Liu Chenggui

Liu Chengbei (Chinese: 劉承珪, 951–1016) was a Chinese government official of the Song Dynasty. His posthumous name (Chinese: 諡號) is Zhongsu (Chinese: 忠肅). His native place was in Shanyang (山陽).^[1]

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 (戥子). 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.^[2]