As the entire Party engages in the study and education of Party history, it is both necessary and highly meaningful to further study and briefly review the exploration and practice of weights and measures under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the Agrarian Revolution, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the War of Liberation. Within the Soviet areas, revolutionary base areas, and liberated areas under its leadership, the CPC simultaneously waged struggles against the enemy and pursued production and construction. Work regarding weights and measures was indispensable to both of these endeavors.
In July 1929, the "Motion of the First CPC Congress of Western Fujian" proposed the "unification of weights and measures." Around 1930, counties in the Soviet area—such as Yongding, Shanghang, and Longyan—as well as the Congress of Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers of Western Fujian, passed resolutions explicitly calling for the "unification of weights and measures." The "Declaration and Resolutions of the First Congress of Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers of Western Fujian" (March 1930) stated: "The scales, measuring boxes, and rulers used by merchants must be standardized; no schemes may be employed to exploit workers and peasants..." In November 1931, the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic stipulated in its "Draft Constitution of the Chinese Soviet Republic" that "weights and measures and the monetary system shall be formulated" and implemented uniformly across all Soviet areas nationwide. In February 1934, the "Organic Law of the Central Soviet of the Chinese Soviet Republic," signed by Chairman Mao Zedong, stipulated that the National Soviet Congress and the Central Executive Committee held the authority to "formulate weights and measures and the monetary system." Regarding the application of units, the standardized units used in the Central Soviet Area at the time primarily included: length units (*cun*, *chi*, *zhang*); capacity units (*sheng*, *dou*, *dan*); weight units (*qian*, *liang*, *jin*); and land area units (*mu*). Additionally, liquid medicines manufactured by state-owned pharmaceutical plants in the Soviet area uniformly used "cc" as the unit of measurement. In January 1934, the Second National Congress of Soviets adopted the "Resolution on the National Emblem, National Flag, and Military Flag," which specified that "the national flag... shall measure five *chi* in width and three *chi* six *cun* in height... and the military flag... shall measure five *chi* in width and three *chi* six *cun* in height..." In December 1931, the "Resolution on Economic Issues of the Southeastern Hubei Office" stated: "All commercial activities within the Soviet areas must ensure fair trade; weighing scales, measuring vessels, and rulers must be uniform; and any discrepancies found regarding scales or measuring vessels shall be resolutely penalized." Regarding the organizational structure for weights and measures, the "Provisional Organizational Outline of the Ministry of National Economy," formulated by the Chinese Soviet Republic in April 1933, stipulated that "the administration of weights and measures and quality inspection work for the Chinese Soviet Republic shall be the responsibility of the Enterprise Administration Bureau under the Ministry of National Economy."
In September 1937, the Northwest Office of the Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic was renamed the "Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region Government." The "Organizational Regulations of the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region Government," promulgated in April 1939, stipulated that the Department of Construction of the Border Region Government was responsible for duties such as "the inspection and supervision of weights and measures." In March 1942, the Department of Construction issued an order to standardize weights and measures, requiring the "formulation of a standard *shi-chi* (market *chi*) and a branding iron, with one set distributed to each county. Artisans are to be supervised to replicate these for distribution to local chambers of commerce to ensure uniform manufacturing, and government officials are to conduct inspections and apply the official brand." Subsequently, the responsibility for the administration of weights and measures was transferred from the Department of Construction to the Department of Industry and Commerce of the Border Region Government. In April 1942, the Border Region Government promulgated the "Measures for Unifying the Administration of Weights and Measures in the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region," which established standardized units: the basic unit of length was the *chi* (foot), with 10 *chi* making a *zhang*, 10 *cun* (inch) making a *chi*, 10 *fen* making a *cun*, and 10 *li* making a *fen*; one *shi mu* (market *mu*) equaled 6,000 square *chi*, and one *shi li* equaled 1,500 *shi chi*; the basic unit of capacity was the *sheng* (liter), with 10 *he* making a *sheng*, 10 *sheng* making a *dou*, and 10 *dou* making a *shi*; the basic unit of weight was the *jin* (catty), with 10 *fen* making a *qian*, 10 *qian* making a *liang* (tael), and 16 *liang* making a *jin*. The government designated a *nanmu* wood "Fairness Ruler" (*gongping chi*) as the standard for length; this ruler measured 35 cm in length, 2 cm in width, and 0.5 cm in thickness, featuring scale markings on the front and a "Fairness" (*gongping*) brand—applied after passing official inspection—at both ends of the back. The standard for capacity was the "Warehouse *Dou*," calculated based on a weight of 30 *shi jin* for one *dou* of millet or wheat; the physical reference for this was the "Shajiadian Grain Station Wooden *Dou*," with a capacity of 18,750 milliliters. The standard for weighing was the Border Region