Sheng (volume)

The '''sheng''' ({{lang-zh|c=升|p=shēng}}), also known as the '''Chinese liter''', is a traditional unit of volume originating in China. It was later adopted in Japan, where it is known as the ''sho'', in Korea as the ''seung'', and in Vietnam and other East Asian regions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/升 |title=升 (''Sheng'' in China, ''sho'' in Japan and ''seung'' in Korea)|date=27 August 2024 }}</ref> One ''sheng'' is equal to 10 ''ge'' or 1⁄10 ''dou'', although its exact capacity has varied across historical periods and regions.

In modern usage, the value of one ''sheng'' differs by country: in China, it is defined as exactly 1 litre;<ref name="ROC1930">{{Cite web|url=http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425025351/http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-04-25 |title=The Weights and Measures Act (1929) |publisher=Legislative Yuan |language=Chinese}}</ref><ref name="LI2016">{{Cite book |last=Language Institute |first=Chinese Academy of Social Sciences |script-title= zh:现代汉语词典 (附錄：計量單位表) | trans-title= Contemporary Chinese Dictionary (Appendix: Measure units) |publisher=Commercial Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-7-100-12450-8 |edition=7th |location=Beijing |language=zh|page=1790}}</ref> in Japan, one ''sho'' equals approximately 1.8039 litres;<ref name="auto" /> and in Korea, one ''seung'' is 1.8 litres.{{sfnp|Kim|2007}}

Historically, the ''sheng'' was primarily used as a measure for cereal grains. In contemporary contexts, it is more commonly used, like the litre, to measure liquids or gases.{{sfn|Language Institute|2016|p=1165}}<ref name="CamDic" />

