Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong Converter
Convert shaku to furlongs with our free online length converter.
Quick Answer
1 Shaku (Japanese) = 0.001506 furlongs
Formula: Shaku (Japanese) × conversion factor = Furlong
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong Calculator
How to Use the Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Shaku (Japanese)).
- The converted value in Furlong 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 Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Shaku (Japanese) = 0.0015062 furlongsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 shaku: 10 × 0.0015062 = 0.015062 furlongs
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.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
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View all Length conversions →What is a Shaku (Japanese) and a Furlong?
The Shaku (尺) is a traditional Japanese unit of length, forming a fundamental part of the traditional Japanese system of weights and measures known as the Shakkanhō (尺貫法). It is roughly equivalent to the English foot, although slightly shorter in its modern standardized form.
The Shaku is traditionally subdivided and multiplied decimally:
- 1 Jō (丈) = 10 Shaku
- 1 Shaku (尺) = 10 Sun (寸 - Japanese inch)
- 1 Sun (寸) = 10 Bu (分 - Japanese line)
There were historically different types of shaku, most notably the standard kanejaku (曲尺) used in carpentry and the longer kujirajaku (鯨尺) used for measuring cloth. Unless otherwise specified, "shaku" usually refers to the kanejaku.
The Eighth of a Mile
The furlong is defined as exactly 1/8 of a statute mile.
Precise equivalents:
- 220 yards (1/8 × 1,760 yards)
- 660 feet (220 yards × 3 feet/yard)
- 40 rods (traditional surveying unit; 1 rod = 16.5 feet)
- 10 chains (1 chain = 66 feet = 4 rods)
- 201.168 meters (exactly, using 1 yard = 0.9144 m)
Old English Etymology
"Furlang" = "furrow-long"
- Furh (Old English) = furrow (a trench cut by a plow)
- Lang (Old English) = long
Agricultural origin: In medieval open-field farming, peasants plowed long, narrow strips. The furlong represented the standard length of these strips—the distance a team of oxen could pull a heavy plow before needing to rest and turn around.
Why this specific distance?
- Oxen stamina: Approximately 220 yards before fatigue
- Practical turn-around: Long enough to be efficient, short enough to manage
- Acre relationship: 1 furlong × 1 chain (66 ft) = 1 acre (historical definition)
The Chain-Furlong-Mile System
Edmund Gunter's surveyor's chain (1620):
- 1 chain = 66 feet = 4 rods = 100 links
- 10 chains = 1 furlong
- 80 chains = 1 mile
Why 66 feet? Gunter designed the chain so that:
- 10 square chains = 1 acre (exactly)
- Easy conversion between area and distance
- Practical length for field surveying (two surveyors could carry it)
This system dominated English-speaking land surveys for 300+ years.
Note: The Shaku (Japanese) is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Furlong belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Shaku (Japanese) and Furlong
The Shaku originated from the Chinese Chi (尺), introduced to Japan likely between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD. Like its Chinese counterpart, the length of the Shaku varied considerably across different historical periods and regions in Japan.
- Early Adoption: Early Japanese measurements were heavily influenced by Chinese standards, but the length of the Shaku began to diverge over time.
- Edo Period (1603–1868): Different standards coexisted, including the kanejaku (carpenter's shaku) and the kujirajaku (cloth shaku, literally "whale shaku," possibly referring to rulers made from whale baleen). The kanejaku became the more common standard for general measurement.
- Meiji Restoration (1868 onwards): Japan began modernizing and standardizing its systems. In 1891, the Weights and Measures Act defined the standard Shaku (kanejaku) legally in relation to the metric system as exactly 10/33 of a meter. This aimed to provide a precise conversion factor while preserving the traditional unit. The kujirajaku was defined as 1.25 times the kanejaku (i.e., 12.5/33 of a meter).
- Metrication: Japan officially adopted the metric system in 1951, and its use became mandatory for most official and commercial transactions by 1966. However, the Shaku and other Shakkanhō units remain in use in specific traditional fields.
Anglo-Saxon Origins (5th-11th Centuries)
Open-field strip farming: Medieval English villages practiced communal agriculture, with fields divided into long, narrow strips assigned to different families.
Strip dimensions:
- Length: 1 furlong (~220 yards)
- Width: 1 chain (~22 yards, later standardized to 1 chain = 66 feet / 4 rods)
- Area: Approximately 1 acre
Plowing practice: Farmers plowed the length of the strip (1 furlong), then turned the ox team at the headland (the unplowed area at each end). The furlong emerged as the natural unit for this plowing distance.
