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The barbaric practice of foot binding in China began in the 10th century sometime during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and ended over a thousand years later. Foot binding was practiced on young girls usually six years of age and younger. Feet were wrapped in tight bandages and broken so they couldn’t grow. Foot binding was generally practiced by wealthy families, as only wealthy families could afford to have the women of the house not at work. It was a sign of prestige, beauty and wealth.
Eventually, foot binding moved from wealthy city families to women in the countryside, where women realized they could marry into money by having these prized three inch feet. For centuries, women suffered terrible pain in the hopes of having a better future.
Zhou Guizhen, who is 86-years-old, shows one of her bound feet where the bones in the four small toes were broken and forced underneath the foot over a period of time, at her home in Liuyi village in China’s southern Yunnan Province, February 2007. Villages in China where women with bound feet survive are increasingly rare but the millennium-old practice nevertheless took almost four decades to eradicate after it was initially banned in 1911. Full story at Wired.
To bind feet, feet were first soaked in a warm bowl of herbs and animal blood, which caused the dead flesh to fall off. Toe nails were cut back as far as possible to prevent ingrown toenails and infection. Silk and cotton bandages were dipped in the solution and were wrapped tightly around the feet after the toes were broken. Four toes on each foot were broken and folded under. The big toe was left intact. Feet were often bound so tightly that even short distances were unable to be walked.
The bandages became tighter after drying. While drying, the toes were forced down and inward. Sometimes cuts were made in the sole of the feet to make the binding process easier. Most footbinding was done during the winter months, when it was thought the cold would numb the pain. The wrapping process was repeated every couple of days with fresh bandages. Each time, the bandages were pulled even tighter, causing excrutiating and long lasting pain.
In 1912, the Chinese government ordered the cessation of footbinding. Women were ordered to unwrap their feet. Failure to do so resulted in heavy fines and in some cases, death. When the Communists came into power in 1949, they too ordered a nation wide ban on footbinding. This was especially devastating to women with bound feet because most of them were forced to perform hard physical labor in the 1950’s.
According to the American author William Rossi, who wrote The Sex Life of the Foot and Shoe, 40 percent to 50 percent of Chinese women had bound feet in the 19th century. For the upper classes, the figure was almost 100 percent.
The ideal foot was three inches in length. Three inch feet were called golden lotuses. Feet that were between three and four inches in length were called silver lotuses.
For more information, read this story about a Chinese Girl With Bound Feet.
These pictures were emailed to me. I had to do an Internet search to find the photographer. I believe the professional photographer who took these photos is Michael Yamashita.
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Oh my God, this is so sad and disturbing!
Hi Erica,
Yeah, I think so, too. But I also equate it with all the plastic surgery victims out there today. I was just reading about a guy whose nose actually rotted off from having too many nose jobs.
i was in my third period reading class when i was first taught about this horrific, extrodinary, grotesque thing saught as beautiful, how could suffering and pain just to deform a perfectly regular foot be attractive in any way, sense, look or feel. i am only fifteen years old and understand no concept of this purpose, it really makes me appreciate the value of proper civilization and the demand of beautey, how painful for them. im glad it is a new age and that is outlawed now, if you are reading this be blessed for your normal feet and grieve for others who this have been done to.
I heard about this from my grandmother. we both think that if you do this to marry money why dont you just make money of your own?
I just finished a novel by Lisa See – “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” that portrayed factual information on the Chinese culture regarding footbinding, women’s secret written language called nu shu and old same sworn sisterhoods called laotong. The author, See, is a Chinese American who wrote this passionate story of two young girls, their sworn laotong relationship, and the physical and emotional pain they experienced throughout their lives. See’s writing is a well-researched account of the Chinese culture that lasted one thousand years.
That is simply grotesque. I can’t believe that men can dream up such things as this to accept their woman as attractive. The ways that women have been treated in different cultures for their own selfish pleasures is just appalling. This and the genital mutilations going on in Africa denying woman of the right to enjoy sex while these men still are able to enjoy their pleasures is nothing short of the worst criminal and animalistic behavior. Actually even animals behave better than this.
