Bounded Feet were now considered a symbol of high-class and beauty as well as elegance. Why Did Foot Binding Exist? Some girls dealt with punishment in addition to the bindings. Binding Feet to Gain the Emperor's Favor in the 10th Century The first recorded foot binding started from the Five Dynasties and Ten States in the 10th century and it became prevalent in the Song Dynasty (960–1279). The exact origin of the practice is unknown. There are a few different versions of just how foot binding started, and NPR says one of the oldest dates back to the Shang dynasty. Little by little,it would start breaking bones from all the body. Researchers say (via LiveScience) that at first, many women were trying to create a narrower foot by wrapping it, and these early attempts didn't do too much to distort or damage the actual bone structure of the foot. By the 1600s, there was a difference in the preferred style in the north and the south of China. We do know that it wasn't until 1874 that a British priest started the first anti-foot binding society, and while it wasn't outlawed for almost another 35 years, the practice continued long beyond that. Researchers have found (via The Atlantic) another motivation: economic gain. The tradition, known as foot binding, eventually came to symbolize China's backwardness, a relic from the country's distant past. It all started when palace dancers performed with bound feet and the practice spread slowly through China! “It was a strong tradition passed from … In another version, it was the emperor who ordered her — his favorite concubine — to bind her feet and dance. According to the Huffington Post, the practice was widespread by the 12th century. Women were encouraged to unbind their feet and burn the bindings, and some — like Pi Guiqiong — were able to. Once the process was done, the ideal was the golden lotus: a foot just three inches long that showed in a very physical way that a girl had desirable characteristics, like "obedience and restraint." He found other problems, too: Women with bound feet tended to have a lower bone density in their spines and hips, more trouble getting up and down from a seated position, and severe difficulties when it came to managing things like a cane at the same time as, say, a shopping bag. According to a well-accepted view among historians, foot-binding began in the period of Wu Dai (907-979 C.E), which was more than one … The entire process could take from two years or well into a girl's teenage years, says Ancient History, and while there were professional foot binders who would do the process for some, for others, it was just done by a mother, grandmother, or other older family member. "Some women bound their own feet as their mothers and grandmothers would refuse, and they wanted to fit in with those in their village. The idea was to speed up the process of breaking the arch of the foot so it could be bent even farther. And that means it's a tradition that's been changing women's lives for at least a thousand years. By the time of the Tang Dynasty, the upper classes were lauding the beauty of court dancers, who were known for their little feet and the tiny shoes they could wear. "The way these women avoided injury," he wrote, "was by not doing anything.". The practice of foot binding does not have an actual date of when it started; however there are many legends as to when the practice began and why. Not everyone was a fan of that train of thought, though. Presented by: Alexa R. Tatiana G. Maria C. and Karla E. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Foot binding originally began in the 10th century. "When the inspectors came, we fooled them into thinking I had big feet." That story suggests that it was a Shang empress who had a clubfoot and ordered everyone to bind their feet in solidarity that started the practice, but that's not the only tale. Binding your feet was very dangerous. When she was caught, her grandmother cut some of the skin off her toes. It was originally confined to the imperial court, but later spread to cities and villages. Most will show the size of their feet and explain that they used to be smaller. Decorative shoes and leggings were worn over the bandages and could differ with the time of day and occasion. They're so named, says The Wall Street Journal, because in the most extreme form of foot binding, the final shape of the foot was said to resemble a lotus bulb. In account of the first legend, it was spread through the royal court and throughout China from the north to the south. A: The origin of female foot-binding had nothing to do with Ruism . According to the Smithsonian, it started mildly enough: with a soak in hot water, a pedicure, and a massage. NPR spoke to some women who — with the help of their mothers — went out of their way to trick government inspectors into thinking that they were complying with the law. After learning about the gruesome process of Chinese foot binding, learn about why the Chinese used to eat human corpses dipped in honey . It's easy to see the women who went through foot binding in an excruciating process as victims of social and cultural norms, as beholden to beauty. Foot binding, or 'lotus feet', stands as a symbol of a bygone China. And this is where it gets a little strange. During 10th or 11th century, the practice of foot binding was started by the upper-class court dancers. When The Wall Street Journal spoke with Wu Liuying about foot binding in 2009, the then 90-year-old explained: "When the Nationalists came here we would undo our feet in the daytime. 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