For many of us, measurements may be a prominent part of our readings in Classical Japanese (or even just archaic modern Japanese). For me personally, who studies traditional clothing, the old units of measurement come up relatively frequently, and in traditional arts, these units may still be preferred. Of course, it is to be expected that they occasionally crop up in various readings, so let’s go over some of the most common ones for future reference.
These measurements were standardized and became known as 尺貫法・しゃっかんほう (shakkanhou).
Bold denominations are the standard for that category. The second reading is the old kana reading.
Length
- 寸・すん = 3cm = 1.2in
- 尺・しゃく・しやく = 10寸 = 30.3cm = 11.93in
- 丈・じょう・ぢやう = 10尺 = 303cm = 9.9ft
- 町・ちょう・ちやう = 360尺 = 109.1m = 357.9ft
- 里・り = 12,960尺 = 3927m = 2.44mi
- OR 600m/1968.5ft
Area
- 勺・しゃく・しやく = .001坪 = 3.3cm2 = 51.2in2
- 畳・じょう・じやう = .5坪 = 1.65m2 = 3.56ft2 (also known as the area of 1 tatami mat)
- 坪・つぼ = 3.3m2 = 35.6ft2
- 町・ちょう・ちやう = 3000坪 = 9917m2 = 10,6746ft2/2.45acres
Volume
- 合・ごう・がふ = 180ml (the size of a wooden sake box)
- 升・しょう・しやう = 10合 = 1.8l (the former standard volume of a sake bottle [the present standard is almost the same])
- 石・こく = 100升 = 180l (the volume of rice one person would eat in a year [this is how the salary of nobles was measured])
Mass
- 匁・もんめ = 3.75g = .13oz (still used in the international pearl industry)
Money
Currency was often measured in rice, and as such, amounts of rice and coinage were convertible. However, the value of rice fluctuated with the rice yield of that year, and the value of the coinage fluctuated depending on various factors. Without a standard, coins were often worth their weight in the metal with which they were composed.
The systems of currency change greatly throughout history, so double check in greater detail the period you’re dealing with, but here is the general system instated under Tokugawa rule.
- 両・りょう・りやう = fluctuates over the years
- 小判・こばん = 1両 (ovular gold and silver alloy plate)
- 二分判・にぶばん = .5両
- 一分判・いちぶばん = .25両
- 大判・おおばん = 10両
- 文・もん = 1/4000両 (small bronze, Chinese-style coins)
Fabric
- 反・端・たん - the length of fabric required to make one adults kimono; changes and clothing changes; currently >3丈 (kimono), >2丈4尺 (haori), or >2丈 (other)
Some examples in Classical texts:
三寸ばかりなる人 – a person of only 9cm (TM)
方丈記 – 10 square-foot record (adding 方 squares the measurement, so literally 1 square jou) (HJK)
御前のつぼにも作らせ給へり – in your courtyard as well, you made it (in this context, tsubo refers to a relatively small plot of land, in this case understood to mean an inner garden) (MS)
Classical Japanese 