Andrea and Rebeka's Foot Binding Research by Rebeka Macias

What is foot Binding?

55694 — 2015-12-08 21:22:50 UTC

It was the custom of applying painfully tight binding to the feet of young girls to prevent further grow.

Why did people Foot Bind?

55694 — 2015-12-08 21:23:03 UTC

Women with small feet were seen as delicate, in need of male protection, and aristocratic, since they were unable to do many of the things a servant would do easily. The feet also became a symbol of chastity, since they left the woman unable to go out of the house on her own. Poorer families would often bind the feet of only their eldest daughter so that she could possibly marry up in society.

How did Foot Binding originate?

504561 — 2015-12-08 21:31:42 UTC

"Several stories exist as to how the practice got started, but the most popular and credible says it began with Emperor Li Yu, who reigned during the Southern Tang dynasty (937-975 A.D.). In 970, the emperor reportedly saw his favorite consort dancing on a golden lotus pedestal and was entranced by her feet, which she had wrapped in strips of cloth -- much like those of a ballerina dancing on pointe -- so her dancing appeared more beautiful. Seeing the emperor's pleasure, other court maidens similarly wrapped their feet. Soon upper-class women adopted the fashion, and eventually it spread to all women, no matter their social status. Only a few regions resisted, like the Manchu and those who hailed from Guangdong in southern China [sources: Holman, Ross]." (McManus)

This picture demonstrates the shoes they wore in order to make the foot smaller and how the foot looked after.

55694 — 2015-12-08 21:31:44 UTC

How do you foot bind?

55694 — 2015-12-08 21:34:35 UTC

"Carried out during the winter months, when their feet would be numb from the cold, the child’s feet would be soaked in a warm solution made from herbs and animal blood to soften the feet, and toenails would be cut back as far as possible.

The toes on each foot were then curled backward, pressed downwards and then squeezed into the sole of the foot until the toes broke.

After next breaking the arch of the foot, bandages were wrapped around the foot, pressing the toes underneath the foot.

The feet would be unbound and washed regularly, then kneaded to soften them, after which the bandages reapplied even tighter. The feet would start to heal over time, but they would still be prone to breaking again."(Lavender

Sources

504561 — 2015-12-08 21:37:01 UTC

McManus, Melaine Radzicki. "How Foot Binding Worked." HowStuffWorks. N.p., 27 Mar. 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.

Foreman, Amanda. "Why Footbinding Persisted in China for a Millennium."Smithsonian. N.p., Feb. 2015. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.

"ISPUB.com." Internet Scientific Publications. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015

Jean, Lavender. The Last Survivors of Crippling Foot Binding Tradition. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.

When did people usually bind their feet?

504561 — 2015-12-09 01:15:17 UTC

The process of foot binding usually occurred between the ages of four and nine, before their feet were fully developed.

Why do you think the practice was outlawed in 1911?

504561 — 2015-12-10 22:03:30 UTC

It caused terrible pain and reforming feet and it also restricted woman.