1. Footbinding in Ancient China
If the shoe fits…
Footbinding in Ancient China

2. What is Footbinding? Age 4-6 Process:
Foot soaked in animal blood & herbs
Toenails cut
Foot massage
Bandages soaked in blood/herb mixture
Each toe broken
Bandaged & pulled to heel
Process was repeated every two days for two years
Done early to ensure that arch did not have time to develop
Meant that pain would not be as extreme
Started during winter months
Mixture caused dead skin to fall off
Toenails cut back to prevent ingrowth
Bandages were cotton or silk 2” wide and 10’ long
Constrict while drying
May have had cuts made in sole to help pull toes towards heel

3. Feet went from looking like this….
To looking like this…
Feet went from looking like this….

5. Why was Footbinding done?
Not fully known
Started ~1000 AD
Lasted ~1000 yrs
Legend goes back to
Emperor’s concubine
1st done by wealthy
Goal: Lotus Foot
Golden Lotus-3 in.
Silver Lotus-<4 in.
Emperor’s concubine danced on a platform shaped like a lotus
Dance supposedly looked best with bound feet

6. 3” 2” 1”

7. Footbinding & the Role of Women
Kept women inferior
No bound feet=no husband
Sign of wealth & beauty
Sexual symbol
Lotus Shoes
Lotus Gait
“An ugly face is bad luck…big feet are due to neglect.”
Lost independence
Women could not travel long distances
Man’s mother would lift up the dress of a women
If there were ‘clown feet’, man was no longer allowed to speak to the women
Woman with bound feet could not work
More dutiful and dignified having suffered
Foot became sexual symbol
Foot always covered by shoes
Lotus Gait-unsteady walk
Like walking on your heels

8. Effects of Footbinding Process
Don’t throw the wrapping out…I think my little toe is in there!!
Most common complication-INFECTION
Could lead to death
Toenails growing into skin
Rotting flesh
Loss of toe
Feet ‘die’ after ~3 yrs
Bad smell

9. Effects of Footbinding in Later Years
2x more likely to fall
2x more likely to be unable to get up from a chair w/o assistance
Less able to squat
5.1% lower hip bone density
4.7% lower spine density

10. How is this…

11. Similar to this?

12. How is the treatment of women in traditional China similar to the treatment of women and girls in the US today?

14. Do you see a similarity?

15. What “pains” have women in our culture gone through to make themselves more attractive?

19. Waist no bigger than 16 inches
Padded underwear??