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Foot binding was a Chinese custom of breaking and tightly binding feet of young girls to change their shape and size. This tradition, which persisted for a thousand years, was primarily associated with beauty and social status.
The feet bound through foot binding is called Lotus Feet and the shoes made for them were called Lotus shoes. Foot binding is believed to have originated during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in the 10th century China. Soon, it became widespread during the Song Dynasty (960 -1279 AD) and continued until the early 20th century.
The process of foot binding begins when a girl is between 4 and 9 years old. The feet would be soaked in warm water or animal blood and herbs to soften them. The toes (except the big ones) were then curled under the foot and tightly bound with cloth. This would break the arch and force the toes towards the heel, creating a deep arch and a smaller, concave foot shape.
Lotus feet was considered a symbol of beauty, elegance, and social status. It was believed to make a woman more attractive and marriageable. The ideal foot length was around 3 inches, known as the “golden lotus”, while feet up to 4 inches were called “silver lotus.”
Foot binding was also a symbol of femininity and upper-class status. Women with bound feet were often restricted in their ability to move around, hence heavily depending on the male family members and confined to their domestic roles.
The practice caused severe pain and lifelong disabilities in women. A lot of women suffered from infections, and other complications. It led to difficulty in walking and performing daily activities, resulting in lifelong physical limitations.
By the early 20th century, foot binding began to decline due to changing societal norms and criticism from the west. Missionaries, feminists, and reformers all condemned the act. Eventually, the Chinese government banned foot binding and it disappeared as China adopted new cultural practices.
Today, foot binding is associated with oppression of women in the Chinese society. It remains a powerful example of how cultural traditions can have immense impacts on individuals and societies.
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