三代以来。权量之制。自隋文帝一变。杜氏通典言六朝量三升。当今一升。秤三两。当今一两。尺一尺二寸。
当今一尺。左传定公八年。正义曰。魏齐斗称。于古二而为一。周隋斗称。于古三而为一。隋书律历志言梁陈根据
古斗。齐以古升五升为一斗。周以玉升一升。当官斗一升三合四勺。开皇以古斗三升为一升。大业初。根据复古斗。
梁陈根据古秤。齐以古秤一斤八两为一斤。大业初根据复古秤。今考之传记。如孟子以举百钧为有力人。三十斤为钧。
百钧则三千斤。晋书成帝纪。今诸郡举力人。能举千五百斤以上者。史记秦始皇纪。金人十二。重各千石。置宫
廷中。百二十斤为石。千石则十二万斤。汉旧仪祭天养牛五岁。至二千斤。晋书南阳王保传。自称重八百斤。不应
若此之重。考工记爵一升。觚三升。献以爵而酬以觚。一献而三酬。则一豆矣。礼记宗庙之祭。贵者献以爵。贱
者献以散。尊者举觯。卑者举角。五献之尊。门外缶。门内壶。君尊瓦 。注凡觞一升曰爵。二升曰觚。三升曰觯。
四升曰角。壶大一石。瓦 五斗。诗曰。我姑酌彼金 。毛说。人君
以黄金饰尊。大一硕。每食四簋。正义。簋、瓦器。容斗二升。不应若此之巨。周礼舍人丧记。共饭米。
注饭以实口。君用粱。大夫用稷。士用稻。皆四升。管子凡食盐之数。一月丈夫五升少半。妇人三升少半。
婴儿二升少半。史记廉颇传。一饭斗米。汉书食货志。食人月一石半。赵充国传。以一马自佗负三十日
食。为米二斛四斗。麦八斛。匈奴传。计一人三百日食。用HT 十八斛。不应若此之多。史记河渠书。可令
亩十石。稽康养生论。夫田种者。一亩十斛。谓之良田。晋书傅玄传。白田收至十余斛。水田至数十斛。
今斩获最多。亦不及此数。灵枢经。人食一日中五升。既夕。礼朝一溢米。暮一溢米。注二十两曰溢。
为米一升二十四分升之一。晋书宣帝纪。问诸葛公食可几何。对曰三四升。会稽王道子传。国用虚竭。自
司徒以下。日廪七升。本皆言少而反得多。是知古之权量。比之于今。大抵皆三而当一也。史记孔子世家。
孔子居鲁。奉粟六万。索隐曰。当是六万斗。正义曰。六万小斗。当今二千石也。此唐人所言三而当一之验。
盖自三代以后。取民无制。权量之属。每代升序。至魏孝文太和十九年。诏改长尺大斗。根据周礼制度。
颁之天下。隋炀帝大业三年四月壬辰。改度量权衡。并根据古式。虽有此制。竟不能复古。至唐时犹有大斗小
斗之名。而后代则不复言矣。
山堂考索。斛之为制。方尺而深尺。班志乃云。其中容十斗。盖古用之斗小。
欧阳公集古录。有谷口铜甬。始元四年。左冯翊造。其铭曰。谷口铜甬。容十斗。重四十斤。以今权量校之。
容三斗。重十五斤。斗则三而有余。斤则三而不足。吕氏考古图。汉好时官厨鼎。刻曰重九斤一两。今重三
斤六两。今六两当汉之一斤。又曰。轵家釜三斗弱。轵家甑三斗一升。当汉之一石。大抵是三而当一也。
古以二十四铢为两。五铢钱十枚。计重二两二铢。今秤得十枚。当今之一两弱。又汉书王莽传言天凤元年。
改作货布。
长二寸五分。广一寸。长官八分有奇。广八分。其圆好径二分半。足枝长八分。间广二分。其文右曰货。
左曰布。重二十五铢。顷富平民掊地。得货布一罂。所谓长二十五分者。今钞尺之一寸六分有奇。广一寸
者。今之六分有半。八分者。今之五分。而二十五铢者。今称得百分两之四十二。（俗云四钱二分）是则
今代之大于古者。量为最。权次之。度又次之矣。
自夏商周三代以来，权（秤锤/重量）和量（容器/容积）的制度，到隋文帝时期发生了一次变革。杜佑在《通典》中记载：六朝时期的三升，相当于现在的一升；秤上的三两，相当于现在的一两；尺长一尺二寸，相当于现在的一尺。
《左传·定公八年》的正义解释说：魏国和齐国的斗和秤，相对于古代是两倍为一倍（即古二今一）；周朝和隋朝的斗和秤，相对于古代是三倍为一倍（即古三今一）。《隋书·律历志》记载：梁朝和陈朝依据古代的斗制；北齐以五个古代升合成一个斗；北周以“玉升”为一个升，相当于官方的斗一升三合四勺。隋开皇年间，以三个古代升作为一个升；大业初年，又依据复古的斗制。梁朝和陈朝依据古代的秤制；北齐以八个古代两合成一斤；大业初年，又依据复古的秤制。
现在我考证传记资料：如《孟子》中说能举起百钧的人是有力量的人，三十斤为一钧，那么百钧就是三千斤。《晋书·成帝纪》记载，当时各郡推举有力气的人，能举起一千五百斤以上的。《史记·秦始皇本纪》记载，十二个金人，每个重千石，放置在宫廷中，一百二十斤为一石，千石就是十二万斤。《汉旧仪》记载祭祀上天饲养的牛有五岁重达两千斤。《晋书·南阳王司马保传》记载，他自称体重八百斤，不应该这么重。《考工记》记载：爵容一升，觚容三升，用爵献酒后用觚回敬，一次献酒三次回敬，就是一豆的量。《礼记》宗庙祭祀中，尊贵者用爵献酒，卑贱者用散献酒，尊者举觯，卑者举角。五献之尊，门外放缶，门内放壶，君主用瓦甒。注解说：凡是容量一升的叫爵，二升的叫觚，三升的叫觯，四升的叫角。壶大一石，瓦甒五斗。《诗经》说：“我姑且斟酌那金色的尊。”毛亨解释说，人君用黄金装饰尊，容量一大硕，每餐四个簋。正义解释说：簋是瓦器，容量一斗二升，不应该这么大。《周礼·舍人》丧记中，提供饭米，注解说饭是用来填口的，君主用粱，大夫用稷，士用稻，都是四升。《管子》记载每月食盐的数量，成年男子五升多一点，妇女三升多一点，婴儿二升多一点。《史记·廉颇蔺相如列传》记载，一顿饭吃一斗米。《汉书·食货志》记载，每人每月吃一石半。《赵充国传》记载，以一匹马自己背负三十天的口粮，为米二斛四斗，麦八斛。《匈奴传》记载，计算一个人三百天的食物，用米十八斛，不应该这么多。《史记·河渠书》记载，可以令亩产十石。嵇康《养生论》说，种田的人，一亩产十斛，称为良田。《晋书·傅玄传》记载，白田收成多达十余斛，水田多达数十斛，现在收获最多的，也不及这个数目。《灵枢经》记载，人一天吃五升。《既夕礼》记载，早晨一溢米，晚上一溢米，注解说二十两叫溢，折合米一升二十四分之一升。《晋书·宣帝纪》记载，问诸葛亮的饭量有多少，回答说三四升。《会稽王道子传》记载，国家财政空虚，从司徒以下，每天俸禄七升。原本都说量少反而显得多，由此可知古代的权量，与现在相比，大体上都是三倍相当于一倍。《史记·孔子世家》记载，孔子在鲁国，领取粟米六万。索隐解释说，应当是六万斗。正义解释说，六万小斗，相当于现在的二千石。这是唐代人所言“三而当一”的验证。大概自从三代以后，向百姓征税没有制度，权量这类事物，每代都逐渐上升。到了魏孝文帝太和十九年，下诏改变长尺和大斗，依据《周礼》的制度，颁布天下。隋炀帝大业三年四月壬辰日，改度量权衡，都依据古式，虽然有这个制度，最终没能恢复古制。到了唐代还有大斗小斗的名称，而后代就不再提了。
