In this article, I will give you an interesting insight into the ancient practice of Chinese foot binding.

THE origins of foot binding are unknown. There are many suggestions as to when and why it started. It is thought the practice began in the 10th or 11th century. Some suggest, during the Shang dynasty, the emperor’s concubine had a club foot. He decided that all girls should have their feet bound so that this would become the standard of beauty and elegance.

Others have said that another emperor had a favourite courtesan who had tiny, delicate feet and she would dance on a floor decorated with lotus blossom, hence the name lotus feet.

For whatever reason it began, bound feet were seen as a sign of wealth and status. Wealthy women did not need to work or use their feet, so they could afford to have them bound. These feet were a mark of beauty and would mean a woman could marry into money.

Bound feet were also seen as erotic, as the woman would have to take small dainty steps and sway her hips. The practice became very popular during the Song dynasty during the late 11th century.

Over the centuries, there have been various campaigns to prevent foot binding, but the practice survived. However, by 1929, 95 per cent of girls had unbound feet. During the late 1950s, communist China expressed its distaste for the practice and fewer and fewer women had their feet bound.

The process of binding would begin between the ages of four and nine. Starting the procedure during the winter months was preferable, as the cold weather would numb the feet and lessen the pain.

The foot would be soaked in herbs and animal blood to soften the skin and tissues. The toenails would be cut back as far as possible to prevent ingrowing nails. The foot would then be bound with cotton bandages of herb and animal blood in a tight figure of eight.

The toes would break as they were forced towards the heel. The process would be repeated regularly.

When the old bandage was removed, dead flesh would fall off. The feet would be cleaned and then new bandages would be applied even tighter than before. The aim was to make the feet no longer than 10 centimetres.

FOOT DAMAGE

The damage to the feet was great. The most common problems would be ingrowing toenails, bacterial infections, broken bones, poor circulation, and nerve damage. When the bandages were removed, the smell would be unbearable due to the bacteria colonising in the folds of flesh.

Girls would often die of gangrene and septicaemia.

The bound feet meant these women were dependant on family and servants and were virtually house-bound. Highly decorated and expensive shoes were manufactured and lotus shoe factories were abundant. The last factory making lotus shoes in China closed in 1999. Today, there are a few elderly ladies in their 80s and 90s that have lotus feet.

The price of fashion, status and culture can be very high on the human body. This is reflected in today’s modern, fashion-conscious world where women wear dangerous footwear, that can be very detrimental to their health.

Angela Davis BSc (Hons) DPodM MChS is a podiatrist with offices in Montego Bay (293- 7119), Mandeville (962-2100), Ocho Rios (974- 6339), Kingston (978-8392), and Savanna-la- Mar (955-3154). She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom.