利在千秋的法定基准

文/五花肉

度量衡的起源最早可追溯至原始社会。彼时，古人只能依靠自己的手、眼等器官来判断物体的大小、长短，进而发明了“布指知寸”“手捧成升”“滴水计时”等原始方法，满足生产生活的需要。

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.

计量器具蓬勃兴起

Development of Measuring Instruments

随着经济社会的发展，这些原始方法因为个体差异大、计量精度差等缺点，逐渐退出历史舞台。取而代之的是更加实用、更易推广的标准计量器具。

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.

春秋战国时期，实力强大的诸侯国纷纷制定了各自的长度、容积、重量等计量单位，并推出规格统一的计量器具，极大促进了辖区内经贸流通。《考工记》中就记载了齐国釜、豆、升三种计量器具的规格、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.

计量标准天下一统

Unified Standards of Measurement

然而，由于诸侯割据、群雄鼎立，各国的计量单位也不尽相同，国与国之间的贸易流通困难，成为了制约经济进一步繁荣发展的最大掣肘。

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，秦始皇扫清六合后颁布“秦律”，以法令统一度量衡，为进一步规范全国流通市场奠定了最重要的标准化基础，留下了“百代皆行秦法”的历史美名。

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·秦上海博物馆藏

铜方斗·汉中国国家博物馆藏

黄钟律管·汉江西省博物馆藏

计量体系逐渐建立

Establishment of Measurement System

到了汉代，时人引入音律工具，将古代音乐十二律中的第一律“黄钟律管”作为度量衡的基准器，以其容纳 黍（一种黑色谷子）的长度、容积和重量为标准，建立了相应的法定计量单位体系。

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，标准的黄钟律管长度为9寸，正好与90颗 黍的长度相同。以此类推，每颗 黍的长度被定义为一分，十颗为一寸，十寸为一尺。不同规格的长度单位换算自此变得简单、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.

结 语

Conclusion

从原始的身体测量到标准的计量器具，从统一计量标准到建立计量标准体系，人类在完善计量标准一致性、准确性、系统性的同时，也不断增进着对万物的理解和对科学的追求。

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.