Lecture on Chinese Foot Binding

Introduction

• Chinese Foot Binding: A historical practice that involved tightly binding the feet of young girls to prevent growth.
• Origin: Began with court dancers in the early Song Dynasty and spread to upper-class families, eventually becoming common across all social classes.
• Cultural Perception: Bound feet were seen as beautiful, and the practice was meant to make a woman's movements more feminine and dainty.

The Process of Foot Binding

• Age to Start: Girls began binding their feet as young as three years old, continuing into adulthood.
• Initial Steps:
  • Feet were soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood to soften them.
  • Toenails were cut back to prevent ingrowth and infections.
  • Feet were massaged to prepare for binding.
• Binding Technique:
  • Cotton bandages soaked in the herb and blood mixture were used.
  • Toes were curled under the foot, pressed down, and squeezed until they broke.
  • No pain relief was used, making the process extremely painful.
• Maintenance:
  • Feet needed regular unbinding, washing, and checking for injuries.
  • Nails were trimmed regularly; necrotic flesh was removed.
• Health Risks: Binding often led to difficulty walking, dangerous infections, and sometimes death.

Social and Cultural Implications

• Marriage: Women with perfectly bound feet (Lotus feet) were more likely to secure prestigious marriages.
• Mobility and Social Status: Binding restricted mobility, limiting women's participation in politics and social life.
• Literature: The bound foot has a presence in both Chinese and international literature, modern and traditional.

Decline and Abolition

• Study on Elderly Women:
  • 1997 UCSF study: 38% of women aged 80 and 18% aged 70 had bound feet deformities.
  • These women were more prone to falls than those with regular feet.
• Anti-Foot Binding Movement:
  • Took off in the 20th century, driven by calls for reform from Chinese and Western missionaries.
  • Foot binding was eventually banned, leading to a decline in the practice.
• Current Situation:
  • Foot binding has mostly died out.
  • Only a small percentage of elderly women in China still have bound feet.
  • The practice is now a historical footnote.

Conclusion

• Chinese foot binding was a painful cultural practice with significant social implications.
• The practice has largely ceased, remaining only as part of history.