Li (Chinese) to Sajene Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert li to sajenes with our free online length converter.
Li (Chinese) to Sajene Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Li (Chinese)).
- The converted value in Sajene will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Li (Chinese) to Sajene
Converting Li (Chinese) to Sajene involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Li (Chinese) = 234.3457 sajenes
Example Calculation:
Convert 10 li: 10 × 234.3457 = 2343.457 sajenes
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
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What is a Li (Chinese) and a Sajene?
The Li (里) is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, often translated as the "Chinese mile". It represents a significantly longer distance than the Chi (Chinese foot) and was historically the primary unit for measuring travel distances and land divisions over large areas.
Traditionally, the Li was defined in relation to smaller units like the Bu (步 - pace) or the Zhang (丈), and ultimately the Chi (尺). Common historical relationships included:
- 1 Li = 300 or 360 Bu
- 1 Bu = 5 or 6 Chi
- Therefore, 1 Li could equal 1500 or 1800 Chi.
- Alternatively, 1 Li = 150 Zhang (since 1 Zhang = 10 Chi).
Like other traditional Chinese units, its exact length varied considerably across different dynasties and regions. The modern standardized value, adopted for convenience and integration with the metric system, defines the Li as exactly 500 meters (0.5 kilometers).
The Sajene (Russian: сажень or саже́нь, IPA: [ˈsaʐɨnʲ] or [sɐˈʐɛnʲ]) is an historical Russian unit of length. It was a fundamental unit in the traditional Russian system of measures.
The standard or "state" Sajene (kazyonnaya sazhen) was legally defined as:
- 3 Arshins (another Russian unit)
- 7 English Feet (after Peter the Great's reforms aligned some Russian units with English standards)
- 84 English Inches
This equates to:
- Exactly 2.1336 meters (m)
- Exactly 7 feet (ft)
- Exactly 84 inches (in)
The Sajene was subdivided as follows:
- 1 Sajene = 3 Arshins
- 1 Arshin = 16 Vershoks (meaning 1 Sajene = 48 Vershoks)
Note: The Li (Chinese) is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Sajene belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Li (Chinese) and Sajene
The Li has been a fundamental unit of distance in China for thousands of years, used since at least the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046–256 BC). Its length was not constant, often changing with administrative reforms or shifts in the standard length of the base unit, the Chi.
- Early Dynasties: The length fluctuated. For example, during the Han Dynasty, based on a Chi of ~23.1 cm and a definition of 1 Li = 300 Bu = 1800 Chi, the Li would have been approximately 415.8 meters. Other periods might have used different definitions or Chi lengths, leading to Li values ranging roughly from 300 to over 500 meters.
- Standardization Efforts: Various dynasties attempted to standardize measurements, but regional variations often persisted. The Li was crucial for imperial administration, defining tax districts, postal routes, and military logistics.
- 20th Century Standardization: Following the establishment of the Republic of China, efforts were made to align traditional units with the metric system. In 1929, alongside the standardization of the Chi as 1/3 meter, the Li was officially defined as 1500 Chi, which resulted in exactly 500 meters (0.5 kilometers). This standard was maintained by the People's Republic of China.
The Li's historical significance lies in its role as the standard measure for long distances, shaping perceptions of geography and travel within China and neighboring East Asian cultures influenced by the Chinese system.
The Sajene was used in Russia for centuries, likely originating from an anthropomorphic measurement related to the span of outstretched arms or a person's reach, similar to the fathom in other systems. The name itself may derive from Slavic roots related to reaching or stretching.
While informal variations existed, the unit was standardized over time, notably under Peter the Great (reigned 1682–1725), who aligned the Arshin with 28 English inches, thereby fixing the standard Sajene at exactly 7 English feet (2.1336 m).
The Sajene remained a primary unit for larger measurements in Russia until the metric system was adopted following the Russian Revolution. The metric system became compulsory in the USSR on January 1, 1925, rendering the Sajene and other traditional units obsolete for official use.
Common Uses for li and sajenes
Explore the typical applications for both Li (Chinese) (imperial/US) and Sajene (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for li
While officially replaced by the kilometer for most purposes, the Li retains significance:
- Historical Measurement: Essential for understanding distances mentioned in historical texts, maps, administrative records, travelogues, and descriptions of large-scale projects like the Great Wall or canal systems.
- Geographical Names: Many place names in China incorporate "Li" (e.g., 十里堡 - Shilibao, "Ten Li Fort"), often reflecting historical distances or significance, even if the modern distance doesn't match precisely.
- Cultural References: The Li features prominently in Chinese idioms, proverbs, literature, and poetry, often symbolizing long journeys or vast distances. A famous example is 千里之行,始於足下 (qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià - "A journey of a thousand li begins with a single step").
