Convert japanese shaku to inches easily.
1 尺 x 11.9303 = 11.9303 in
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Ever wondered how traditional Japanese carpenters measure wood for temples or why antique kimonos have such precise dimensions? The secret lies in the shaku—a unit that’s been part of Japan’s measurement system for centuries. But if you’re working on a project that mixes Eastern and Western units, converting shaku to inches can feel like solving a riddle. Let’s simplify it.
Unit definitions
What is a japanese shaku (尺)?
The shaku is a traditional Japanese length unit rooted in China’s chi. Symbolized as 尺, it’s roughly the length from a person’s thumb to middle finger when stretching their hand—about 11.93 inches. While Japan phased it out for official use in the 1950s, you’ll still find it in carpentry, textile work, and martial arts (like kendo staffs).
- Symbol: 尺
- Common uses: Furniture, tatami mats, kimono fabrics
- Definition: 1 shaku = 10/33 meters ≈ 11.9303 inches
What is an inch (in)?
An inch, derived from the Roman "uncia," is a standard imperial unit used primarily in the US, UK, and Canada. It’s about the width of an adult thumb and is crucial for everything from screen sizes to plumbing parts. Fun fact: The international inch was officially defined as 25.4 mm in 1959 to unify discrepancies between English-speaking countries.
- Symbol: in
- Common uses: Screens, construction, manufacturing
- Definition: 1 inch = 25.4 mm = 1/12 foot
Conversion formula
To convert shaku to inches:
Inches = Shaku × 11.9303
For inches to shaku:
Shaku = Inches ÷ 11.9303
Example calculations
- Converting 3 shaku to inches:
3 shaku × 11.9303 = 35.7909 inches
That’s roughly the height of a barstool! - Converting 20 inches to shaku:
20 inches ÷ 11.9303 ≈ 1.676 shaku
Imagine a large pizza box—about 1.7 shaku wide.
Conversion tables
Japanese shaku to inches
| Shaku | Inches |
|---|---|
| 1 | 11.9303 |
| 2 | 23.8606 |
| 3 | 35.7909 |
| 4 | 47.7212 |
| 5 | 59.6515 |
| 6 | 71.5818 |
| 7 | 83.5121 |
| 8 | 95.4424 |
| 9 | 107.3727 |
| 10 | 119.303 |
Inches to japanese shaku
| Inches | Shaku |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.838 |
| 20 | 1.676 |
| 30 | 2.515 |
| 40 | 3.353 |
| 50 | 4.191 |
| 60 | 5.030 |
| 70 | 5.868 |
| 80 | 6.706 |
| 90 | 7.544 |
| 100 | 8.383 |
Historical background
The shaku’s story starts in China around 200 BCE, where the chi was used for land measurement. When Japan adopted Chinese writing and culture, they brought the unit over, tweaking its length slightly. By the Edo period (1603–1868), different regions used varying shaku lengths, until the Meiji government standardized it in 1891. Post-WWII, Japan shifted to metric, but the shaku stuck around in crafts. Did you know? Traditional kendo swords (bokken) are still measured in shaku for authenticity.
Interesting facts
- Tatami math: A standard tatami mat is 6 shaku × 3 shaku (≈71.6" × 35.8").
- Martial arts: Kendo bamboo swords (shinai) max out at 4 shaku 2 sun (≈49.6 inches).
- Human scale: 1 shaku approximates the average hand span of an adult male.
- Modern survival: Some Japanese pipe diameters are still labeled in shaku for compatibility with older systems.
- Cultural nods: Anime like Demon Slayer reference shaku in weapon descriptions.
FAQ
The shaku is used in Japan for measuring furniture, textiles, and traditional crafts like tatami mats. It's also seen in architecture for room dimensions.
The shaku came from teh Chinese chi unit during cultural exchanges in ancient times. Japan standardized it in 1891 to about 11.93 inches.
No, Japan adopted the metric system in 1958. But some industries, like carpentry, still use shaku for its cultural familiarity.
Primarily Japan. Other East Asian nations have similar units (like Korea's ja), but they’re not identical in length.
Our tool uses the 1891 standard (1 shaku = 11.9303 inches), accurate for most purposes. For historical texts, double-check the context.