==Ancient systems== [[File:两诏铜方升.jpg|thumb|The Liangzhao bronze cubic ''sheng'' was a standard measuring instrument issued by the Qin Dynasty. It bears inscriptions of the imperial edicts from the 26th year of the reign of the First Emperor and the first year of Qin Er Shi.]] As a unit of volume, the ''sheng'' emerged during the Warring States period (c. 475–221 BC) and has been in continuous use since then.<ref name=CamDic>{{cite web |title=Cambridge Dictionary |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zhs/词典/汉语-简体-英语/升}}</ref><ref name=zh_wiki/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ '''History of volume measurement systems in China '''<ref name=zh_wiki>{{cite web | url=https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/中國度量衡#量 | title=中國度量衡 }}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=February 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=shēng [Chinese 升] |url=https://www.sizes.com/units/sheng.htm?form=MG0AV3 |publisher=Sizes}}</ref> |----- ! style="BACKGROUND: #efefef" | Dynasty ! style="BACKGROUND: #efefef" | Unit conversion ! style="BACKGROUND: #efefef" | Metric conversion (milliliters ml) |----- | Warring States Period (戰國) | Qi (齊): 1 zhong (鍾) = 10 fu (釜); 1 fu = 4 qu (區); 1 qu = 4 dou (豆); 1 dou = 4 sheng (升) — Chu (楚): 1 shao (筲) = 5 sheng (升) — | |----- | Qin (秦) || Three Qin (三晉) 1 hu (斛) = 10 dou (斗); 1 dou = 10 sheng (升) || 1 hu = 20,000 ml; 1 dou = 2,000 ml; 1 sheng = 200 ml; Shang Yang's Reform (商鞅變法): 1 cubic sheng = 201 ml |----- | Han (漢) | 1 hu (斛)=10 dou (斗)；1 斗=10 sheng (升)；1 升=10 ge (合)；1合=2 yue (龠)；1龠=5 cuo (撮)；1撮=4 gui (圭) | 1 hu = 20,000 ml; 1 dou = 2,000 ml; 1 sheng = 200 ml; 1 ge = 20 ml; 1 lun = 10 ml; 1 cuo = 2 ml; 1 gui = 0.5 ml |----- | Three Kingdoms (三國) and Jin (兩晉) || 1 hu = 10 dou; 1 dou = 10 sheng; 1 sheng = 10 ge | 1 hu = 20,450 ml; 1 dou = 2,045 ml; 1 sheng = 204.5 ml; 1 ge = 20.45 ml |----- | Northern and Southern Dynasties (南北朝) || 1 hu = 10 dou; 1 dou = 10 sheng; 1 sheng = 10 ge | 1 hu = 30,000 ml; 1 dou = 3,000 ml; 1 sheng = 300 ml; 1 ge = 30 ml |----- | Sui (隋) || 1 hu = 10 dou; 1 dou = 10 sheng; 1 sheng = 10 ge | Kaihuang (開皇): 1 hu = 60,000 ml; 1 dou = 6,000 ml; 1 sheng = 600 ml; 1 ge = 60 ml Daye (大業): 1 hu = 20,000 ml; 1 dou = 2,000 ml; 1 sheng = 200 ml; 1 ge = 20 ml |----- | Tang (唐) || 1 hu = 10 dou; 1 dou = 10 sheng; 1 sheng = 10 ge | Large system (大): 1 hu = 60,000 ml; 1 dou = 6,000 ml; 1 sheng = 600 ml; 1 ge = 60 ml Small system (小): 1 hu = 20,000 ml; 1 dou = 2,000 ml; 1 sheng = 200 ml; 1 ge = 20 ml |----- | Song (宋) | 1 dan (石) = 2 hu; 1 hu = 5 dou; 1 dou = 10 sheng; 1 sheng = 10 ge | 1 dan = 67,000 ml; 1 hu = 33,500 ml; 1 dou = 6,700 ml; 1 sheng = 670 ml; 1 ge = 67 ml |----- | Yuan (元) | 1 dan = 2 hu; 1 hu = 5 dou; 1 dou = 10 sheng; 1 sheng = 10 ge | 1 dan = 95,000 ml; 1 hu = 47,500 ml; 1 dou = 9,500 ml; 1 sheng = 950 ml; 1 ge = 95 ml |----- | Ming (明) & Qing (清) | 1 dan = 2 hu; 1 hu = 5 dou; 1 dou = 10 sheng; 1 sheng = 10 ge | 1 dan = 100,000 ml; 1 hu = 50,000 ml; 1 dou = 10,000 ml; 1 sheng = 1,000 ml; 1 ge = 100 ml |}

==Modern systems== === China ===

The ''sheng'' (升) was established as the base unit in the volume measurement system promulgated by the Chinese government in 1915. At that time, one sheng was defined as 1.0354688 litres.<ref name="ROC1915">{{citation |contribution-url=http://gaz.ncl.edu.tw/eng/detail.jsp?sysid=D1500002 |contribution=權度法 [''Quándù Fǎ''] |title=''政府公報 [''Zhèngfǔ Gōngbào'', ''Government Gazette'']'' |location=Beijing |volume=957 |publisher=Office of the President |date=7 January 1915 |pages=85–94 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. {{in lang|zh}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" |+ Table of Chinese volume units effective in 1915<ref name="ROC1915" /> |- !Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !US value !Imperial value !Notes |- |align=center|''sháo'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|勺}} |align=right|{{frac|100}} |align=left|{{val|10.354688|u=mL}} |align=left|0.3501 fl oz |align=left|0.3644 fl oz |align=right| |- |align=center|''gě'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|合}} |align=right|{{frac|10}} |align=left|{{val|103.54688|u=mL}} |align=left|3.501 fl oz |align=left|3.644 fl oz |align=right| |- |align=center|'''''shēng''''' |align=right|{{lang|zh|'''升'''}} |align=right|1 |align=left|{{val|1.0354688|ul=L}} |align=left|2.188 pt |align=left|1.822 pt |align=right| |- |align=center|''dǒu'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|斗}} |align=right|10 |align=left|{{val|10.354688|u=L}} |align=left|2.735 gal |align=left|2.278 gal |align=right| |- |align=center|''hú'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|斛}} |align=right|50 |align=left|{{val|51.77344|u=L}} |align=left|13.68 gal |align=left|11.39 gal |align=right| |- |align=center|''dàn'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|石}} |align=right|100 |align=left|{{val|103.54688|u=L}} |align=left|27.35 gal |align=left|22.78 gal |align=right| |}