- Informal Usage: In some rural areas or among older generations, "Li" might still be used informally to refer to a distance of approximately half a kilometer. It can also be used colloquially as a direct synonym for 0.5 km.
- Mapping: Older maps and surveys frequently used the Li.
Common Uses for sajenes
The Sajene is now obsolete but was historically essential in various fields in Russia:
- Land Surveying: Measuring land plots, distances, and property boundaries.
- Architecture and Construction: Specifying dimensions of buildings, structures, and materials like timber.
- Shipbuilding: Measuring lengths related to ship design and construction.
- Rope Making: Measuring lengths of rope.
- Cartography: Used in mapmaking and geographical measurements.
- Folk Measurement: Appeared in everyday language and descriptions of distance or height.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Li (Chinese) (li)
How long is a Li?
The length of the Li varied significantly throughout history, typically ranging from about 400 to over 500 meters. The modern standardized value (since 1929) is:
- Exactly 500 meters (m)
- Exactly 0.5 kilometers (km)
- Approximately 0.3107 miles (mi)
- Approximately 1640.42 feet (ft)
- Approximately 546.81 yards (yd)
How was the Li historically defined?
It was typically defined based on smaller units:
- 1 Li = 300 or 360 Bu (步 - paces)
- Since 1 Bu was often 5 or 6 Chi (尺 - Chinese feet), this meant *1 Li = 1500 or 1800 Chi.
- Alternatively, 1 Li = 150 Zhang (丈), where 1 Zhang = 10 Chi. The variation depended on the specific dynasty, region, and the prevailing standard length of the Chi.
How does the Li relate to the Kilometer?
The modern standardized Li is defined directly in relation to the kilometer:
- 1 Li = 0.5 Kilometers
- 1 Kilometer = 2 Li
Is the Li an SI unit?
No, the Li is not an SI unit. It is a traditional Chinese unit of distance. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m), and the commonly used unit for larger distances is the kilometer (km).
Is the Li still used today?
Officially, China uses the metric system (kilometers and meters) for all legal, commercial, scientific, and administrative purposes. However, the Li continues to be used in:
- Historical and cultural contexts.
- Geographical place names.
- Idioms and literature.
- Informal conversation, often meaning exactly 0.5 km.
Is this related to the surveying Link (li)?
No, they are completely different and unrelated units, despite the similar symbol in some contexts.
- The Chinese Li (里) is a traditional unit of distance, standardized at 500 meters.
- The Gunter's Link (li) is a historical surveying unit from the imperial system, equal to 0.201168 meters (or 7.92 inches).
About Sajene (sajene)
How long is a Sajene?
The standard Russian Sajene (kazyonnaya sazhen) is exactly:
- 2.1336 meters
- 7 English feet
- 84 English inches
- 3 Arshins
What were the subdivisions of the Sajene?
The Sajene was divided into smaller traditional Russian units:
- 1 Sajene = 3 Arshins
- 1 Arshin = 16 Vershoks
- Therefore, 1 Sajene = 48 Vershoks.
Were there different types of Sajene?
Yes, besides the standard "state" Sajene (7 feet), two other common variations based on body measurements existed historically, though their lengths were less standardized:
- Makhovaya Sajene (Маховая сажень - "swinging" or "sweeping" Sajene): The distance between the fingertips of a person's outstretched arms, roughly equivalent to a fathom (approx. 1.76 meters or 5.77 feet).
- Kosaya Sajene (Косая сажень - "oblique" Sajene): The distance from the toes of one foot to the fingertips of the opposite arm raised diagonally upwards (approx. 2.48 meters or 8.14 feet). This was often used idiomatically to describe someone tall and broad-shouldered.
The kazyonnaya sazhen (7 feet) was the official standard used for legal and technical purposes.
How does the Sajene compare to a Meter or Fathom?
- 1 Sajene = 2.1336 meters
- 1 Meter ≈ 0.4687 Sajenes
- The standard Sajene (2.1336 m / 7 ft) is slightly longer than the standard English fathom (1.8288 m / 6 ft). The Makhovaya Sajene (~1.76 m) was closer in concept and length to the fathom.
Is the Sajene an SI unit?
No, the Sajene is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from the historical Russian system of measurement. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the Sajene still used today?
No, the Sajene is obsolete and not used in modern measurements in Russia or elsewhere. It was officially replaced by the metric system in 1925. Its significance today is purely historical, found in old texts, documents, literature, and descriptions of historical sites or objects.
Conversion Table: Li (Chinese) to Sajene
Li (Chinese) (li) | Sajene (sajene) |
---|---|
1 | 234.346 |
5 | 1,171.729 |
10 | 2,343.457 |
25 | 5,858.643 |
50 | 11,717.285 |
100 | 23,434.571 |
500 | 117,172.853 |
1,000 | 234,345.707 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)