利在千秋的法定基準

文/五花肉

度量衡的起源最早可追溯至原始社會。彼時，古人只能依靠自己的手、眼等器官來判斷物體的大小、長短，進而發明了“布指知寸”“手捧成升”“滴水計時”等原始方法，滿足生產生活的需要。

The origin of measurement can be traced back to the primitive society. At that time, the ancient Chinese could only rely on their hands, eyes and other organs to measure the size and length, and then invented the original measuring methods such as "width of a finger as an inch"; "content of two hands as a liter" and "drip timing" to meet the needs of production and life.

計量器具蓬勃興起

Development of Measuring Instruments

隨著經濟社會的發展，這些原始方法因為個體差異大、計量精度差等缺點，逐漸退出歷史舞臺。取而代之的是更加實用、更易推廣的標準計量器具。

With the development of economy and society, these primitive methods gradually withdrew from the historical stage because of measurement error and inaccuracy. Instead, more practical and easier standard measuring instruments began to emerge.

春秋戰國時期，實力強大的諸侯國紛紛制定了各自的長度、容積、重量等計量單位，并推出規格統一的計量器具，極大促進了轄區內經貿流通。《考工記》中就記載了齊國釜、豆、升三種計量器具的規格、尺寸、容量和重量。

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, powerful vassal states formulated their own units of measurement such as length, volume and weight, and introduced unified measuring instruments, which greatly promoted economic and trade circulation within their jurisdiction."Kaogongji"recorded the specifications of cauldrons, beans and liters formulated by Qi state for measurement of size,volume and weights.

計量標準天下一統

Unified Standards of Measurement

然而，由于諸侯割據、群雄鼎立，各國的計量單位也不盡相同，國與國之間的貿易流通困難，成為了制約經濟進一步繁榮發展的最大掣肘。

However, due to fragmentation of a country by rivaling warlords, the measurement units in different states were also different, and the difficulties in trade circulation between countries seriously hindered economic prosperity and development.

公元前221年，秦始皇掃清六合后頒布“秦律”，以法令統一度量衡，為進一步規范全國流通市場奠定了最重要的標準化基礎，留下了“百代皆行秦法”的歷史美名。

In 221 B.C.,Qin Shi Huang(first emperor of Qin Dynasty) conquered the six states and united with them as one empire. He issued the "Qin Law"to decree unified measurement, laying the most important standardized foundation for further standardization of the national circulation market.He left behind him the historical reputation of "All generations implementing the Qin Law".

商鞅方升·秦上海博物館藏

銅方斗·漢中國國家博物館藏

黃鐘律管·漢江西省博物館藏

計量體系逐漸建立

Establishment of Measurement System

到了漢代，時人引入音律工具，將古代音樂十二律中的第一律“黃鐘律管”作為度量衡的基準器，以其容納 黍（一種黑色谷子）的長度、容積和重量為標準，建立了相應的法定計量單位體系。

In the Han Dynasty, people introduced musical instruments and took theHuangzhong Pipe(ancient Chinese musical instruments) as the benchmark of measurement. Based on the length, volume and weight of millet (a kind of black millet), the corresponding legal unit of measurement system was established.

比如，標準的黃鐘律管長度為9寸，正好與90顆 黍的長度相同。以此類推，每顆 黍的長度被定義為一分，十顆為一寸，十寸為一尺。不同規格的長度單位換算自此變得簡單、便捷。

For example, the standard length ofHuangzhongPipewas 9 inches long, which was exactly the same as the length of 90 pieces millet. By analogy,the length of each piece of millet is defined as one point, 10 points as one inch and 10 inches as one foot so the conversion of length units of different specifications became simple and convenient.

結 語

Conclusion

從原始的身體測量到標準的計量器具，從統一計量標準到建立計量標準體系，人類在完善計量標準一致性、準確性、系統性的同時，也不斷增進著對萬物的理解和對科學的追求。

From the primitive measurement method to standard measuring instruments, from unified measuring standards to the establishment of measuring standard systems, human beings kept improving the consistency, accuracy and systematicness of measuring standards, and at the same time, they constantly improved their understanding of everything in pursuit of science.