《山堂考索》记载，斛的制度，方尺深尺，《汉书·地理志》却说其中容纳十斗，大概是古代用的斗小。欧阳修《集古录》中有谷口铜甬，始元四年，左冯翊制造。铭文说：谷口铜甬，容量十斗，重四十斤。用现在的权量校测，容量三斗，重十五斤。斗则三倍有余，斤则三倍不足。吕大临《考古图》记载，汉代好时官厨鼎，刻着重九斤一两，现在重三斤六两。现在的六两相当于汉代的一斤。又说：轵地家釜三斗弱，轵地家甑三斗一升，相当于汉代的一石。大体上是三倍相当于一倍。
古代以二十四铢为一两，五铢钱十枚，计重二两二铢。现在的秤称得十枚，相当于现在的一两多一点。又《汉书·王莽传》记载天凤元年，改制货布。长二寸五分，宽一寸，长官八分多，宽八分，圆好直径二分半，足枝长八分，间距广二分，文字右边写“货”，左边写“布”，重二十五铢。近来富有的平民挖地，得到一罂货布，所谓长二十五分的，现在量得一寸六分多，宽一寸的，现在量得六分半，八分的，现在量得五分，而二十五铢的，现在称得百分之一两的四十二（俗云四钱二分）。则是现在的度量衡比古代大的，以量为最甚，权其次，度又其次。
Since the Three Dynasties (Xia, Shang, Zhou), the systems of Quan (weight) and Liang (volume) underwent a change during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. Du You's *Tongdian* states that three Sheng in the Six Dynasties period equal one Sheng today; three Liang on the scale equal one Liang today; and one Chi of length measuring one foot two inches equals one Chi today.
The commentary on the *Zuo Zhuan* (Ding Gong 8th Year) explains: The Dou (peck) and scales of Wei and Qi were double those of antiquity (two ancient units to one modern); while those of Zhou and Sui were triple those of antiquity (three ancient units to one modern). The *Book of Sui*, Treatise on Music and Calendar, records that Liang and Chen followed the ancient Dou system; Qi combined five ancient Sheng into one Dou; Zhou used the "Jade Sheng" as one unit, equivalent to one Dou, three Ge, and four Shao of the official standard. In the Kaihuang era of Sui, three ancient Sheng were made into one Sheng; at the beginning of the Daye era, the system reverted to the ancient Dou. Liang and Chen followed the ancient weight system; Qi combined eight ancient Liang into one Jin; at the beginning of the Daye era, the system reverted to the ancient weight.
Examining historical texts: Mencius mentions a strong man can lift 100 Jun, where 30 Jin make one Jun, so 100 Jun is 3,000 Jin. The *Book of Jin*, Annals of Emperor Cheng, records that counties recommended men capable of lifting over 1,500 Jin. The *Records of the Grand Historian*, Annals of Qin Shi Huang, describes twelve bronze figures, each weighing 1,000 Shi, placed in