I am watching a movie called The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. …and it shows some of the struggle of the banning of foot binding. So I came online this morning to find more information on the subject. Thank you so much for this post.
i agree that this is wrong and think that you should like your body the way god made it but you must understand that footbinding is apart of their culture, when you begin to footbind is when you become a woman its a right of passage for them, like having your period or first kiss or something is becomeing a woman for american girls which makes most of you just as wrong to judge
jaquline, im also reading “Snow flower and the Secret fan” and iv gotta say its very good
so to anyone else who wants to learn a little more about footbinding try it if you want or not ..its a good book
your comparison is flawed in that having a period or a kiss is not the same as purposely handicapping a human being. you must remember these women couldnt walk. not to mention the disgusting sores, bleeding, and smell as a result of this process and for what? women are always singled out for some mans sick idea. im a relative happily married women so i know ever man isnt this sick, however, we must place responsibility where it belongs. if this is such a wonderful right of passage, why then would it be inappropriate to show the “feet”. from what i understand there was nothing but shame attached to the look, and smell. and husbands, or anyone else, would never look at the feet. youd think the family would sit around with adorations and stare at these feet, if it means so much to have them. first periods and kisses are celebrated.
I recall seeing a doc on CBC on foot binding and it made me realize just how fortunate I am to live in the time that I do and in my country…city…home.
I now live in Toronto, Canada. But I grew up with my brother and mother, who was a single parent, in her community; Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island. I am blessed to be a part of a culture where the women held as much (if not more) power with the men. The earlier posts about how women have been subjects is such a sorrowful part of our world’s history. But, it is our history none the less. I believe that it is our individual responsibility to treat all humans as equal. I think that if we can do that then those looking back on us will be proud and happy. Mostly because there won’t be a need anymore to work that issue…
In response to Sierra’s comment on why they wouldn’t just make their own money? You have to understand the time period and culture. There was no way for women to make money. In this time period, they were married off by the age of 14-16 (arranged). A young girl living in the countryside had few options: forever work as a slave to her own father, or be married off to work as a slave to her husband. OR, footbinding provided at least the chance to improve their living conditions. These women were traded as objects.
Many others have commented on author Lisa See. She also has two other wonderful books called “Peony in Love,” and her newest book “Shanghai Girls.” She has done much research, and because this was such an integral part of a girl’s life, the footbinding process is mentioned in all of her books. If you are curious about understanding women in the Chinese culturem another great author is Amy Tan (most known for “Joy Luck Club).
I have suffered from the genital mutilations going on in middle east denying me of the right to enjoy sex while the men still are able to enjoy with as many women.
I had a horrible husband father, stupid mother. Can’t stop enving anything live in USA.
My sister and I were driving to sanfransisco once and wished we could have born as
the cow, we were observing rather than what we are now. If I could write a Novel
there would be no depressed women in USA. trust me.
Sharin, thank you for your testament. As one of three sisters and now mother to three daughters my heart breaks for you and all women oppressed in ways we cannot imagine. Know that your voice is powerful and a strong reminder that we can be grateful for the rights we were born into here and that we must be aware of this gift and demand protection for all women everywhere. Your message will stay with me. May God protect you and cover your life with peace and comfort. bless you and your family.
I am reading the Binding Chair (Kathryn Harrison) and wanted to learn a little more about footbinding tradition in China. It is appaling to see what women put themselves through in order to please men! Yes I agree with previous comments left, that current use of plastic surgery is, for most women, not about their feeling, but to improve their looks for someone else, usually a man….Sad
I think this a horrible thing to do and I dont think this is pretty at all. It is horrible what women do to themselves for men. It would be sooo panful to get this and I feel sorry for the people that got their feet binded
That is so horrible and disgusting. The foot is deformed and they believe its beauty? I can believe poor girls were forced to do that. I’m glad it got outlawed!
I am busy reading Snow flower and the secret fan and was compelled to look for a picture of bound feet. Even more revolting – is that Japanese men were acutually turned on by these feet!!
The poor women ended up stooped over double and limping or walking with sticks in their old age.
I have to say that when I read stories like these – I appreciate that I am a liberated woman and that if anything is done to my body – it is with my permission!
