From Xiquanqiu to Yongcheng:The Length of the Ruler in the Qin State's Measuring Rods
In ancient times,the system of measures was closely intertwined with national authority.As the power of the kings waned during the late Western Zhou to the Eastern Zhou period,the system of measurements became chaotic.Prior to the emergence of the Shang Yang Square Measure(a standard measure),the Qin state did not have a clear and consistent system for its units of length.According to archaeological materials and transmitted historical records,it is speculated that during this period,there were possibly three different lengths for one chi in the Qin state,which are 19.86cm,22.7cm,and 23.1cm.Given the Qin's emphasis on burial rites and protocols,an integer-based measurement system from ancient architecture was hypothesized to be applied to the royal tombs of the Qin state across different periods.The method involved restoring the tomb dimensions using each of the three proposed chi lengths,while endeavoring to preserve numbers with special significance,then analyzing the errors,and ultimately employing mathematical statistical methods to verify and select the most likely chi length that corresponded to the actual use in the tombs.Through this method,different chi measures used by the Qin state across various periods were identified,thereby reconstructing the changes in the system of measurements within the Qin during the period from its capital's relocation from Xiquanqiu to Yongcheng.
the system of measuresthe Qin statetombsinteger-based measurement
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