Convert chinese cun to inches easily.
1 cun x 1.312335958 = 1.312335958 in
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Ever tried following a traditional Chinese sewing pattern only to get stuck on cun measurements? Or maybe you’ve wondered how acupuncture charts translate to standard imperial units? You’re not alone, the Chinese cun throws curveballs at anyone working across measurement systems. But here’s the good news: converting cun to inches is simpler than brewing green tea once you know the tricks. Let’s unravel this ancient measurement mystery together.
Units explained
What is a chinese cun (cun)?
Description: A traditional Chinese unit of length, part of the chi measurement system. Still used in medicine and crafts.
Symbol: None officially, often written as "cun"
Common uses: Acupuncture point locations, traditional garment making, furniture design
Definition: 1/10 of a chi, approximately 3.333 cm
What is an inch (in)?
Description: Imperial/US customary unit of length, widely used in English-speaking countries
Symbol: in or "
Common uses: Screen sizes, body measurements, construction
Definition: Exactly 25.4 mm per international agreement since 1959
Conversion formula
The golden ratio for conversion:
Inches = Chinese cun × 1.312335958
Need to go the other way? Flip it:
Chinese cun = Inches ÷ 1.312335958
For quick mental math, use 1.312 as the multiplier. You’ll be within 0.02% of the exact value – close enough for most practical purposes unless you’re crafting precision instruments!
Example calculations
- Converting 3 cun to inches
3 cun × 1.3123 = 3.9369 inches
That’s slightly longer than a standard smartphone - 7 inches to cun
7 ÷ 1.3123 ≈ 5.335 cun
Perfect for translating western belt sizes to traditional Chinese measurements
Conversion tables
Chinese cun to inches
| Cun | Inches |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.3123 |
| 2 | 2.6247 |
| 3 | 3.9370 |
| 4 | 5.2493 |
| 5 | 6.5617 |
| 6 | 7.8740 |
| 7 | 9.1864 |
| 8 | 10.4987 |
| 9 | 11.8110 |
| 10 | 13.1234 |
Inches to chinese cun
| Inches | Cun |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.7620 |
| 2 | 1.5240 |
| 3 | 2.2860 |
| 4 | 3.0480 |
| 5 | 3.8100 |
| 6 | 4.5720 |
| 7 | 5.3340 |
| 8 | 6.0960 |
| 9 | 6.8580 |
| 10 | 7.6200 |
Historical background
The cun’s history is as long as the Great Wall – literally. First standardized during teh Qin dynasty (aprox. 221-206 BCE), it was part of China’s early unification efforts. Originally based on body measurements (the width of a thumb at the knuckle), it evolved into a precise metric unit. Meanwhile, inches trace their roots to ancient Rome’s "uncia" (meaning: twelfth part), later standardized by English monarchs. Fun fact: King Edward II declared 1 inch equal to 3 barleycorns in 1324!
Interesting facts?
- Acupuncture’s living ruler: Expert practitioners still use finger-width measurements to locate points, with 1 cun equal to the patient’s own thumb width
- Furniture fidelity: Ming dynasty reproduction makers insist on original cun measurements for authenticity
- Sun vs cun: Japan’s similar sun unit (1/10 shaku) is 3.03 cm – just 3% shorter than the cun
- Metric harmony: Since 1984, China officially defines 1 cun as exactly 3.333 cm through metric conversion
- Tailor’s trick: Traditional Chinese tailors measure 1 cun as the space between two shirt buttons when stretched
FAQ
This conversion helps in fields like acupuncture, tailoring, or studying historical Chinese texts where cun measurements are used.
Our tool uses the standardized 1 cun = 1.3123 inches ratio, though slight regional variations existed historically.
They’re similar (1 sun ≈ 1.193 inches), but not identical. The Japanese sun is slightly shorter than the Chinese cun.
Traditionally, 1 cun equals the width of your thumb at the knuckle – but this varies between individuals.
Yes! Acupuncturists often use finger-width measurements to locate pressure points, though modern rulers provide standardization.