A revised system was introduced in the Weights and Measures Acts of the 18th year of the Republic of China (1929), effective from 1 January 1930. The volume units in use, as listed in the ''Chinese Name Plan for Unified Metric Units of Measurement'' (1959), include the ''dàn'', ''dǒu'', ''shēng'', and ''gě''. The basic unit remains the shēng, now defined as exactly 1 litre.

To distinguish between different interpretations of the litre, the traditional Chinese ''shēng'' is also known as 市升 (''market sheng'' or ''market litre''), while the modern transliteration of litre is referred to as 公升 (''common sheng'' or ''common litre'').<ref name="ROC1930" /><ref name="PRC1959">{{in lang|zh}} [http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2011-11/09/content_1988933.htm 1959 Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China], [http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/shuju/1959/gwyb195916.pdf No. 180], page 317</ref>

{|class="wikitable" |+ Table of Chinese volume units effective since 1930<ref name="ROC1930" /><ref name="PRC1959"/> |- !Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !US value !Imperial value !Notes |- |align=center|''cuō'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|撮}} |align=right|{{frac|1000}} |align=left|1 mL |align=left|0.0338 fl oz |align=left|0.0352 fl oz |align=right|millilitre |- |align=center|''sháo'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|勺}} |align=right|{{frac|100}} |align=left|10 mL |align=left|0.3381 fl oz |align=left|0.3520 fl oz |align=right|centilitre |- |align=center|''gě'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|合}} |align=right|{{frac|10}} |align=left|100 mL |align=left|3.381 fl oz |align=left|3.520 fl oz |align=right|decilitre |- |align=center|'''''shēng''''' |align=right|{{lang|zh|'''市升'''}} |align=right|1 |align=left|1 L |align=left|2.113 pt |align=left|1.760 pt |align=right|litre |- |align=center|''dǒu'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|市斗}} |align=right|10 |align=left|10 L |align=left|21.13 pt<br>2.64 gal |align=left|17.60 pt<br>2.20 gal |align=right|decalitre |- |align=center|''dàn'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|市石}} |align=right|100 |align=left|100 L |align=left|26.41 gal |align=left|22.0 gal |align=right|hectolitre |}

Today, similar to the litre, the ''shēng'' is most commonly used to measure liquids or gases.<ref name=CamDic/>

=== Japan === In Japan, the base unit of volume is the ''shō'' (升), equivalent to the Chinese ''shēng''. One ''shō'' is defined as 1.804 litres. Traditional beverages such as sake and shōchū are often sold in 1800 mL bottles known as ''isshōbin'' (一升瓶), literally "one ''shō'' bottle".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.urbansake.com/sake-101/sake-glossary/isshobin/|title=Isshobin {{pipe}} 一升瓶|website=UrbanSake.com}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Table of volume units in Japan<ref name="auto">[https://books.google.com/books?id=kt9DIY1g9HYC&dq=%22conversion+coefficients+between+these+two%22&pg=PA2270 Iwata, Shigeo. "Weights and Measures in Japan"]</ref><ref name=UN1955>{{citation |ref={{harvid|UN|1955}} |title=World Weights and Measures: Handbook for Statisticians |url = https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001478405 |series=ST/STAT/SER. M/21, UN Publication No. 1955.XVII.2 |publisher=Statistical Office of the United Nations |location = New York, NY |year = 1955 }}</ref>