wooden steelyard scale based on the market system, utilizing a scale where one *shi jin* equaled 16 *liang*. To ensure fair market transactions, the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee issued the "Directive on Improving the Unified Sales of Table Salt" in July 1943, mandating that all unified salt sales agencies adopt a standardized system of weights and measures and strictly prohibiting practices such as "buying with a large-scale weight and selling with a small-scale weight," or manipulating the scale by "scooping out two bowls" or "lifting the scale beam" during weighing. The "Measures for the Implementation of Unified Cotton Purchasing," promulgated by the Border Region Government in September 1943, stipulated that "all cotton intake and output must be measured using the standard 16-tael scale; fraudulent practices—such as using a larger scale for intake and a smaller one for output, or manipulating the scale—are strictly prohibited." In 1949, the Border Region's Department of Industry and Commerce issued the "Plan for Standardizing Weights and Measures." This plan took into full account the requirements for land surveying, grain collection and taxation, and public-private trade, vigorously promoting the "Market System" (Shi system) by mandating that 1 meter equal 3 *shi* chi (market feet), 1 kilogram equal 2 *shi* jin (market catties), and 1 liter equal 1 *shi* sheng (market liters). As the War of Liberation achieved successive victories and the territory of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region expanded, the administration of weights and measures entered a new phase of development. The Border Region Government successively formulated regulations and measures covering the licensing of weights and measures manufacturing, the collection and expenditure of verification fees, the prohibition of old-system weighing and measuring instruments, the training of verification personnel, and the organization of verification agencies; it also issued directives regarding the collection and preservation of standard instruments and verification tools. To advance the work on weights and measures, the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Anti-Japanese Base Area established a "General Administration of Industry and Commerce" in September 1941 to serve as the specialized agency for managing weights and measures. To ensure the equitable calculation of financial and grain levies, the base area authorities promulgated the *Provisional Measures for Progressive Financial and Grain Levies in Guerrilla and Frontline Zones of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region* in September 1942. These measures adopted standard units of measurement—specifically the *shi* and *dou*—to calculate the progressive financial and grain burdens imposed on individuals and households. The regulations stipulated that income calculations would be based on grain yields from the land; households with an average annual per capita income of less than two *shi* (based on a *dou* equivalent to 13.5 *jin*) of grain were exempt from the levy. For those exceeding this threshold, the excess amount was categorized into seven tiers for assessment: Tier 1 (excess of up to 0.5 *shi* above the exemption point): 3 *hao* per *dou*. Tier 2 (excess of up to 1 *shi*): 5 *hao* per *dou*. Tier 3 (excess of up to 2 *shi*): 8 *hao* per *dou*. Tier 4 (excess of up to 4 *shi*): 1 *li* 2 *hao* per *dou*. Tier 5 (excess of up to 8 *shi*): 1 *li* 8 *hao* per *dou*. Tier 6 (excess of up to 15 *shi*): 2 *li* 6 *hao* per *dou*. Tier 7 (excess of up to 30 *shi*): 3 *li* 6 *hao* per *dou*. For amounts exceeding 30 *shi*, the progressive rate ceased to apply, and the levy was set at a flat rate of 3 *li* 6 *hao* per *dou*. Fractional amounts of less than one *dou* were calculated using the rounding method. In February 1943, the Base Area’s General Bureau of Industry and Commerce issued a directive titled "Circular on Standardizing Weights and Measures and Adopting New Scales" (Directive No. 15). This circular mandated the universal use of new scales across the Base Area and clearly defined the standards: "To unify weights and measures throughout the region, the Taihang Industrial Cooperative has been commissioned to manufacture a large batch of new scales; each scale weighs two *jin*—equivalent to one kilogram or 13 *liang* and 8 *qian* on the old sixteen-*liang* scale..." To ensure fair trade, the "Circular on Pilot Grain Exchanges" (Directive No. 151), issued in November 1943, stipulated that "the function of the exchange is to handle measuring and weighing... to facilitate transactions." In September 1944, the Base Area issued "Regulations on the Timing and Methods for Adopting the New Market *Jin*" (Directive No. 199), further clarifying that "all calculations must now use the new market *jin* (where one old *jin* is counted as one new *jin*), and all future references to weight units refer to the new market *jin*. The weight of one *dou* of millet is set at 16 *jin* and 2 *liang* (new market weight) (with one *shi* equivalent to 161 *jin* and 4 *liang*); any reference to *dou* measurements must be calculated based on the new market *jin* count, and the use of *dou* and *shi* units for public grain expenditures is prohibited (the figure of 15 *jin* per *dou* of millet cited in Directive No. 196 was incorrect). The conversion rates between *jin* of millet and *jin* of coarse grains for public grain purposes remain unchanged from previous regulations." In June 1946, the "Provisional Measures on Grain Transaction Fees" promulgated by the base area stipulated that "personnel, grain merchants, or cooperatives responsible for measuring grain volume (using *dou* measures) and weight (using scales) must not engage in fraudulent practices—such as spilling grain, allowing leakage, or engaging in extortion—and any violations shall be treated as acts of embezzlement."