the palace, where 120 Jin make one Shi, totaling 120,000 Jin. The *Han Jiuyi* records oxen for heaven sacrifices weighing up to 2,000 Jin. The *Book of Jin*, Biography of Sima Bao, claims he weighed 800 Jin, which seems excessive. The *Kaogong Ji* states: Jue holds one Sheng, Gu holds three Sheng; offering with Jue and returning with Gu constitutes one Dou. The *Book of Rites* notes that in ancestral sacrifices, the noble offer with Jue, the humble with San; the respected raise Zhi, the lowly raise Jiao. For the Five Offerings, Fu vessels are outside the gate, Hu vessels inside, and the ruler uses Wa Wu. Commentaries state: One Sheng is Jue, two Sheng is Gu, three Sheng is Zhi, four Sheng is Jiao. A Hu holds one Shi, a Wa Wu holds five Dou. The *Classic of Poetry* says, "I shall pour from that golden Zun." Mao Heng explains rulers used gold-decorated Zun holding one Shuo, with four Gui per meal. Commentaries note Gui are earthenware holding one Dou two Sheng, which seems too large. The *Rites of Zhou*, She Ren chapter on mourning, specifies rice offerings: Rulers use Sorghum, Daifu use Panicum, Shi use Rice, all four Sheng. The *Guanzi* records monthly salt consumption: adult men 5+ Sheng, women 3+ Sheng, infants 2+ Sheng. The *Records of the Grand Historian*, Biography of Lian Po, mentions eating one Dou of rice per meal. The *Book of Han*, Treatise on Food and Money, states monthly consumption of one and a half Shi. The Biography of Zhao Chongguo records a horse carrying thirty days' rations: 2.4 Hu of rice and 8 Hu of wheat. The Xiongnu biography calculates 18 Hu of rice for one person over 300 days, which seems excessive. The *Records of the Grand Historian*, Treatise on Waterways, suggests yields of ten Shi per mu. Ji Kang's *Essay on Nourishing Life* defines good land as yielding ten Hu per mu. The *Book of Jin*, Biography of Fu Xuan, records white fields yielding over ten Hu, water fields tens of Hu, yet current maximum yields do not reach these numbers. The *Ling Shu Jing* states daily human consumption is five Sheng. The *Ji Xi Li* mentions morning and evening rice of one Yi each, where twenty Liang make one Yi, equating to slightly over one Sheng. The *Book of Jin*, Biography of Emperor Xuan, records Zhuge Liang's diet as three to four Sheng. The Biography of Sima Daozi notes officials below the Situ received seven Sheng daily. These accounts suggest ancient quantities