Norman and Plantagenet Standardization (11th-14th Centuries)
Domesday Book (1086): William the Conqueror's land survey used furlongs and acres to catalog English landholdings, cementing these units in law.
Statute of 1305 (Edward I): Formalized the furlong as:
- 40 rods (1 rod = 16.5 feet = 5.5 yards)
- 1/8 mile
- Standard for all land measurement in England
Acre definition: Legally defined as 1 furlong × 4 rods (1 furlong × 66 feet), creating the enduring acre-furlong relationship.
Edmund Gunter and the Surveyor's Chain (1620)
Revolutionary tool: English mathematician Edmund Gunter invented the surveyor's chain, a 66-foot measuring chain with 100 links.
Advantages:
- Durability: Metal chain resisted wear better than ropes
- Accuracy: Standardized links prevented stretching errors
- Calculation ease: 100 links made decimal-like subdivision simple
- Furlong integration: 10 chains = 1 furlong (exact)
Global spread: Gunter's chain became the standard surveying tool throughout the British Empire, spreading the furlong to:
- North America (colonial land surveys)
- Australia (1788 onwards)
- India (British Raj)
- Africa (colonial territories)
Horse Racing Adoption (18th Century)
The Jockey Club (founded 1750): British horse racing's governing body standardized race distances in furlongs and miles.
Common race distances established:
- 5 furlongs: Sprint races
- 1 mile (8 furlongs): Classic middle distance
- 1.5 miles (12 furlongs): St. Leger Stakes (established 1776)
- 2.5 miles (20 furlongs): Royal Ascot Gold Cup
Why furlongs?
- Traditional British measurement
- Convenient divisions of the mile
- Allowed precise race distance specifications
- Established in racecourse infrastructure (distance poles)
American Horse Racing (19th Century)
Kentucky Derby (1875): Established at 1.5 miles (12 furlongs), later shortened to 1.25 miles (10 furlongs) in 1896. The furlong became America's standard racing measurement.
Belmont Stakes (1867): Originally 1.625 miles, standardized to 1.5 miles (12 furlongs)—the "Test of the Champion."
Preakness Stakes (1873): Run at 9.5 furlongs (1.1875 miles).
All three Triple Crown races use furlong-based distances.
Metrication and Decline (20th Century)
UK Weights and Measures Act (1985): Officially transitioned Britain to metric system for most purposes. The furlong became obsolete for:
- Road distances (now kilometers)
- Land surveying (now meters)
- General measurement (meters standard)
Exception: Horse racing Racing authorities worldwide retained furlongs, grandfathered as a traditional sporting measure.
Modern Persistence (21st Century)
Countries still using furlongs in horse racing:
- United Kingdom: All thoroughbred racing
- Ireland: All thoroughbred racing
- United States: All thoroughbred and quarter horse racing
- Canada: Thoroughbred racing
- Australia: Some racing uses furlongs alongside meters
- Myanmar (Burma): Road signs and general distance measurement
Global standard: Despite metrication, international horse racing maintains furlong terminology for consistency with historical records and tradition.
Common Uses and Applications: shaku vs furlongs
Explore the typical applications for both Shaku (Japanese) (imperial/US) and Furlong (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for shaku
While the metric system is standard in Japan, the Shaku persists in several areas:
- Traditional Japanese Architecture and Carpentry: The kanejaku is still widely used for measurements in building temples, shrines, traditional houses, and making furniture. Architectural modules like the ken (間) are often based on the Shaku. Japanese woodworking tools are often sized or marked in Shaku and Sun.
- Kimono and Traditional Clothing: The kujirajaku is the standard unit for measuring cloth width (tanmono) and dimensions when making kimonos and yukatas.
- Traditional Crafts: Used in making items like tatami mats, shōji screens, and other traditional crafts where historical dimensions are important.
- Musical Instruments: The length of traditional Japanese instruments, notably the shakuhachi (尺八) flute, is measured in Shaku and Sun (its name literally means "1.8 shaku").
- Martial Arts: Some traditional martial arts (koryū budō) may use Shaku-based measurements for weapon lengths (e.g., jō, bō) or stance dimensions.
- Gardening and Landscaping: Traditional Japanese garden design sometimes employs Shaku-based proportions.
- Historical and Cultural Context: Essential for understanding dimensions in historical texts, art, and artifacts.
