Policy concerning weights and measures was chaotic in the late Qing Dynasty, im-pacting significantly on China's economic and social development. With the introduction of the New Policies begun in 1901 , the Qing Government promulgated the Duliang quanheng huayi zhidu tushuo zongbiao tuixing zhangcheng ( Standardized Chart and Regulation for Weights and Measures) . Prior to this, scholars had made calls for a uniform weights and measures system, but there had been little systematic study on Chinese and Western weights and measures. Ye Zaiyang's book Duliangheng xi-nyi ( A New Discussion on Weights and Measures) was the only monograph on the subject at that time. Based on a comparative study of Chinese and Western weights and measures, this innovative and ex-ploratory book discussed the benchmarks of weights and measures, and proposed and designed meas-urement units and apparatus. This paper sorts and researches Ye Zaiyang's work, analyses in detail the mathematical principles of his proposed new system, and notes the shortcomings of its lack of ac-tual effectiveness. The paper also discusses the impact of his work on the reform of weights and meas-ures in the late Qing Dynasty, pointing out that the Duliang quanheng huayi zhidu tushuo zongbiao tuixing zhangcheng promulgated in 1908 by the Qing Government directly referred to Ye's book, and speculates that Ye may have been involved in drafting it.%清末度政混乱,对国家经济、社会发展诸方面造成很大阻碍.随着新政的陆续出台,清政府颁布《度量权衡画一制度图说总表推行章程》.在此之前,学者对度量衡划一呼声虽高,但少有系统研究中西度量衡的著作,晚清学者叶在扬所著《度量衡新议》是唯一的一部研究专著.该书在对中西度量衡对比研究的基础上,重新探讨了度量衡基准,拟定和设计了度量权衡单位、器具,具有一定的创新性和探索价值.文章对叶在扬的相关工作进行了梳理和考证,详细分析其拟定度量衡新制的数理原理及其合理性与实效性不足的弊端;对其工作在清末度量衡改制中产生的影响进行了探讨,指出1908年清廷颁布的《度量权衡画一制度图说总表推行章程》直接参考了叶在扬的《度量衡新议》,并推测叶在扬本人也可能参与了章程的起草.
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