Tag: Chinese Foot Binding

Why did they do Chinese foot binding?

Lotus footwear is among the earliest types of footwear known to mankind which were designed specifically for women's use. Now, the development of these shoes today is virtually not happening and the small number of lotus footwear still in existence are now protected in galleries and museums or private collections similar to antiques and artifacts. Whilst these shoes were manufactured for women of all ages, any single female today who is beyond the age of ten would certainly find it extremely hard to wear these shoes. For the reason that this kind of footwear that originated in traditional China and was designed for girls back when foot binding was still being practiced. For anyone unfamiliar with the method, foot binding actually implies the tight binding of the feet using wraps. The importance of this practice is that it is practiced by women between the ages of 2 and 5.

The process of foot binding would certainly in all probability be seen as a disabling action of pride simply because it involved the act of maliciously breaking the arch and toes of each foot before being bound up. Furthermore, this process was done without any type of pain relief. The intention of this binding was such that people at the time deemed that narrow and tiny feet had been regarded as being beautiful along with making the woman's movements much more feminine. Many myths revolve around the origin with the technique of foot binding as well as the Lotus shoe. One of the most notable of these myths centered around the 10th Century period, when Prince Li Yu who ruled within the Ten kingdoms. Li Yu had a concubine in his harem who had very small feet and was a superb dancer who sported among the oldest versons of the Lotus shoe.

The foot binding process then started among the females of higher society and royals in order to replicate the Prince's concubine. As a result, foot binding had been clearly linked with prosperity and standing during that time. The following centuries found to the widespread adoption of the foot binding all the way through China. The foot binding grew to be to ensure that women who didn't have smaller feet were simply not marriage material. At that time, this became the worst possible destiny for a Chinese female. The painful procedure aside nevertheless, the Lotus shoe is a sight to behold and the modern world would possibly be taken back because of the extensive injuries it actually inflicts on the feet. Obviously, when the foot binding began to be practiced by everybody, varieties came along. The foot binding was ultimately prohibited.

Originally, this unique delicately designed footwear were created by using natural cotton and silk materials even though there is proof of variations designed using other materials for example animal skins. Different variations often had unique features for example high heels and also soles which appear like those of the present day wedge footwear. Nonetheless, probably the most identifying characteristic with the lotus footwear is the intricate designs and patterns seen in the footwear. Besides that, a large number of these shoes had been embroidered with elaborate designs featuring animal as well as flower designs along with patterns. This is particularly if you go through the scarce and costly footwear made out of the optimum materials that adorned the feet of those in positions of influence.

Why did Chinese Foot Binding exist?

Chinese foot binding was a particularly savage technique which persisted mostly in rural China until recently. This was largely a cultural practice. The practice involved the very restricted binding of the feet of girls and the maintaining of them bound to stop the feet from developing. This was an agonizing process and brought about considerable deformity and disability. Children who were being subjected to this process had to use specifically created and manufactured footwear. There was quite an art to this and the shoes that these children were required to use were adorned quite purposely and exotically. The main reason for the technique of Chinese foot binding was that smaller feet were considered considerably more attractive in women. A much better price could be demanded by the family of the bride to be for the dowry. The technique was very widespread in rural China for several centuries and just recently began to die out about 100 years ago resulting from social pressures which were brought to bear on the practice a result of the pain and impairment it has been creating.

You can still find some older Chinese woman alive right now with these deformed feet from the foot binding when they were younger. The tragedy is because of what happened once they were young children they do need to keep their feet bound because it is more at ease than not having them bound since the deformity is now so great. There have been a great deal of cultural and psychological research into the foot binding particularly in the context of it being carried out too please the male as opposed to being of any advantage to the female. Of contemporary attention is the current practice of females using tight fitting high heel shoes has attracted characteristics with Chinese foot binding. Some of the social and psychological analysis of this have actually suggested the analogy between the two practices and who actually benefits from the practice. Both are painful, both create foot deformity, and both are for the benefit of the male gender.