Liu Chenggui


Liu Chengbei was a Chinese government official of the Song Dynasty. His posthumous name is Zhongsu. His native place was in Shanyang.
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. 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.