Chinese Feet Binding

[rashka]

http://uploads.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/boundfeet1.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2335/2489319679_2dbbf0c31d.jpg
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111742/boundfoot.gifhttp://xmb.stuffucanuse.com/xmb/image.php?&aid=827&foot-binding.jpg
http://im.glogster.com/media/5/27/84/56/27845656.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvanSejntLE/Tut5po5mpaI/AAAAAAAAEyk/plmfes4Jubg/s1600/Chinese-foot-binding-1.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/A_HIGH_CASTE_LADYS_DAINTY_LILY_FEET.jpg
http://academic.mu.edu/meissnerd/wagner2.jpghttp://sharepoint.naschools.net/highschool/Kwing/Picture%20Library4/1/Chinese%20foot%20binding.jpg
http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20080225-bndfeet2.gifhttp://chnm.gmu.edu/wwh/modules/lesson10/images/sources/footbinding.jpghttp://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/phot263.jpg
http://www.bridgemanart.com/Media%20library/IMAGES/NEWS%20AND%20FEATURES/EN-US/ARTIST%20AND%20COLLECTION%20HIGHLIGHTS/SEPT%2010/FOOT%20BINDING_371705.JPGhttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MNoxitA72Nw/Tt7W4T21iCI/AAAAAAAABYg/jnpkd5Q9pdc/s400/ex2_12sm.gif
http://reneeriley.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/foot_binding-_wealthy_chinese_women.jpg

[rashka]

http://storyofwomen.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/800px-shoes_for_bound_ladyc2b4s_feet_china.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5059/5521415575_f7971f0fa0_z.jpg
http://eightasians.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/shoes.jpg
http://www.hilaryshepherd.com/rantsnraves/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/foot-binding-2.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2l3hdSc6u1qzss4xo1_500.jpg
http://www.josephrupp.com/webpix/bf7.jpghttp://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/53342801.pnghttp://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m19gcbTcoN1r8vrhxo1_500.jpg
http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/clothing/11qinwom_files/11grayfe.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Chinese_Ladies_Footbinding_Shoes_QM_r_.jpg
http://www.nayachang.com/news/hello/3219595/1024/Naya_Chang_in_The_Waiting_Room_6-2006.10.28-15.42.42.jpg
http://www.gkdidyouknow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Foot-Binding.jpg
http://chinesefootbindingpictures.com/images/Chinese-Foot-Binding-Photos.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fts7SEsF1r8vrhxo1_500.jpg
http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/archives/footbinding/girl_chair.jpg



Foot binding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding)(simplified Chinese: 缠足; traditional Chinese: 纏足; Mandarin Pinyin: chánzú; Jyutping: gwo2 goek3; literally "bound feet" or Chinese: 縛腳; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pa̍k-kha) is the custom of binding the feet of young girls painfully tight to prevent further growth. The practice likely originated among court dancers in the early Song dynasty, but spread to upper-class families and eventually became common among all classes. In the poorer families of Canton in the late 19th century, for example, it was usual to bind the feet of the eldest daughter, who was intended to be brought up as a lady. Her large-footed sisters would grow up to be bond-servants or domestic slaves, and, when old enough, the concubines of rich men or the wives of laboring men. The tiny narrow feet were considered beautiful and to make a woman's movements more feminine and dainty. Although reformers challenged the practice, it was not until the early 20th century that footbinding began dying out, partly from changing social conditions and partly as a result of anti-footbinding campaigns.
Foot-binding resulted in lifelong disabilities for most of its subjects, and some elderly Chinese women still survive today with disabilities related to their bound feet.


Process
The process was started before the arch of the foot had a chance to develop fully, usually between the ages of two and five. Binding usually started during the winter months since the feet were more likely to be numb, and therefore the pain would not be as extreme.