When to Use furlongs
1. Thoroughbred Horse Racing
Race distance specification: Nearly all English-language racing nations specify race lengths in furlongs.
Examples:
- "A 6-furlong sprint on turf"
- "The colt won at distances from 8 to 12 furlongs"
- "She specializes in 5-furlong races"
Racecourse markers: Distance poles along the track show remaining furlongs to the finish (e.g., "4F" pole = 4 furlongs to go).
2. Breeding and Training
Horse pedigrees: Thoroughbred bloodlines are analyzed by optimal racing distances measured in furlongs.
Example: "This stallion's progeny excel at 8-10 furlongs, inheriting his stamina."
Training distances: Trainers describe workout distances in furlongs: "We gave him a strong 6-furlong breeze this morning."
3. Myanmar (Burma)
Road distances: Myanmar road signs often show distances in furlongs and miles rather than kilometers.
Example: "Yangon 12 furlongs" (1.5 miles ahead)
Why? British colonial legacy; Myanmar has resisted full metrication.
4. Historical Documents
Land deeds: Property descriptions in English-speaking countries often reference furlongs:
"Beginning at the oak tree, thence north 3 furlongs, thence east 2 furlongs..."
Literary references: Classic literature mentions furlongs for travel distances.
Additional Unit Information
About Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
How long is a Shaku?
The length depends on the context (historical vs. modern, type of shaku):
- Modern Standardized Kanejaku (since 1891):
- Exactly 10/33 meters (m)
- Approximately 0.30303 meters
- Approximately 30.303 centimeters (cm)
- Approximately 11.93 inches (in)
- Approximately 0.994 feet (ft)
- Modern Standardized Kujirajaku:
- Exactly 12.5/33 meters (m) (1.25 times the kanejaku)
- Approximately 0.37879 meters
- Approximately 37.879 centimeters (cm)
- Approximately 14.91 inches (in)
- Approximately 1.243 feet (ft)
- Historical Shaku: Varied significantly, often differing from the modern standard.
What are the subdivisions and multiples of the Shaku?
The system is decimal:
- Subdivisions: 1 Shaku = 10 Sun (寸); 1 Sun = 10 Bu (分).
- Multiples: 1 Jō (丈) = 10 Shaku. Another related unit is the Ken (間), traditionally 6 Shaku, though its length could vary.
Is it the same as the Chinese Chi?
No. Although the Japanese Shaku originated from the Chinese Chi (both written with the character 尺), they evolved independently and have different standardized lengths today.
- Modern Japanese Shaku (kanejaku): 10/33 meters (≈ 0.303 m)
- Modern Chinese Chi: 1/3 meter (≈ 0.333 m) The Shaku is noticeably shorter than the modern Chi.
What is the difference between kanejaku and kujirajaku?
They are two distinct traditional Shaku units:
- Kanejaku (曲尺): The "carpenter's shaku," used for general measurement, architecture, and woodworking. Standardized at 10/33 meters. This is the default meaning of "Shaku."
- Kujirajaku (鯨尺): The "cloth shaku" or "whale shaku," used primarily for measuring cloth, especially for kimonos. It is longer than the kanejaku, standardized at 12.5/33 meters (exactly 1.25 times the kanejaku).
Is the Shaku an SI unit?
No, the Shaku is not an SI unit. It is a traditional Japanese unit belonging to the Shakkanhō system. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the Shaku still used today?
Yes, although Japan officially uses the metric system (SI units) for most purposes, the Shaku (both kanejaku and kujirajaku) continues to be used in specific traditional fields:
- Traditional architecture and carpentry.
- Kimono making and textile measurement.
- Other traditional crafts.
- Musical instrument making (e.g., shakuhachi).
- Historical and cultural studies. It is generally not used in everyday commerce or scientific contexts.
About Furlong (fur)
How many furlongs are in a mile?
Exactly 8 furlongs = 1 statute mile.
This is the defining relationship:
- 1 furlong = 1/8 mile = 0.125 miles
- 1 mile = 8 furlongs = 1,760 yards = 5,280 feet
How many yards/feet/meters are in a furlong?
1 furlong equals:
- 220 yards (exactly)
- 660 feet (220 × 3)
- 201.168 meters (exactly, using international yard definition)
Derivation: 1 mile = 1,760 yards 1/8 mile = 1,760 ÷ 8 = 220 yards
Where is the furlong used most often today?
