The distinctive point
Qin-Han jin: a value with room for evidence
The distinctive point is the uncertainty, not just the headline magnitude. The matrix carries ± 15 g and names the basis as archaeological-weight-range. That keeps comparison possible without pretending that every specimen, survey, or period produced one perfect constant.
Basis: archaeological-weight-range. Check the record source.
- smallerQin-Han liang16 × Qin-Han liang
What this unit was
Qin-Han jin is modelled here as a weight standard of the Early imperial Chinese tradition, associated with China during Qin to Western Han representative. The converter represents one jin as 250 g; its basis is archaeological-weight-range. The matrix carries an indicative uncertainty of ± 15 g.
Within that setting, the unit belonged to a working system for trade, craft production, taxation, bullion, and sometimes coin accounting. It should be read with its period, locality, and evidential basis attached, not as a universal value shared by every culture using a similar name. Coin mass is not a monetary exchange rate.
Evidence of use and sources
The working value is traceable to Cambridge Early China metrology study. Its record is classified as medium confidence and uses the stated basis rather than an assumed culture-wide constant.
Three directly pertinent excerpts from the supplied library are available.
“the use of grains of corn as a means of expressing small weights is very ancient”
British weights and measures as described in the laws of England from Anglo-Saxon times, PDF p. 22. small-weight practice
“Avoir de poiz weight is to be used for other commodities, for Merchandize, and for Grocers.”
A dictionary of weights and measures for the British Isles, PDF p. 51. commodity trade
“every barrel for ale shall contain xxxii. gallons”
A dictionary of weights and measures for the British Isles, PDF p. 61. regulated cask capacity
Working definition
Qin-Han jin is represented as a Early imperial Chinese standard associated with China during Qin to Western Han representative.
The converter uses 250 g per unit with indicative matrix uncertainty ± 15 g.
How to use it
Basis: archaeological-weight-range; confidence: medium. A shared historical name does not make this value portable to another period or polity.
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