Mace (unit)

Mace
Chinese name
Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinqián
Wade–Gilesch'ien2
Hakka
Romanizationtshièn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationchìhn
Jyutpingcin4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJchîⁿ
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabettiền
Chữ Hán
Korean name
Hangul돈, 전
Hanja
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationdon, jeon
McCune–Reischauerton, chŏn
Mongolian name
Mongolian Cyrillicцэн
Japanese name
Kanji錢 (匁[1])
Hiraganaせん (もんめ)
Transcriptions
Romanizationsen (monme)
Malay name
Malaymas
Indonesian name
Indonesianmas
Manchu name
Manchu scriptᠵᡳᡥᠠ
Möllendorffjiha

A mace (Chinese: ; pinyin: qián; Hong Kong English usage: tsin;[2] Southeast Asian English usage: chee[3]) is a traditional Chinese measurement of weight in East Asia that was also used as a currency denomination. It is equal to 10 candareens and is 110 of a tael or approximately 3.78 grams. A troy mace is approximately 3.7429 grams. In Hong Kong, one mace is 3.779936375 grams.[2] and in Ordinance 22 of 1884, it is 215 ounces avoirdupois. In Singapore, one mace (referred to as chee) is 3.77994 grams.[4]

In imperial China, 10 candareens equaled 1 mace which was 110 of a tael and, like the other units, was used in weight-denominated silver currency system. A common denomination was 7 mace and 2 candareens, equal to one silver Chinese yuan.

  1. ^ weight unit (1891–1933)
  2. ^ a b "Weights and Measures Ordinance". The Law of Hong Kong.
  3. ^ "Weights and Measures" in The Miners' Pocket-book.
  4. ^ "Weights and Measures Act (CHAPTER 349) Third Schedule". Singapore Statutes.