斤, is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries in some wet markets, street markets, and shops. Related units include the picul, equal to 100 catties, and the tael, which is of a catty. A stone is a...
. Government officials at the time were paid in grains, counted in stones. The amount of salary in weight was then used as a ranking system for officials, with the top ministers being paid 2000 stones.
In the early days of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
as a British colony, the stone (with its Chinese pronunciation listed was shik) was used as a measurement of weight. One stone equals 120 catty
Catty
The catty , symbol 斤, is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries in some wet markets, street markets, and shops. Related units include the picul, equal to 100 catties, and the tael, which is of a catty. A stone is a...
, which is about 72.5747784 kilograms (160 lb). It was made obsolete due to a subsequent overriding legislation in 1885, which made no reference to this unit.