First, each foot would be soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood; this was intended to soften the foot and aid the binding. Then, the toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent in-growth and subsequent infections, since the toes were to be pressed tightly into the sole of the foot. Cotton bandages, 3 m long and 5 cm wide (10 ft by 2 in), were prepared by soaking them in the blood and herb mixture. To enable the size of the feet to be reduced, the toes on each foot were curled under, then pressed with great force downwards and squeezed into the sole of the foot until the toes broke.

The broken toes were held tightly against the sole of the foot while the foot was then drawn down straight with the leg and the arch forcibly broken. The bandages were repeatedly wound in a figure-eight movement, starting at the inside of the foot at the instep, then carried over the toes, under the foot, and round the heel, the freshly broken toes being pressed tightly into the sole of the foot. At each pass around the foot, the binding cloth was tightened, pulling the ball of the foot and the heel together, causing the broken foot to fold at the arch, and pressing the toes underneath.

The girl's broken feet required a great deal of care and attention, and they would be unbound regularly. Each time the feet were unbound, they were washed, the toes carefully checked for injury, and the nails carefully and meticulously trimmed. When unbound, the broken feet were also kneaded to soften them and make the joints and broken bones more flexible, and were soaked in a concoction that caused any necrotic flesh to fall off.



Schema of an x-ray comparison between an unbound and bound foot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FootBindingRxSchema2.gif)

Immediately after this pedicure, the girl's broken toes were folded back under and the feet were rebound. The bindings were pulled ever tighter each time. This unbinding and rebinding ritual was repeated as often as possible (for the rich at least once daily, for poor peasants two or three times a week), with fresh bindings. It was generally an elder female member of the girl's family or a professional foot binder who carried out the initial breaking and ongoing binding of the feet. This was considered preferable to having the mother do it, as she might have been sympathetic to her daughter's pain and less willing to keep the bindings tight.

The most common problem with bound feet was infection. Despite the amount of care taken in regularly trimming the toenails, they would often in-grow, becoming infected and causing injuries to the toes. Sometimes for this reason the girl's toenails would be peeled back and removed altogether. The tightness of the binding meant that the circulation in the feet was faulty, and the circulation to the toes was almost cut off, so any injuries to the toes were unlikely to heal and were likely to gradually worsen and lead to infected toes and rotting flesh.

If the infection in the feet and toes entered the bones, it could cause them to soften, which could result in toes dropping off—though this was seen as a positive, as the feet could then be bound even more tightly. Girls whose toes were more fleshy would sometimes have shards of glass or pieces of broken tiles inserted within the binding next to her feet and between her toes to cause injury and introduce infection deliberately. Disease inevitably followed infection, meaning that death from septic shock could result from foot-binding, but a surviving girl was more at risk for medical problems as she grew older.

At the beginning of the binding, many of the foot bones would remain broken, often for years. However, as the girl grew older, the bones would begin to heal, although even after the foot bones had healed they were prone to re-breaking repeatedly, especially when the girl was in her teens and her feet were still soft. Older women were more likely to break hips and other bones in falls, since they could not balance securely on their feet, and were less able to rise to their feet from a sitting position.

[Caismeachd]

Thanks for the post.

I've read that their husbands would force them to keep on their shoes because the sight of their mangled feet would make them sick. It's pretty damn gross.

[Teyrn]

Gross. Nasty.

[Methmatician]

I thought this was banned in the PRC?

[Frigga]

I didn't know that they still practiced this barbaric custom! That's a really horrible thing that I don't like about the Chinese culture. It is mutilation of women! How horrifying! :(

[rhiannon]

Thanks for the post.

I've read that their husbands would force them to keep on their shoes because the sight of their mangled feet would make them sick. It's pretty damn gross.

And Barbaric:mad:

[Osprey]

Its simply torture of young citizens.
:mad:

[Graus]

Some cultures are just better than others, not just different but superior.

[Talvi]

I thought this was banned in the PRC?

It is. These ladies are the last ones left with bound feet. Im sure you cant meet any young Chinese women with bound feet.

[Odin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eG2kZ4iM-c