Early in the ninth century, bills of exchange came into use; and from the middle of the twelve century paper money became quite common, and is still in general use all over China, notes being issued in some places for amounts less even than a shilling.
Measures of length and capacity were fixed by the Chinese after an exceedingly simple process.

The grain of millet, which is fairly uniform in size, was taken as the unit of both.

Ten of these grains, laid end-ways, formed the inch, ten of which made a foot, and ten feet a _chang_.

The decimal system has always prevailed in China, with one curious exception: sixteen ounces make a pound.

How this came to be so does not appear to be known; but in this case it is the pound which is the unit of weight, and not the lower denomination.