Why did Chinese bound girls feet?
Footbinding was viewed as a rite of passage for young girls and was believed to be preparation for puberty, menstruation, and childbirth. It symbolized a girl's willingness to obey, just as it limited the mobility and power of females, kept women subordinate to men, and increased the differences between the sexes.
What did the Chinese do to women's feet?
Foot binding, or footbinding, was the Chinese custom of breaking and tightly binding the feet of young girls in order to change their shape and size. Feet altered by footbinding were known as lotus feet, and the shoes made for these feet were known as lotus shoes.
What does foot binding symbolize in China?
Painful Memories for China's Footbinding Survivors Millions of Chinese women bound their feet, a status symbol that allowed them to marry into money. Footbinding was banned in 1912, but some women continued to do it in secret. Some of the last survivors are still living in a village in Southern China.
Does foot binding still happen?
Attitudes changed after foot binding was outlawed in 1912, but some people still bound their feet secretly, mostly in poor villages in Shandong and Yunnan provinces. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, foot binding was completely abolished, and today's women don't bind their feet.
Why was foot binding beautiful?
Folklore says the practice started when a royal concubine had her feet bound because her prince loved her little feet and her ability to dance and walk so gracefully that she appeared to be “skimming over the top of golden lilies,” and others copied this desirable look.
How long did foot binding last?
The tradition, known as foot binding, eventually came to symbolize China's backwardness, a relic from the country's distant past. But despite the efforts of reformists, foot binding persisted well into the 20th century.
Who Started foot binding in China?
Foot-binding is said to have been inspired by a tenth-century court dancer named Yao Niang who bound her feet into the shape of a new moon. She entranced Emperor Li Yu by dancing on her toes inside a six-foot golden lotus festooned with ribbons and precious stones.
What were some of the consequences of foot binding on the woman's body?
Women with bound feet were more likely to fall, less able to squat, and less able to stand up from a chair without assistance than women with normal feet. They also had 14.3% less functional reach (a test of balance) and 5.1% lower hip bone density.
Is foot binding painful?
To achieve a more suitable size and shape, young girls' feet were crushed repeatedly over years. Each excruciating procedure forced the girls to learn to walk anew, rereading the ground from an unfamiliar position and through unimaginable pain.
Why was foot binding banned in China?
When the Qing Dynasty fell in 1911 and 1912, the new Nationalist government banned foot-binding again. The ban was reasonably effective in the coastal cities, but foot-binding continued unabated in much of the countryside. The practice wasn't more or less completely stamped out until the Communists finally won the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Mao Zedong and his government treated women as much more equal partners in the revolution and immediately outlawed foot-binding throughout the country because it significantly diminished women's value as workers. This was despite the fact that several women with bound feet had made the Long March with the Communist troops, walking 4,000 miles through rugged terrain and fording rivers on their deformed, 3-inch long feet.
Why do girls have lotus feet?
Because bound feet were considered beautiful, and because they signified relative wealth, girls with "lotus feet" were more likely to marry well. As a result, even some farming families that could not really afford to lose a child's labor would bind their eldest daughters' feet in hopes of attracting rich husbands.
Why do people have bound feet?
Having a daughter with bound feet signified that the family was wealthy enough to forgo having her work in the fields—women with their feet bound could not walk well enough to do any sort of labor that involved standing for any length of time. Because bound feet were considered beautiful, and because they signified relative wealth, girls with "lotus feet" were more likely to marry well. As a result, even some farming families that could not really afford to lose a child's labor would bind their eldest daughters' feet in hopes of attracting rich husbands.
What is the significance of women's feet?
Thus, women's feet became an instant marker of ethnic identity , differentiating Han Chinese from Mongol women. The same would be true when the ethnic Manchus conquered Ming China in 1644 and established the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). Manchu women were legally barred from binding their feet.
What is the procedure called when a girl's feet are tied?
Updated November 21, 2019. For centuries, young girls in China were subjected to an extremely painful and debilitating procedure called foot binding. Their feet were bound tightly with cloth strips, with the toes bent down under the sole of the foot, and the foot tied front-to-back so that the grew into an exaggerated high curve.
Where did foot binding originate?
