Chi (尺)
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Definition
The chi (尺) is a traditional Chinese unit of length now standardized in the People's Republic of China at exactly 1/3 meter (33.333... cm).
Explanation
Historically, the chi varied across dynasties and regions, typically ranging from 23 to 35 cm. It was the fundamental building block of Chinese measurement, with 10 cun making one chi and 10 chi making one zhang. The Qing dynasty chi used in architectural work (~32 cm) is still referenced when studying historical structures. The current standardized value of 1/3 m was established in 1984 to align with the metric system.
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