Article 418 of the Tang Code punished anyone who made and sold goods that were xing or lan, not sturdy or not genuine, or “short and narrow,” with sixty strokes of the stick. The official commentary explains short and narrow: a bolt of silk under 40 chi long, a length of cloth under 50 chi, or a width under one chi eight cun.
The commentary quotes the Book of Rites: “Engrave the maker’s name on the object, to examine his sincerity.” Market, prefectural and county officials who knew about the goods received the same punishment as the seller. Officials who inspected and failed to notice were punished two degrees less.