!colspan="2"|Unit !rowspan="2"|Shō !colspan="2"|Metric !colspan="2"|US !colspan="3"|Imperial |- !Romanized !Kanji !Exact !Approx. !Exact !Approx. !Exact !Approx. |- style="text-align: right" | rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Sai | rowspan=2 align="center"| {{lang|ja|才}} | rowspan=2 height="30pt"| {{frac|1000}} | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|2401|1,331,000}}{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | 1.804{{nbsp}}mL | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|37,515,625|15,900,351,812,136}}{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}yd | 29.28{{nbsp}}min | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|240,100|605,084,579}}{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | 30.47{{nbsp}}min |- style="text-align: right" | 0.1101{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}in |- style="text-align: right" | rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Shaku | rowspan=2 align="center"| {{lang|ja|勺}} | rowspan=2 height="30pt"| {{frac|100}} | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|2401|133,100}}{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | 18.04{{nbsp}}mL | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|187,578,125|7,950,175,906,068}}{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}yd | 0.6100{{nbsp}}fl{{nbsp}}oz | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|2,401,000|605,084,579}}{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | 0.6349{{nbsp}}fl{{nbsp}}oz |- style="text-align: right" | 1.101{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}in |- style="text-align: right" | rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Gō | rowspan=2 align="center"| {{lang|ja|合}} | rowspan=2 height="30pt"| {{frac|10}} | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|2401|13,310}}{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | 180.4{{nbsp}}mL | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|937,890,625|3,975,087,953,034}}{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}yd | 0.3812{{nbsp}}pt | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|24,010,000|605,084,579}}{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | 0.3174{{nbsp}}pt |- style="text-align: right" | 0.3276{{nbsp}}dry{{nbsp}}pt |- style="text-align: right" | rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | '''Shō''' | rowspan=2 align="center"| {{lang|ja|'''升'''}} | rowspan=2 | 1 | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|2401|1331}}{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | 1.804{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|4,689,453,125|1,987,543,976,517}}{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}yd | 1.906{{nbsp}}qt | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|240,100,000|605,084,579}}{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | 1.587{{nbsp}}qt |- style="text-align: right" | 1.638{{nbsp}}dry{{nbsp}}qt |- style="text-align: right" | rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | To | rowspan=2 align="center"| {{lang|ja|斗}} | rowspan=2 | 10 | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|24,010|1331}}{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | 18.04{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|46,894,531,250|1,987,543,976,517}}{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}yd | 4.765{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|2,401,000,000|605,084,579}}{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | 3.968{{nbsp}}gal |- style="text-align: right" | 2.048{{nbsp}}pk |- style="text-align: right" | rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Koku | rowspan=2 align="center"| {{lang|ja|石}} | rowspan=2 | 100 | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|240,100|1331}}{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | 180.4{{nbsp}}L | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|468,945,312,500|1,987,543,976,517}}{{nbsp}}cu{{nbsp}}yd | 47.65{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | {{sfrac|24,010,000,000|605,084,579}}{{nbsp}}gal | rowspan=2 | 39.680{{nbsp}}gal |- style="text-align: right" | 5.119{{nbsp}}bu |- |colspan="13" bgcolor=#F0F0F0|'''Notes:''' * Approximations are rounded to four significant figures. |}

