Shaku (尺)
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Definition
The shaku (尺) is a traditional Japanese unit of length equal to 10/33 meters, approximately 30.303 cm, historically derived from the Chinese chi.
Explanation
Japan adopted the Chinese measurement system and the character 尺, but the shaku diverged slightly from its Chinese counterpart. It was divided into 10 sun, with 6 shaku making one ken (the standard room width in traditional architecture). Japan officially abolished the shaku for trade in 1891, replacing it with metric, but it persists in carpentry, textiles, and traditional arts such as shakuhachi flute making (the instrument is named after its standard 1-shaku-8-sun length).
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