Length of yarrow stalk

[green dragon]

Hi everybody,

Has anybody an idea of what would be the traditional length of the yarrow stalks used with the I-Ching?

Regards
Green Dragon

 

[boyler]

... traditionaly, 3 Han feet ...

 

[bradford]

Today a Chinese foot (chi3 尺) is about a third of a meter. Back in the Zhou it was about 22.5 cm, or around 9 inches. I've heard of three feet before, but seeing that would be like watching a cartoon. And of course some of the Chinese writers got really silly and hyperbolic and called their Emperor's stalks 9 feet in length.
I would just find a practical length, 8 inches to 12 inches is commonest.

 

[green dragon]

I have found this on the internet. Apparently it is a japanese casting the I Ching during world war I.
The stalks are pretty long :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adavey/5078246097/sizes/o/in/photostream/

 

[boyler]

... longest and therefore most expensive Japanese set is for sale now is 45 cm long, while shortest is 30 cm long ...