===Korea=== In Korea, the traditional volume unit is the ''doi'' (되), equivalent to the Chinese ''shēng'' and the Japanese ''shō''. In Korean, it is also referred to as ''seung'' (승, 升).<ref>{{citation |last=Kim |first=Jun Hee |contribution=Taking Measure |title=Invest Korea Journal |volume=25 |date=March 2007 |location=Seoul |publisher=Korea Trade–Investment Promotion Agency }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Table of volume units in Korea<ref>{{citation |title=''"Weights and Measures in East Asian Studies"'' |url = http://www.albany.edu/eas/205/weights%20and%20measures.pdf |publisher=State University of New York |location=Albany |last=Fessley |first=Susanna |year=2009 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |ref={{harvid|NIKH|2017}} |year=2017 |contribution=Glossary of Korean History |title=Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty |contribution-url = http://esillok.history.go.kr/front/glossary/historicalTerms/HistoricalTermsList.do |url=http://esillok.history.go.kr/front/index.do |publisher=National Institute of Korean History |location=Seoul }}</ref> ! colspan="3" |Romanization ! rowspan="2" |Korean ! rowspan="2" |English ! colspan="3" |Equivalents |- !RR !MR{{sfnp|Fessley|2009|p=9}} !Other !Doe<ref name="un" /> !Other countries !Global |- |Jak |Chak | |{{lang|ko|작}}({{lang|ko|勺}}) | |{{Frac|1|100}} | |{{Convert|18|mL|abbr=on}} |- |Hop |Hop | |{{lang|ko|홉}} | |{{Frac|1|10}} |Ge |{{Convert|180|mL|abbr=on}}{{efn|name=imp|The variant figures in Fessley {{sfnp|Fessley|2009|p=9}} and the UN reports<ref name="un">{{harvp|UN|1955|loc=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015030989050;view=1up;seq=91 III-59]}}.</ref> are based on the imperial measuring system.}}<ref name="un" /> |- |Doe |Toe |Doi<ref name="un" /><br>Dwe{{sfnp|Kim|2007}} |{{lang|ko|되}} | rowspan="2" |Korean Peck{{sfnp|NIKH|2017}} | rowspan="2" |1 | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Convert|1.8|L|abbr=on}}{{efn|imp}}<ref name="un" /> |- |'''Seung''' |Sŭng | |{{lang|ko|'''승'''}}({{lang|ko|'''升'''}}) |- |Mal |Mal | |{{lang|ko|말}} | rowspan="2" |Korean Bushel | rowspan="2" |10 | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Convert|18|L|abbr=on}}{{efn|imp}}<ref name="un" /> |- |Du |Tu | |{{lang|ko|두}}({{lang|ko|斗}}) |- |Seom |Sŏm | |{{lang|ko|섬}} | rowspan="3" |Korean Picul{{sfnp|NIKH|2017}} | rowspan="3" |100 | rowspan="3" |Picul | rowspan="3" |{{Convert|180|L|abbr=on}}{{efn|imp}}<ref name="un" /> |- |Seok |Sŏk |Suk<ref name="un" /> |{{lang|ko|석}}({{lang|ko|石}}) |- |Jeom |Chŏm | |{{lang|ko|점}}({{lang|ko|苫}}) |- |Sogok |Sogok | |{{lang|ko|소곡}}({{lang|ko|小斛}}) | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |150 | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Convert|270|L|abbr=on}} |- |Pyeongseok |P'yŏngsŏk | |{{lang|ko|평석}}({{lang|ko|平石}}) |- |Daegok |Taegok | |{{lang|ko|대곡}}({{lang|ko|大斛}}) | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |200 | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Convert|360|L|abbr=on}} |- |Jeonseok |Chŏnsŏk | |{{lang|ko|전석}}({{lang|ko|全石}}) |}

==Sheng and litre== In China, the English unit litre is also referred to as ''sheng'' (升). When a distinction is necessary, the word litre is translated as 公升 (''gōngshēng'', "common sheng" or "common litre"), while the traditional Chinese unit is referred to as 市升 (''shìshēng'', "market sheng" or "market litre"), as it has historically been more commonly used in commercial contexts.<ref name="ROC1915" /><ref name=LI2016 />

The different ''sheng'' units may also be distinguished by the regions in which they are used or defined, such as the Chinese ''sheng'', Japanese ''shō'', Korean ''seung'', or British litre, among others.

In mainland China, one ''sheng'' is equal to one litre. As the two units are identical in size, both are commonly referred to as ''sheng'' in Chinese or litre in English, unless clarification is required.

Additionally, standard SI prefixes are applied to the character 升 (''shēng'') to form other metric volume units. These include: *分升 (''fēnshēng'') – decilitre (dL) *厘升 (''líshēng'') – centilitre (cL) *毫升 (''háoshēng'') – millilitre (mL)<ref name="PRC1959" /><ref name="LI2016" />

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References ==  {{reflist}}

Category:Units of volume Category:Customary units of measurement Category:Chinese units of measurement