<p>This is a 鲁班尺 to determine <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui" rel="nofollow noreferrer">风水</a>. <a href="https://m.sohu.com/a/135808131_661499/?pvid=000115_3w_a" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a> is an introduction.</p>
<p>Roughly speaking, the intervals of red characters mark the preferred lengths in terms of 风水. The upper characters are for 阳宅 (the homes of the living) and the lower ones are for 阴宅 (the homes of the deceased).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-27T14:15:53.257Z
2024-07-27T14:15:53.257Z
kyc
<p><a href="https://hydesign.weebly.com/3155835352/43" rel="nofollow noreferrer">魯班尺</a></p>
<p>Something to do with Feng Shui (風水)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>上半部為 文公尺：用於陽宅、神位、佛具尺寸
下半部為 丁蘭尺：多用於陰宅、祖龕（祖先牌位）
紅字為吉，黑字為兇。</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>The upper part is the Wen Gong ruler: used for yang houses(living people's houses), altars, and Buddhist instruments. The lower part is the Ding Lan ruler: mostly used for yin houses (underworldly houses) and ancestral tablets. Red characters are auspicious, black characters are ominous.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-27T14:21:53.407Z
2024-07-27T14:21:53.407Z
Tang Ho
<p>I found a metal measuring tape that has lots of Chinese characters on its bottom side:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/cWxDGfeg.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/cWxDGfeg.jpg" alt="Side of tape measure with Chinese characters" /></a></p>
<p>The other side has no Chinese characters:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HZrCu5Oy.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HZrCu5Oy.jpg" alt="Side of tape measure without Chinese characters" /></a></p>
<p>Product label:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/lGHICMm9m.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lGHICMm9m.jpg" alt="Product label" /></a></p>
<p>What is the meaning and purpose of all those Chinese characters on the tape measure? Do they have anything to do with measuring lengths?</p>

<meaning><characters>
What are these Chinese characters on this metal tape measure?
# What are these Chinese characters on this metal tape measure?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-07-27)

I found a metal measuring tape that has lots of Chinese characters on its bottom side:

[![Side of tape measure with Chinese characters](https://i.sstatic.net/cWxDGfeg.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/cWxDGfeg.jpg)

The other side has no Chinese characters:

[![Side of tape measure without Chinese characters](https://i.sstatic.net/HZrCu5Oy.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/HZrCu5Oy.jpg)

Product label:

[![Product label](https://i.sstatic.net/lGHICMm9m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/lGHICMm9m.jpg)

What is the meaning and purpose of all those Chinese characters on the tape measure? Do they have anything to do with measuring lengths?

**Tags:** meaning, characters


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-07-27. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

This is a 鲁班尺 to determine [风水](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui). [Here](https://m.sohu.com/a/135808131_661499/?pvid=000115_3w_a) is an introduction.

Roughly speaking, the intervals of red characters mark the preferred lengths in terms of 风水. The upper characters are for 阳宅 (the homes of the living) and the lower ones are for 阴宅 (the homes of the deceased).


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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-07-27. Score: 0

[魯班尺](https://hydesign.weebly.com/3155835352/43)

Something to do with Feng Shui (風水)

> 上半部為 文公尺：用於陽宅、神位、佛具尺寸
> 下半部為 丁蘭尺：多用於陰宅、祖龕（祖先牌位）
> 紅字為吉，黑字為兇。

> The upper part is the Wen Gong ruler: used for yang houses(living people's houses), altars, and Buddhist instruments. The lower part is the Ding Lan ruler: mostly used for yin houses (underworldly houses) and ancestral tablets. Red characters are auspicious, black characters are ominous.


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