Foot binding was the custom of applying tight binding to the
feet of young girls to deform the shape of their feet. It was practiced in
China from the Song dynasty until the early 20th century, and bound feet were
considered a status symbol as well as a mark of beauty. Foot binding limited
the mobility of women, and resulted in lifelong disabilities for most of its
subjects, although some women with bound feet working outdoors have also been
reported. Feet altered by binding were called lotus feet.
The practice possibly originated among upper class court
dancers during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in 10th century China,
then became popular among the elite during the Song dynasty, eventually
spreading to all social classes by the Qing dynasty. Foot binding was practiced
in different forms, and the more severe form of binding may have been developed
in the 16th century. It has been estimated that by the 19th century, 40–50% of
all Chinese women may have had bound feet, and up to almost 100% among upper
class Chinese women.[1] The prevalence and practice of foot binding however
varied in different parts of the country.
There had been attempts to end the practice during the Qing
dynasty; Manchu Kangxi Emperor tried to ban foot binding in 1664 but failed.[2]
In the later part of the 19th century, Chinese reformers challenged the
practice but it was not until the early 20th century that foot binding began to
die out as a result of anti-foot-binding campaigns. Only a few elderly Chinese
women still survive today with bound feet