I cannot believe what hideous things women will endure for a ‘loving’ relationship. Doesn’t this show that men only care about good looks? I find the pictures somewhat revolting and I feel ever so sorry for the women that had to go through will it.
I too, am reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and was also compelled to look. The depth of my horror has left me silent. I care for al elderly chinese woman and thank god she escaped this torture.
I find the comments comparing plastic surgery to foot binding very interesting, and I have to agree. It’s true, most women do it not for themselves, because what woman in their right mind would want to have huge, numb, immovebale plastic breasts? It’s to fullfill some disgusting image of femininity portrayed in a male dominated society. I’ve had plastic surgery, none of it permanent, but it was painful and expensive and I felt really pressured into doing it. Sad.
Jaclynn´s last blog ..Precious Vicious Clothing, Los Angeles CA
Hi Jaclynn,
Thanks for sharing. I’m sad to say that while I haven’t had any cosmetic surgery to date, the older I get the more pressure I feel to have something done.
we were studying about china, when we came to this topic. how could anyone do this to girls. do only girls have to suffer this wiered stuff?
they have to fight against this.
Luckily, the practice of footbinding was banned over 60 years ago. The modern woman has to worry about other things now instead, like cosmetic surgey, female genital mutilation, and the hazards of wearing high heels.
Are we so arrogant as to think that we, as modern women, don’t do very similar things for the same reasons!? Four inch heels, push-up bras, boob jobs, nose jobs, liposuction, cheek implants, lip implants, to name a few. Yes, the foot-binding is grotesque and the pain was far worse than anything we’re likely to ever experience, but that doesn’t make modern women liberated and free from our own dependence on men. Many thousands of women painfully transform themselves to make themselves more marketable to men. They, too, are commodities.
in a way youre on point. however, foot binding was not a choice. we choose to have cosmetic surgery. and the times are different. yes we can decide to “do it” (whatever it is} for a man. but, (and this is important)…WE DONT HAVE TO!!! we can tell a guy to take a hike. however, today the process of cosmetic surgery is greatly improve. its not as painful, recovery is quicker and technology is probably 100% better. with that said…there is “no” comparison to feet binding. i dont think anyone would say it is worth it, that its pretty, they they are glad they did it and that they would do it again in a heart beat. we hear these affirmations daily when speaking of the various cosmetic surgeries performed today. we have to admit, some surgeries are miracles in many ways. but foot binding???? ive never seen anything so disgusting. how could a woman tolerate looking at her own feet? its horrific. its was an evil thing!!
chinese men are disgusting, short and ugly. so its no wonder they would come up with something like this to “elevate” there status in more ways than one.
This is sooo desterbing! I can’t believe my teacher would ask me to look it up!
Thank you for sharing these photos. I, too, am reading Lisa See’s incredible book, “Snow Flowerand the Secret Fan” and wanted to see what she had so vividly described. I don’t remember the cut in the sole of the foot, but I will re-read that section to see if I missed it. Everyone should realize that cultural mores are ideosyncratic to the times and region and therefore should not be judged by today’s standards. Perhaps in a thousand years, people will look aghast at today’s customs of piercing and tatooing.
your are forgetting that yes women in America have plastic surgery….but in foot binding the women doesn’t have a choice it’s done to small children, painful and torturous Can you imagine the screaming? Plastic surgery is a choice a Women makes, stupid or not
Suffering for beauty? What the fuck. This isn’t beauty, this is.. I don’t know. It’s ugly, it’s gross and it’s far behind beauty. This is sick and gross!
It must have been excrutiating for those women to have experienced such an ordeal. As a 17 teen year old im already feeling the pressure to look a certain way though im quite certain i would never undergo surgery to alter my appearence.
“It’s ugly, it’s gross, it’s far behind beauty.”
I think this comment is highly eurocentric. The practice of footbinding was actually inflicted on daughters by their mothers, and fathers had little to no involvement in the process itself. Of course, the tiny foot WAS used to attract men and it was considered incredibly beautiful by men and women alike. The process was clearly painful, and the result disfiguring,but no more disfiguring than our boob implants, chin augmentations, and tummy tucks of today. To say the bound foot was ugly is certainly not true- it was practiced for nearly a millenium!
