Shaku

The shaku (尺, '' shaku '') is a unit of length used in ancient imperial Japan. Definition

A shaku is the sixth part of a ken, of approximate length at the foot, and is equal to 10/33 m, or 30.3 cm in length. A shaku is divided into ten sun (寸, 'sun'). The shaku is still used today in some professions in Japan, such as carpentry.

Another unit of length also called shaku was used solely to measure tissues. This shaku was 125/330 meters (approximately 37.9 cm). When it was necessary to distinguish between the two shaku, the unit used for the fabrics was called kujirajaku (whale shaku, since the rules for measuring the clothes were made with whale mustaches) and the other was termed as kanejaku (metal shaku ).

Although the Japanese law established that the official use of these units was discontinued after March 31, 1966, the shaku is still used in some professions in Japan, as in traditional carpentry. The ken and the jō are bigger than the shaku: six shaku form a ken; ten shaku form a jō. Ken is usually the distance between pillars in traditional buildings such as Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.

The Shōso-in in Nara has among its treasures an ancient ivory ruler of a long shaku.

The shakuhachi is a Japanese musical instrument measuring 1 shaku and eight (hachi) long sun.

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