appear small but convert to large modern equivalents, indicating ancient measures were roughly three times larger than modern ones. The *Records of the Grand Historian*, Hereditary House of Confucius, states Confucius received 60,000 Su. The Suoyin interprets this as 60,000 Dou; the Zhengyi as 60,000 small Dou, equivalent to 2,000 Shi today. This validates the Tang dynasty view of "three ancient units equaling one modern." Since the Three Dynasties, taxation lacked regulation, causing measures to increase gradually. Emperor Xiaowen of Wei (Taihe 19th Year) ordered longer Chi and larger Dou based on the *Rites of Zhou*. Emperor Yang of Sui (Daye 3rd Year) revised measures based on ancient models, though full restoration failed. Tang times still distinguished large and small Dou, but later periods did not.
*Shantang Kaosuo* states the Hu vessel was square chi deep chi, yet the *Book of Han* claims it held ten Dou, implying ancient Dou were smaller. Ouyang Xiu's *Collected Ancient Records* mentions a Gukou Tong Yong cast in the 4th Year of Shiyuan by Zuofengyi. Inscription reads: "Gukou Copper Yong, capacity ten Dou, weight forty Jin." Modern measurement shows capacity three Dou, weight fifteen Jin. Thus, Dou exceeds threefold, while Jin falls short of threefold. Lu Dalin's *Archaeological Pictures* records the Han Hao Shi Official Kitchen Ding inscribed as nine Jin one Liang, now weighing three Jin six Liang. Modern six Liang equals one ancient Jin. It also notes Yi family Fu (pot) slightly less than three Dou, Yi family Zeng (steamer) three Dou one Sheng, equivalent to one ancient Shi. Generally, three ancient units equal one modern.
Anciently, twenty-four Zhu made one Liang. Ten Wuzhu coins weighed two Liang two Zhu. Modern scales weigh ten coins as slightly over one Liang. The *Book of Han*, Biography of Wang Mang, records the Tianfeng 1st Year reform of Huobu. Length 2.5 Cun, width 1 Cun, central part 0.8+ Cun, width 0.8 Cun, round diameter 0.25 Cun, leg branch 0.8 Cun, gap 0.2 Cun. Text right "Huo," left "Bu," weight 25 Zhu. Recently, a wealthy commoner found a jar of Huobu. The "25 Fen" length measures 1.6+ Cun today; 1 Cun width measures 0.65 Cun today; 0.8 Cun measures 0.5 Cun today; and 25 Zhu weighs 0.42 Liang today (commonly said as 4 Qian 2 Fen). Thus, modern measures exceed ancient ones, with Volume being the greatest difference, Weight second, and Length third.