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yardstick

物差　—　Measuring

The thing against which something else is measured.

Gold maravedí of Alfonso VIII Gold maravedí of Alfonso VIII1174–1217 (held to be struck at Toledo) Écu d'or Écu d'orLate 16th to early 17th century Twenty-franc gold coin of Ceres Twenty-franc gold coin of Ceres1851
A photograph of what this word names.

Money itself is the measuring stick for society. If the measuring stick expands and contracts, everything it measures—prices, wages, debts—is thrown into disarray.