Origins of Foot Binding. Various myths and folktales relate to the origin of foot-binding in China. In one version, the practice goes back to the earliest documented dynasty, the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BCE–1046 BCE). Supposedly, the corrupt last emperor of the Shang, King Zhou, had a favorite concubine named Daji who was born with clubfoot.
What did Chinese feminists do in the nineteenth century?
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, western missionaries and Chinese feminists began to call for an end to foot-binding. Chinese thinkers influenced by Social Darwinism fretted that disabled women would produce feeble sons, endangering the Chinese as a people.
What is the difference between a corset and high heels?
They were, to some degree, harming their health. The main differences were that foot binding and wearing corsets were forced while wearing high heels was voluntary.
Why is foot binding bad?
Infection was the most common problem with foot binding. As health care conditions were low in ancient times, toes were easily infected and rotted. Foot deformity: Foot binding is actually a practice to bind the toes over to the sole of the foot with force, which deformed the feet.
How to make a foot bind?
This helped to soften the foot to make it easier to bind. Step 2: Curling the last four toes over to the sole of the foot with great force. Step 3: Using binding cloth to tighten the feet, pressing the toes underneath the sole. At the beginning, the feet were tightly bound ...
What are arch shoes?
There were certain types of ' arch shoes ' (弓鞋 gōngxié /gong-sshyeah/) for women with bound feet. A pair of well-made arch shoes had various embroideries both inside and outside the shoes. Rich women even added some accessories,such as bright pearls in the heels.
Why are Chinese feet bound?
Chinese foot binding. The bound feet, to about 10 centimeters in size, were considered to be attractive in ancient times due to their small size. With bound feet, a woman's beauty was enhanced and her movement was daintier, which gained the support of both men and women for the practice.
How to soften feet in shoes?
Warm water to help soften the feet. Six binding cloths of at least 260 centimeters each in length. A needle and thread to help sew up the binding cloth. Cotton to pad the inside of the shoes to avoid rubbing when walking. A pair of scissors to cut the nails.
What did the Emperor's favorite concubine dance on?
According to history, an emperor's favorite concubine danced on a gilded lotus flower with bound feet , which gained the emperor's favor. Then other concubines imitated her, making the practice popular from the royal court to the whole country. It was thought to be a sign of beauty.
Why did Bossen believe foot binding existed?
But Bossen claims that foot binding existed and persisted because of its economic contribution . Because foot binding was an excruciatingly painful process that limited women’s mobility, it became a way to make sure that the girls sat down and worked to make yarns, cloths, fishnets, mats, and shoes.
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Who are Hill Gates and Bossen?
Bossen and Hill Gates, who are both professor emeritus of anthropology at their respective universiti es, interviewed around 1,800 elderly woman spread across the rural parts of China to dig deeper into this well-known and eerie tradition.
Who wrote the book "Bound feet, Young Hands"?
According to CNN, Lauren Bossen, co-author of the book “Bound feet, Young hands”, said that the concept of foot binding being seen as a way to please men in China is widely misunderstood.
How did Chinese women get their feet bound?
Next prayers and offerings were offered to the Tiny-Footed Maiden Goddess; another recipient was the Buddhist figure of Guanyin, a bodhisattva or enlightened one who was thought to protect women in general. When all was ready, the task was done by the older women of the family or by a professional foot-binder. The big toe was left facing forwards while the four smaller toes were bent under the foot. In this position, the feet were tightly bound using long strips of cloth, which then restricted any future growth and gave the foot a pronounced arch. The feet were unbound after one month, any ulcerations of the skin treated, and the foot rebound again. The bindings were loosened and retightened thereafter once each month until the girl reached her early teens (or even longer depending on the desired effect). It was not uncommon for one or more toes to be lost or to have infections in the foot or gangrene. Even as an adult a woman continued to wrap her deformed feet in bindings, wearing them at all times in public and when bathing.
Why did women use foot binding?
