中国文化）从前的秤是16两为一斤，为什么要16两为一斤呢? 古人把北斗七星、南斗六星以及福、禄、寿三星，共16颗星比作16两，商人卖东西，要讲究商德, 不能缺斤短两;如果耍手腕，克扣一两就减福, 克扣二两就损禄, 克扣三两就折寿。所以这个数字和古代人对诚信的美好愿望分不开。
Chinese wisdom: in the past a gram has 16 ounces as ancient Chinese considered 16 stars (including the Big Dipper) as symbols of fortune, wealth, longevity, etc., and so commercial trading must value virtue of honesty. If a vender cheats for one ounce he/she would lose fortune and wealth if he/she cheated for two ounces or will also lose longevity if he/she cheats for three ounces…. So honesty was integrated with the practice of commerce in the old days. Since the communist party has dismissed such traditions as superstitions, today’s people are far less morally grounded and fake products are commonplace these days.