The practice of foot binding was a travesty on so many levels… It was a sad fact that mothers were active participants in the “torture” of their own young daughters. It shows what desperate measures desperate people are willing to take for the promise of security, food and shelter.
Foot binding of young female children was also illustrative of Chinese society’s misplaced values. In China, even today, women are less valued than men. While the Chinese culture is more blatant about its views, other cultures feel similarly, yet express that feeling less overtly.
In the U.S. culture, girls are not raised with the necessary self esteem that will aid in dissuading them from the life long pursuit of making themselves pleasing to men. While the U.S. day-to-day lifestyle is considerably kinder than what our Chinese sisters experienced, clearly there is still a long way to go.
There are comments on this site that allege that the practice of foot binding was no different than plastic surgery today. Keep in mind that individuals undergoing plastic surgery are adults with a choice. These young children had no choice or voice. As adult women, we choose to participate in activities which are not great examples for our daughters and young women i.e.: plastic surgery and hobbling 6″ heels.
There are ways to be attractive, without degrading or mutilating ourselves. If we invest in healthier values for ourselves, future generations of women will receive the benefits.
The comment from Alex about her teacher making her look up this information is important. Alex, you have a good teacher who wants you to know what the world has been like for women. In many places on the planet today, women’s situations are as bad or worse. Let’s not forget the middle east, where women wear burkhas and must cover their faces.
Regardless of why a culture claims to treat women differently, as long as women are not given the same rights as the men in their culture, they are given LESS rights, not more rights, not more respect, and not more value, just LESS.
As women, we need to stop accepting less. That starts with each one of us. Whatever we decide, it must be because we chose it. It would also help for us to think about what message we are giving to our daughters, by some of our choices.
just gross
I am also reading a book by Lisa See called ‘Peony in Love’ and had to look up foot binding. I have a small daughter myself and cannot imagine the tortuous pain that mothers inflicted on their small children for the sake of beauty and in the name of love. I believe that all people need to feel beautiful but have looked to make the outside beautiful instead of the beauty of character. Phyisical beauty is fleeting, but the beauty that can be cultivated on the inside lasts a lifetime. Just a thought….
I too find it very difficult to think that this was done for status and believed to enhance beauty. But, I also found it difficult to understand why my mother would complain about her bad feet and still wear heals…and that has not changed much at all today. Men do equally stupid things. Tatoos are beautiful to some people, disgusting to others. I don’t accept that men are the blame for the many cultural imperatives that we seem to live by. Women have been equally guilty and have been the leaders in other foolish behaviors. Human behavior remains a mystery.
I to have read the novel by Lisa See, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and currently reading Peony In Love, Shanghai Girls will be next. I have her 4 remaining books on order. I began reading her books because I will be going to China very soon, and was looking for a book to give me not only a story, but also information about the customs. Ms See goes into such detail that you find yourself being there, as witness to these young girls as they go throught this foot binding and how they are treated as useless females, It’s very sad, all so that a man may, or may not love them! These books are well written, the information given seems to be very accurate. I encourage you to pick one up, from the first page to the last, you won’t be able to put it down.
Theresa,
I’ve read all three books – actually, I’ve read all of Lisa See’s books – and I wholeheartedly agree. She’s a wonderful writer and researcher. I highly recommend all of her books.
I read “Peony in Love” by Lisa See, as was so enthralled by the detail of Chinese culture. I was so grateful to be able to read and understand the meanings behind Chinese traditions and to explore what Chinese women underwent in the earlier centuries. I was horrified and amazed at the same time. But I was grateful to understand a bit better.
I keEp seeing comments questioning “how could women do this to themselves to please a man?”
HELLO!
This practice was women – as figurative representatives for men – ABUSING CHILDREN. Did we see the “6 years old” piece here? Just like female genital mutilation, a.k.a. FMG (do NOT use the term “female circumcision” because it makes it so acceptable), this atrocity was CHILD TORTURE. It is an extreme example, as is FMG, of how societies devalue children. Another one is that in America, the consequences of raping, and even murdering a child are often waaaaaay less than stupid white collar crimes.
i could weep for these child victims of foot binding and female genital mutilation…..and arranged marriages to strangers?…..what is wrong with mothers of these children????……..lack of education!!!!