Indonesian units of measurement

Last updated

A number of units of measurement were used in Indonesia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. Metric system adopted in 1923 and has been compulsory in Indonesia since 1938. [1]

Contents

System before metric system

Old Dutch and local measures were used under Dutch East Indies. Local measures were very variable, and later they have been legally defined with their metric equivalents. [2]

Length

A number of units were used to measure length. One depa was equal to 1.70 m by its legal definition. [2] [1] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:

1 hasta = 14 depa

1 kilan = 18 depa. [2] [1]

Mass

A number of units were used to measure mass.

Ordinary

One pikol (or one pecul) was equal to 61.7613025 kg by its legal definition. [2] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:

1 thail = 11600 pikol

1 catti = 1100 pikol

1 kabi = 1100 pikol

1 kulack = 0.0725 pikol

1 amat = 2 pikol

1 small bahar = 3 pikol

1 large bahar = 4.5 pikol

1 timbang = 5 pikol

1 kojang (Batavia) = 27 pikol = 1667.555 kg

1 kojang (Semarang) = 28 pikol = 1729.316 kg

1 kojang (Soerabaya) = 30 pikol = 1852.839 kg. [2]

For precious metals

One thail was equal to 54.090 kg by its legal definition. [2] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:

1 wang = 148 thail

1 tali = 116 thail

1 soekoe = 18 thail

1 reaal = 12 thail. [2]

For opium

One thail was equal to 38.601 kg by its legal definition. [2] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:

1 tji = 110 thail

1 tjembang Mata = 11000 thail

1 hoen = 11000 thail. [2]

Area

Several units were used to measure area. One bahoe (or 1 bouw) was equal to 7096.5 m2 and lieue2 (Geographic) was equal to 55.0632 km by its legal definition. [2]

Capacity

Two systems, dry and liquid, were used to measure capacity.

Dry

Several units were used to measure dry capacity. One kojang was equal to 2011.2679 L by its legal definition. [2] One pikol was equal to 130 kojang. [2]

Liquid

A number of units were used to measure liquid capacity. Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:

1 takar (for oil) = 25.770 L

1 kit (for oil) = 15.159 L

1 koelak (for oil) = 3.709 L

1 kan (for various products) = 1.575 L

1 mutsje (for various products) = 0.1516 L

1 pintje (for oil) = 0.0758 L. [2]

Sumatra

Several local units were used in Sumatra.

Length

Units for length included:

1 etto = 2 jankal

1 hailoh = 2 etto

1 tung = 4 hailoh = 12 feet. [3]

Capacity

Units for capacity included:

1 koolah = 2.1173 bushel

1 pakha = 0.14535 gallon. [3]

Mass

Units for mass included:

1 catty = 2.118 lb

1 maund = 77 lb

1 pecul = 133+13 lb

1 candil = 423+12 lb

1 ootan (for camphor) = 4 lb. [3]

Java

Several local units were used in Java. Old Dutch units too were in use, and other units were varied for example one town to another.: [4]

Length

One covid was equal to 34 yard and other units were Dutch. [4]

Mass

Units for mass included:

1 gantang (for coffee) = 10 catties

1 pecul = 100 catties = 135.6312 lb

1 bahar (at Bantam) = 396 lb

1 bahar (at Bantam; used for pepper) = 406.78 lb

1 bahar (at Batavia) = 610.17 lb

1 timbang (for grain) = 677.9625 lb

1 tael (at Bantam) = 0.1511 lb

1 tael (at Batavia) = 0.0847 lb. [3]

Capacity

Units for capacity included:

1 kanne = 0.394 gallons

1 legger (for arrack) = 160.0 gallons

1 bambou (at Bantam) = 0.09223 bushels

1 koyang = 147.568 bushels

1 koyang (at Batavia; measure for rise) = 62432 bushels. [3]

Celebes (Modern Sulawesi)

Units were resemble or identical with the units of neighbouring islands under Netherlands. [5]

Mass

One pecul was equal to 135.64 lb. [5]

Molucca Islands

Dutch units and other units resembling the units in Java, Sumatra, etc. were used. [6]

Amboyna

Mass

Units included:

1 bahar = 597.61 lb

1 mace = 28+12 grain

1 tael = 55.3371 bushel. [6]

Ternate

Mass

One catty was equal to 1.3017 lb. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ton</span> Unit of mass or volume with different values

Ton is any of several units of measure of mass, volume or force. It has a long history and has acquired several meanings and uses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tael</span> Traditional Asian unit of mass

Tael, also known as the tahil and by other names, can refer to any one of several weight measures used in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It usually refers to the Chinese tael, a part of the Chinese system of weights and currency. The Chinese tael was standardized to 50 grams in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushel</span> Unit of volume with numerous different definitions

A bushel is an imperial and US customary unit of volume based upon an earlier measure of dry capacity. The old bushel is equal to 2 kennings (obsolete), 4 pecks, or 8 dry gallons, and was used mostly for agricultural products, such as wheat. In modern usage, the volume is nominal, with bushels denoting a mass defined differently for each commodity.

The catty, kati or , pronounced as jīn in Mandarin and gan in Cantonese, is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries. Related units include the picul, equal to 100 catties, and the tael, which is 116 of a catty. A stone is a former unit used in Hong Kong equal to 120 catties and a gwan (鈞) is 30 catties. Catty or kati is still used in Southeast Asia as a unit of measurement in some contexts especially by the significant Overseas Chinese populations across the region, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Picul</span> Traditional Asian unit of mass

A picul or tam is a traditional Asian unit of weight, defined as "as much as a man can carry on a shoulder-pole".

The quarter was used as the name of several distinct English units based on ¼ sizes of some base unit.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Argentina as its national system was derived from Spanish Castillian. The metric system was legally optional since 1863 and has been compulsory since 1887.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Chile to measure quantities like length, mass, area, capacity, etc. From 1848, the metric system has been compulsory in Chile.

A number of different units of measurement were historically used in Cyprus to measure quantities like length, mass, area and capacity. Before the Metric system, the Imperial system was used. In between 1986-1988, metric system was adopted in Cyprus.

A number of units of measurement were used in Egypt to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. In Egypt, the metric system was made optional in 1873 and has been compulsory in government use since 1891.

Traditional Greek units of measurement were standardized and used in modern Greece before and alongside the adoption of the metric system in 1836. Metric units were finally made legally compulsory in 1922.

A number of units of measurement were used in Guinea to measure length, mass, etc. Since 1910, the metric system has been compulsory in Guinea.

A number of units of measurement have been used in Cambodia to measure length, mass, volume, etc. The metric system has been compulsory there since 1914.

A number of units of measurement were used in Madagascar to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. The Metric system was introduced in Madagascar in 1897.

A number of units of measurement were used in Mexico to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. The Metric system was optional from 1857, and has been compulsory since 1896.

A number of units of measurement were used in Morocco to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. Metric system has been compulsory in Morocco since 1923.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Libya to measure length, mass, area, etc. The metric system was adopted in Libya in 1927.

A number of different units of measurement were used in Tunisia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. In Tunisia, Metric System has been compulsory since 1895.

A number of units of measurement were used in South Africa to measure quantities like length, mass, capacity, etc. The Imperial system of measurements was made standard in 1922 and the metric system was adopted in 1961.

A number of units of measurement have been used in Tanzania to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. The metric system was adopted in Tanzania from 1967 to 1969.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 151. ISBN   978-1-4471-1122-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. pp.  5, 6. Retrieved 8 February 2015. international critical hellotables 1926.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 71.
  4. 1 2 Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 49.
  5. 1 2 Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 22.
  6. 1 2 3 Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 52–53.