[KS] seok

[Bryan R. Ross]

The equivalence of a seok/koku varies depending on what it is you are  
attempting to quantify and also if you are using British, American, or  
German/French measurement standards. It also depends on whether you are  
measuring a dry substance or a liquid. The type of grain, and its  
quality are also factors. For instance in Korea 1 seok of rough rice is  
equal to 100 kilograms, 1 seok brown rice = 155 kgs., 1 seok milled  
(white) rice = 144 kgs.

In Japan one koku of brown rice = 187.5 kgs, one koku milled (white  
rice = 136.5 kgs.
The conversion table for Japan is :
brown rice x 1.25 = rough rice
milled rice x 1.37 = rough rice
brown rice x 0.91 = milled rice
rough rice x 0.728 = milled rice

One thing to remember is that in the most common formula cited of 1  
seok/koku = 4.96 bushels, these are English bushels.
In American bushels it will be 1 seok/koku = 5.12 bushels. with a  
bushel of rice = 66 pounds.
A bushel of soybeans is 60 lbs
a bushel of sorghum is 56 lbs.

Two good places to start for converting Asian weights & measurements  
are:

http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/index.html

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:Ww9dSYmzDj8J:www.irri.org/science/ 
ricestat/pdfs/ 
Appendix%2520table%25206.pdf+conversion+factors+by+country&hl=en


Bryan Ross
History Department
University of Hawai'i at Manoa

On Friday, April 22, 2005, at 03:58  AM, Cwiertka, K.J. wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,
> I am slightly reluctant to post this message, because my question is at
> first sight not of a very scientific nature. However, the issue is of
> vital importance for my data, so I hope that you will be able to help
> me.
>
> I am trying to find out precisely how many litres is there in 1 seok
> (seom). After searching several Korean-English dictionaries, I found  
> out
> that 1 seok is an equivalent of 47.6 US gallons. Multiplying it by  
> 4.405
> (1 gallon = 4.405 litre) I came up with the figure 209.678. Is this
> correct? (I must admit that maths is not my strongest point...)
>
> The Japanese equivalent of seok (koku) is 180 litre. Does this mean  
> that
> the size of the unit written with the same character differed depending
> on the region where it was used?
>
> It would be very convenient indeed if a list of traditional Korean
> measurements translated into contemporary units existed. DO you know
> where I can find one? If it does not exist, maybe it is a good idea to
> make one and place at one of the Korean studies websites?
>
> With best wishes for the week-end
> Katarzyna
>
> Katarzyna J. Cwiertka, PhD
> Centre for Japanese and Korean Studies
> Leiden University
> P.O. Box 9515
> 2300 RA Leiden
> The Netherlands
> Tel.: +31-(0)71-5272599
> Fax: +31-(0)71-5272215
> http://www.koreaans.leidenuniv.nl/index.php3?m=13&c=42
>
>
>
>
>
>