The "Decision on Unifying Weights and Measures," issued by the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region in 1940, mandated the standardization of measuring instruments (scales, *dou* measures, and rulers) based on the international metric system; this standardization was to extend down to the village level, with each village required to possess at least one set of standard measuring instruments.
In July 1948, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region and the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region jointly issued a document titled "Unification of Currency and Systems of Weights and Measures." This document stipulated that "scales shall be based on the *shi* (market) scale, and *dou* measures on the *shi* *dou* (where 1 *dou* of millet equals 16 *shi* jin); rulers shall be based on the *shi* chi (market ruler), where 3 *shi* chi equals 1 meter." Following the merger of the two border regions, the North China People's Government was established in September 1948; within this government, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce was charged with the unified management of the manufacture, verification, and supervision of weights and measures.
The Economic Committee of the Northeast Administrative Committee maintained a Bureau of Weights and Measures; at the provincial level, agencies managing weights and measures were situated within the provincial Departments of Construction, while at the county and municipal levels, such management functions were handled by the Construction Sections of the respective local governments. The "Order on Standardizing Weights, Measures, and Land Measurement Standards," promulgated by the Northeast Administrative Committee in December 1947, stipulated that "in order to standardize weights, measures, and land measurement standards for land reform... and referencing internationally accepted standards, it is decreed that 1 *shi sheng* equals 1 liter, 2 *shi jin* equal 1 kilogram, 3 *shi chi* equal 1 meter, and 1 *shang* equals 1 hectare, while adopting a decimal system..." Under this system: capacity uses the *shi sheng* as the basic unit (10 *ge* = 1 *shi sheng*; 10 *shao* = 1 *ge*); weight uses the *shi jin* as the basic unit (1 metric ton = 2,000 *shi jin*; 10 *liang* = 1 *shi jin*; 10 *qian* = 1 *liang*; 10 *fen* = 1 *qian*; 10 *li* = 1 *fen*; 10 *hao* = 1 *li*); length uses the *shi chi* as the basic unit (1 *li* = 150 *zhang* or 1,500 *shi chi*; 1 *zhang* = 10 *shi chi*; 10 *cun* = 1 *shi chi*; 10 *fen* = 1 *cun*; 10 *li* = 1 *fen*; 10 *hao* = 1 *li*); and land area uses the *shang* as the basic unit (1 *shang* = 10 *shi mu*, i.e., 3,600 square *gong* or 90,000 square *shi chi* [equivalent to 100 ares or 10,000 square meters]; 1 *mu* = 10 *fen*, i.e., 360 square *gong* or 9,000 square *shi chi*; 1 *fen* = 10 *li*, i.e., 36 square *gong* or 900 square *shi chi*; 1 *li* = 3.6 square *gong* or 90 square *shi chi*; 1 square *gong* = 25 square *shi chi*; 1 square *shi chi* = the area of a square with sides of 1 *shi chi*; 1 *gong* = 5 *shi chi*). Regarding the implementation of standardized weights and measures, the *Order on Standardizing Weights, Measures, and Land Surveying Standards* stipulated that while the use of these standards had become quite common in cities, variations persisted in remote rural areas. Governments at all levels were instructed to seize the opportunity provided by land reform and land distribution to implement the "Large Mu" system—standardizing land area measurements based on the formula: 5 *shi* chi (market feet) = 1 *gong*; 2 *gong* = 1 *zhang*; and 90 square *zhang* (or 360 square *gong*) = 1 *mu*. It was further mandated that, by the time of the autumn harvest when farmers delivered public grain, all grain be weighed using the metric ton system, thereby abolishing the diverse local *dou* and *shi* (traditional volume measures). To ensure consistent enforcement, the Economic Committee was tasked with establishing a Bureau of Weights and Measures, with corresponding offices to be set up within provincial Departments of Construction and county or municipal Construction Sections to facilitate unified management.
The above account offers but a glimpse into the Communist Party of China’s exploratory efforts and practical initiatives regarding weights and measures reform across the Soviet areas, revolutionary base areas, and liberated areas during various historical periods. Such exploration and practice accumulated a wealth of beneficial and essential experience, provided invaluable reference points, and constituted a rare and precious asset for the work of standardizing weights and measures following the founding of the People's Republic of China.