Primary use: Horse racing
Countries:
- United Kingdom: All thoroughbred flat and jump racing
- Ireland: All racing
- United States: Thoroughbred and quarter horse racing standard
- Canada: Thoroughbred racing
- Australia: Some racing (alongside meters)
Secondary use:
- Myanmar (Burma): Road distances, general measurement
Historical references:
- Land deeds and property surveys (historical documents)
- Classic literature
Is the furlong an SI unit?
No, the furlong is not part of the International System of Units (SI).
It belongs to the imperial and U.S. customary measurement systems. The SI unit for length is the meter.
Legal status:
- UK: Permitted for specific uses (horse racing, historical contexts)
- US: Legal, but not commonly used outside racing
- Myanmar: Customary unit
Why is it called a furlong?
Etymology: Old English "furlang" = "furrow-long"
Origin:
- Furh = furrow (trench cut by plow)
- Lang = long
Agricultural meaning: The distance a team of oxen could plow a furrow before needing to rest—approximately 220 yards.
Historical context: Medieval open-field strip farming created long, narrow fields. The furlong defined the standard strip length, while the chain (66 feet) defined the width, producing a 1-acre plot.
Why does horse racing still use furlongs?
Historical tradition: British horse racing standardized on furlongs in the 18th century (Jockey Club, 1750). Racing infrastructure, records, and terminology built around furlongs over 270+ years.
Practical advantages:
- Convenient divisions: 1 mile divides evenly into 8 furlongs, creating simple race distances (5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 furlongs)
- Global consistency: Using furlongs allows comparison across centuries of racing records
- Infrastructure: Historic racecourses designed with furlong markers and measurements
Resistance to change: Metrication efforts in the 1970s-1990s met strong resistance from racing traditionalists. The sport successfully lobbied to preserve furlongs as a cultural heritage measure.
How long is the Kentucky Derby in furlongs?
10 furlongs = 1.25 miles = 2,012 meters
History:
- 1875-1895: 1.5 miles (12 furlongs)
- 1896-present: 1.25 miles (10 furlongs)
The distance was shortened to 10 furlongs in 1896 and has remained unchanged since, becoming known as "The most exciting two minutes in sports" (approximate finishing time for winners).
What's the difference between a furlong and a chain?
Both are imperial length units, but different sizes:
Furlong:
- 220 yards = 660 feet = 201.168 m
- Used for longer distances (racing, field lengths)
Chain (Gunter's chain):
- 66 feet = 22 yards = 20.1168 m
- 1 furlong = 10 chains
- Used for detailed land surveying
Historical relationship: Edmund Gunter designed the chain so that 10 chains = 1 furlong, creating an integrated surveying system.
Can I convert racecourse distances from furlongs to meters?
Yes, multiply by 201.168.
Common conversions:
- 5 furlongs × 201.168 = 1,006 m (~1 km)
- 6 furlongs × 201.168 = 1,207 m
- 8 furlongs × 201.168 = 1,609 m (~1 mile)
- 10 furlongs × 201.168 = 2,012 m
- 12 furlongs × 201.168 = 2,414 m
Note: Many international racing jurisdictions use round meter distances (1200m, 1600m, 2000m) rather than exact furlong equivalents.
Is a furlong longer than a kilometer?
No, a furlong is shorter than a kilometer.
Comparison:
- 1 furlong = 201.168 meters = 0.201 km
- 1 kilometer = 1,000 meters ≈ 4.97 furlongs (~5 furlongs)
Memory aid: 5 furlongs ≈ 1 kilometer
Conversion Table: Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong
| Shaku (Japanese) (shaku) | Furlong (fur) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.001 |
| 1 | 0.002 |
| 1.5 | 0.002 |
| 2 | 0.003 |
| 5 | 0.008 |
| 10 | 0.015 |
| 25 | 0.038 |
| 50 | 0.075 |
| 100 | 0.151 |
| 250 | 0.377 |
| 500 | 0.753 |
| 1,000 | 1.506 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong?
To convert Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong, enter the value in Shaku (Japanese) in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our length converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Shaku (Japanese) to Furlong?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Shaku (Japanese) and Furlong. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Furlong back to Shaku (Japanese)?
Yes! You can easily convert Furlong back to Shaku (Japanese) by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Furlong to Shaku (Japanese) converter page. You can also explore other length conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Shaku (Japanese) and Furlong?
Shaku (Japanese) and Furlong are both standard units used in length measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our length converter for more conversion options.
For more length conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Official US standards for length measurements
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units official documentation
Last verified: February 19, 2026