Foot-BindingThe Quest for Beauty and Status

The History of Foot-Binding

The practice was popular by the 12th century

There are 3 stories as to how this tradition began “Golden Lotus”, Imitation, Deformity

Foot-Binding was made illegal soon after the Chinese Revolution in 1911

The Myths

(1) Reportedly to imitate an imperial concubine who was required to dance with her feet bound

(2) The ruler's favorite consort, Yao-niang, performed a dance atop a golden lotus pedestal that had been specially built. She had wrapped her feet in long strips of silk cloth, much like a ballerina in toe shoes today. Li Yu was so overwhelmed with the beauty of her movement as she danced that other court maidens followed suit, and "Golden Lotus" became a euphemism for their delicately bound feet.

(3) Another folklore: an empress who was born with a club foot convinced her husband to make it mandatory for the young girls to have their feet compressed so that her foot maybe considered "beautiful".

The Foot-Binding Ritual

Began between the ages of 3 and 11

Was performed by the girl’s mother or another female relative

Foot-binding usually took place in the fall and winter so the girl would feel less pain

The Foot-Binding Steps

1. The girl’s toenails would be cut 2. Her feet would be soaked in hot

water 3. Except for the big toe, all of her toes

would be broken and folded under the foot

4. Her feet would be wrapped tightly in silk or cotton bandages

5. Every few days, the bandages would be taken off, the feet cleaned, and the feet wrapped even more tightly

Wrapping Bound Feet

Why Were Feet Bound?

• Wealth• Status• Beauty• Marriage

Beauty

A three-inch-long foot, called a “golden lotus,” was considered beautiful

Feet this size would be able to fit into the delicate and beautiful shoes made for bound feet

Marriage, Status, and Wealth

Having bound feet made it difficult to walk, and so a man who had a wife with bound feet looked as if he had so much money and status that his wife did not need to work

How We have been doing this throughout history• Corsets

•High-Heeled Shoes

Hoops & Bustles

What other cultures do:

Karen Women of Pa Daung Tribe

Mursi: The Mursi women are famous for wearing plates in their lower lips. These lip discs are made of clay. Girls are pierced at the age of 15 or 16

Henna Tattoo

A famous Quote About Foot Binding:

"Bind your feet small,A Scholar you shall marry.Then you'll eat white bread, meat and veggies.Bind your feet big,A blind man you shall marry.Then you'll eat cornbread and hot peppers

daily."

References:

Associated Chinese University Women, Traditions for Living, A Booklet of Chinese Customs and Folk Practices in Hawaii. Volume Two. Honolulu, 1989.

American Girl. Middleton, WI. Pleasant Company Publications, Article (Sampler, pg. 36), 1992.

Chinn, Thomas. Bridging the Pacific: San Francisco Chinatown and Its People. San Francisco: Chinese Historical Society of American, 1989.

Dicker, Laverne Mau. The Chinese in San Francisco: A Pictorial History. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1979.

diFranco, Toni L. Chinese Clothing and Theatrical Costumes. San Joaquin, CA: San Joaquin County Historical Museum, 1981.

Yu Young, Connie. Chinatown, San Jose, USA. San Jose, CA: San Jose Historical Museum Association, 1991.

Yung, Judy. The Chinese Women of America: A Pictorial History. Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1986.