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Ruler

Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)

Not on view

The Han government adopted the measurement system of the Qin. The basic unit for length, or chi, equaled approximately 9 inches, or 23 centimeters. Known examples vary slightly in length, from 21.7 to 24.1 centimeters. At the time of its discovery, the present example was more than eight-tenths intact, indicating that it was originally 23.4 centimeters long. Generally, rulers of the Eastern Han period were slightly longer, and the reason for this change remains unknown.

Ruler, Bronze, China — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

东汉铜尺

Title: Ruler

Period: Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)

Culture: China

Medium: Bronze

Dimensions: W. 1/2 in. (1.2 cm); L. 6 5/16 in. (16 cm)

Classification: Metalwork

Credit Line: Lent by Gansu Provincial Museum

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.