Certainly, the binding of feet to reduce their size was long-associated with women who earned their money entertaining men in one way or another. Another reason for its popularity may have been a desire to clearly differentiate upper-class Chinese women, the Han in particular, from the lower classes, those women from the provinces, and those belonging to cultures from newly acquired territories. Conversely, people in the provinces and peripheral regions of China wanted to copy the 'civilising' practices of imperial China. Finally, aristocratic young men of the Tang period were becoming more refined in dress and appearance so that foot-binding may have been an attempt to further distinguish the sexes.
How long are the feet of the Golden Lotus?
The aimed result of the long and excruciating process was to have feet no longer than 7.5-10 cm (3-4 inches), when they were known as jinlian - “Golden Lotus” or “Lotus” feet after the central life symbol of Buddhism.
What is foot binding?
The widespread nature of the practice by aristocrats meant that lower class parents saw foot-binding as an opportunity to raise the prospects of their own children. Eventually, the trait became something to take careful note of by parents arranging the marriage of their son. Tiny feet, despite the origins amongst dancers and courtesans, came to symbolise not only elegance but also moral virtue and modesty. There thus developed a certain peer pressure amongst families to perform the process on their daughters or risk not finding them eligible husbands. An additional test of a girl's suitability was her being set the task of making small shoes for the bound feet of her future in-laws.
Why did the Tang Dynasty use foot binding?
Foot-binding was a practice first carried out on young girls in Tang Dynasty China to restrict their normal growth and make their feet as small as possible. Considered an attractive quality, the effects of the process were painful and permanent. Widely used as a method to distinguish girls of the upper class from everyone else, and later as a way for the lower classes to improve their social prospects, the practice of foot-binding would continue right up to the early 20th century CE.
What does the tiny feet symbolise?
Tiny feet, despite the origins amongst dancers and courtesans, came to symbolise not only elegance but also moral virtue and modesty. There thus developed a certain peer pressure amongst families to perform the process on their daughters or risk not finding them eligible husbands.
What was the style of walking a woman with bound feet was now forced to adopt?
The same was true of the style of walking a woman with bound feet was now forced to adopt - small, light steps. With servants to perform menial tasks, a lady's mobility was limited even in normal circumstances, but with bound feet, walking must have only been achieved with great difficulty.
What was the opposition to foot binding?
Opposition to foot binding had been raised by some Chinese writers in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century, many of the rebel leaders of the Taiping Rebellion were of Hakka background whose women did not bind their feet, and foot binding was outlawed. However, the rebellion failed, and Christian missionaries, who had provided education for girls and actively discouraged what they considered a barbaric practice, then played a part in changing elite opinion on footbinding through education, pamphleteering, and lobbying of the Qing court, placing emphasis on the fact that no other culture in the world practiced the custom of foot binding.
Why did the Chinese abolish footbinding?
The anti-footbinding movement, however, stressed pragmatic and patriotic reasons rather than feminist ones, arguing that abolition of footbinding would lead to better health and more efficient labour. Reformers such as Liang Qichao, influenced by Social Darwinism, also argued that it weakened the nation, since enfeebled women supposedly produced weak sons. At the turn of the 20th century, early feminists, such as Qiu Jin, called for the end of foot binding. In 1906, writer Zhao Zhiqian published to Beijing Women's News where she blamed women with bounded feet for being the weakness of China's strength in the eyes of other nations. Many members of anti-footbinding groups pledged to not bind their daughters' feet nor to allow their sons to marry women with bound feet. In 1902, Empress Dowager Cixi issued an anti-foot binding edict, but it was soon rescinded.
Why do girls' toes drop off?
If the infection in the feet and toes entered the bones , it could cause them to soften, which could result in toes dropping off; however, this was seen as a benefit because the feet could then be bound even more tightly. Girls whose toes were more fleshy would sometimes have shards of glass or pieces of broken tiles inserted within the binding next to her feet and between her toes to cause injury and introduce infection deliberately. Disease inevitably followed infection, meaning that death from septic shock could result from foot-binding, and a surviving girl was more at risk for medical problems as she grew older. It is thought that as many as 10% of girls may have died from gangrene and other infections due to footbinding.
How many girls die from footbinding?
It is thought that as many as 10% of girls may have died from gangrene and other infections due to footbinding. At the beginning of the binding, many of the foot bones would remain broken, often for years. However, as the girl grew older, the bones would begin to heal.
What is the meaning of foot binding?
