Shaku (unit)
| Shaku | |
|---|---|
| Unit system | Japanese units |
| Unit of | length |
| Symbol | 尺 |
| 1 尺 in ... | ... is equal to ... |
| SI units | 0.3030 m |
| imperial/US units |
0.9942 ft 11.93 in |
The shaku (Japanese: ?) or Japanese foot is a Japanese unit of length derived (but varying) from the Chinese chi, originally based upon the distance measured by a human hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the forefinger (compare Span). Traditionally, the length varied by location or use, but it is now standardized as 10/33meters (30.3 centimeters or 11.9 inches).
Shaku entered English in the early 18th century, deriving from the Japanese pronunciation of the kanji , the same character as the Chinese chi. (The modern Taiwanese chi actually uses this length as well, while the mainland and Hong Kong chis vary slightly.)
The shaku had been standardized as 10/33meter (30.3 centimeters or 11.9 inches) since 1891. This means that there are 3.3 shaku to one meter. The use of the unit for official purposes was banned on March 31, 1966, although it is still used in traditional Japanese carpentry and some other fields. The traditional Japanese bamboo flute known as the shakuhachi ("shaku and eight") derives its name from its length of one shaku and eight sun. Similarly, the koku remains in use in the Japanese lumber trade.
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