An L-shaped metal ruler used by carpenters to measure and check right angles; also called 指矩 (さしがね).
common shaku (approx. 30.3 cm)
A traditional Japanese unit of length, equal to about 30.3 cm; used in carpentry and construction. Contrasts with 鯨尺 (くじらじゃく), a longer shaku used for cloth.
The length of this pillar is 6 shaku 3 sun in the common shaku system.
The carpenter checked the right angle of the pillar using a carpenter's square.
Standard kanji form for the carpenter's square and the unit of length; also read きょくしゃく.
Alternate kanji form using 矩 (carpenter's square); less common than 曲尺.
The term 曲尺 literally means 'bent measure', referring to the L-shape of the tool. The reading かねじゃく is a native Japanese reading (kun'yomi) of the characters, while きょくしゃく is the Sino-Japanese reading (on'yomi).