Hokkien POJ. pa̍k-kha. Foot binding was the Chinese custom of breaking and tightly binding the feet of young girls in order to change the shape and size of their feet; during the time it was practiced, bound feet were considered a status symbol and a mark of beauty. Feet altered by foot binding were known as lotus feet, ...
Why are toenails cut back?
Then, the toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent in-growth and subsequent infections, since the toes were to be pressed tightly into the sole of the foot.
How to heal a broken toe?
The broken toes were held tightly against the sole of the foot while the foot was then drawn down straight with the leg and the arch of the foot was forcibly broken. The bandages were repeatedly wound in a figure-of-eight movement, starting at the inside of the foot at the instep, then carried over the toes, under the foot, and around the heel, the freshly broken toes being pressed tightly into the sole of the foot. At each pass around the foot, the binding cloth was tightened, pulling the ball of the foot and the heel together, causing the broken foot to fold at the arch, and pressing the toes underneath the sole. The binding was pulled so tightly that the girl could not move her toes at all and the ends of the binding cloth were then sewn so that the girl could not loosen it.
Why were Chinese girls' feet broken?
It is widely believed that the deformed feet, which were placed in small embroidered shoes, would attract a better husband. A new study suggests feet were bound for another reason.
What did Bossen say about oppression?
Bossen explained, “It robbed young girls and then women throughout their lives of their ability to do other things, to move around and play, to have more choices. Of course it’s oppressive.”
How long has foot binding been around?
It’s unclear when the practice began exactly, but Bossen believes foot-binding in China goes back as far as 1,000 years.
Why were lotus feet created?
Still, Bossen and Gates’ book doesn’t deny that “lotus feet” were created to make a woman appear more desirable. Accounts written by feet-bound women in 19th century China, published by the University of Virginia, show that women often believed the tighter the foot-binding, the better the husband they’d attract.
Why are women's feet bound?
Research published in the book Bound Feet, Young Hands suggests that some women’s feet had been bound at a very young age so they could be trained to sit still for hours and help create textiles and clothing for the family.
Why did women use foot binding?
Mothers bound young girls’ feet so they would stay still and work with their hands, creating yarn and spinning thread, among other things, which families could use or sell.
Did women with bound feet get recognition?
These new findings, Bossen believes, prove that women in rural areas who had bound feet didn’t get the recognition they deserved.
What are female feet?
Well-cared for female feet have the ability to show off extensive grooming, a variety of colors as well as being adorned with different jewelry. Female feet have the capability of moving in several ways and being used for multiple functions. The majority of a human being’s bones are in the feet.
Why did Hakka women not bind their feet?
When women were often viewed as chattel, footbinding was one way for prestigious males to show that they could afford to waste labor. Walking long distances with bound feet was painful, so others would take up the slack. Hakka men expected their wives to do physical labor, so their women did not bind their feet.
What is a woman's foot?
Women’s feet are often concealed, which makes their eventual unveiling a special event. They are exposing a body part which in many parts of the world is rarely revealed. Women’s feet are often shapely, with a rich collection of curves, lines and wrinkles.
Why did the man of the house have to keep concubines to give birth to additional children?
In fact a lot of these women were so badly broken that the man of the house had to keep concubines to give birth to additional children because for the wife with the bound feet to birth a whole clan of kids would be too much of a strain on her weakened physique.
What does it mean when a woman wears no shoes?
When a women is wearing no shoes at all, it means that the situation is very intimate with the other person. Clothing is coming off, and you’re probably one on one with that person. No shoes and no socks is one of the last stages before something intimate happens. And, feet have about as much feeling as hands.
Why was it important to buy a bride with such small feet that she could not run away?
In some places the peasants were financially dependent on the handicrafts of the women. Because agriculture was so heavily taxed. It was therefore important to buy a bride with such small feet that she could not run away as the family could not afford to buy a new wife.
What does the binding of a woman's feet do?
The binding of a woman's feet completely changes her demeanor and gait, "creating a very restrained and delicate gait that makes the whole body fragile and tottering to produce a feeling of pity.". It was this "pitiful feeling" that inflated the superiority of the emperor and the feudal groups in the feudal period.