Liu Chenggui
Song China government official (951–1016)
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Liu Chenggui (Chinese: 劉承規, originally 劉承珪; 951–1016), posthumous name Zhongsu (忠肅), was a government official of the Chinese Northern Song dynasty.[1]
He was the official in charge of the court treasury upon the ascension of Emperor Taizong in 976, and was charged with the task of standardizing the weights and measures. After a thorough examination, he determined that the existing measurement devices were largely not up to the task, and proceeded to research and develop a new type of balance that was later known as the dengzi (戥子). Because of its small size and precision, the dengzi continued on for centuries as a tool for weighing precious metals and medicines. He also used to kinds of dengzi to cast standard weights in series and promulgate them throughout the empire.[2]