in the pursuit of beauty chinese foot binding. foot binding is often compared to the corset binding...

In the pursuit of BeautyIn the pursuit of Beauty

Chinese Foot BindingChinese Foot Binding

Foot binding is often compared to the corset Foot binding is often compared to the corset “binding” of the 1800’s“binding” of the 1800’s

What is “Foot Binding”

Foot Binding was created by the Chinese

Foot binding was an attempt to stop the growth of the feet

This was done, so that women’s feet would be tiny

What were the feet supposed to look like?

The ideal length was 3 inches, but no longer than 10 cm

They wanted them to look like “Lotus Hooks”

In order to achieve this “look” of “Lotus Hooks,” the feet were bound so that they would bend and become concave

Skeletal View

When was the process When was the process of Binding Feet done?of Binding Feet done? Foot Binding was done to a little girl Foot Binding was done to a little girl

between the ages of 3 and 5 years oldbetween the ages of 3 and 5 years old The arch of the foot needed to be well-The arch of the foot needed to be well-

developed so that the perfect “lotus foot” developed so that the perfect “lotus foot” could be formedcould be formed

So some people waited until a girl was So some people waited until a girl was about 5 to bind her feet so as to have a about 5 to bind her feet so as to have a more developed archmore developed arch

“If you love your son, you don’t go easy on his studies. If you love your daughter, you don’t go easy on her foot binding.”

What did they use to What did they use to “Bind” the feet“Bind” the feet

The girl’s feet were bound tightly The girl’s feet were bound tightly with cloth strips, so to keep her with cloth strips, so to keep her feet from growing no longer than feet from growing no longer than 10 cm, about 3.9 inches10 cm, about 3.9 inches

What happened to “Bound What happened to “Bound Feet”Feet”

►The “binding” was done, so as to bend The “binding” was done, so as to bend the toes under, break the bones and the toes under, break the bones and force the back of the foot together force the back of the foot together

►Four of the toes would break within a Four of the toes would break within a yearyear

►The first one, or “big toe,” remained in The first one, or “big toe,” remained in tacttact

► The art of binding the The art of binding the feet was primarily for feet was primarily for the wealthy in the the wealthy in the beginning.beginning.

► Poor people started Poor people started binding their binding their daughters feet in daughters feet in hopes they would hopes they would marry a wealthy manmarry a wealthy man

► If she didn’t marry If she didn’t marry wealthy then the girl wealthy then the girl was forced to work in was forced to work in the fields on her the fields on her deformed feet. deformed feet.

How did Binding Feet this way How did Binding Feet this way give the foot the “Lotus” lookgive the foot the “Lotus” look

►The practice would cause the soles of The practice would cause the soles of feet to bend in extreme concavityfeet to bend in extreme concavity

►These These bent and concaved feet were bent and concaved feet were seen and described as "lotus hooks“seen and described as "lotus hooks“

► The binding process resulted in The binding process resulted in intense pain and caused phalanges to intense pain and caused phalanges to fracture easily.fracture easily.

Physical ConditionsPhysical Conditions

• After binding the feet, it was very After binding the feet, it was very difficult for women to walk, run, difficult for women to walk, run, squat down, etc.squat down, etc.

• With feet bent, bound, and broken With feet bent, bound, and broken women were handicapped women were handicapped

• For the most part, women had to just For the most part, women had to just “hobble” around to get any where “hobble” around to get any where

• Bound feet had to be washed and Bound feet had to be washed and cared for daily. cared for daily. 

• If toe nails grew into the instep, If toe nails grew into the instep, infection could set in.  infection could set in. 

• If the bindings were too tight, If the bindings were too tight, gangrene and blood poisoning could gangrene and blood poisoning could occur.  occur. 

• The bound foot was painful and The bound foot was painful and tender forever.  tender forever. 

• It often had an unpleasant smell.It often had an unpleasant smell.

History behind “Foot Binding”History behind “Foot Binding”

• The “lotus foot” was also referred to as the “golden lotus”

• It is believed that the origin of the term "golden lotus" emerged in the Southern Tang dynasty around 920 A.D.

Tang DynastyTang Dynasty• During the Tang Dynasty the During the Tang Dynasty the

Emperor Li Yu ordered his favorite Emperor Li Yu ordered his favorite concubine, Fragrant Girl, to perform a concubine, Fragrant Girl, to perform a dance for him and the royal courtdance for him and the royal court

• She wrapped her feet in pieces of silkShe wrapped her feet in pieces of silk• She then danced on a golden lotus She then danced on a golden lotus

platform, which was encrusted with platform, which was encrusted with pearls and gemspearls and gems

Foot bindingFoot binding

• Foot binding was practiced until 1911.

• Was banned during the revolution of Sun Yet-Sen.