Foot Binding- The custom in China, another painfull custom for women

When I started reading about the Chinese foot binding custom, the first question which came into my mind was: Why all these customs are for women? And why I never heard of men foot binding or men giraffe neck? I don’t have the answer, but one or the other theories for each of these customs will prove some reasons for these customs which are never proved and are still theories..

Foot binding was a custom started in early 10th century in China with evidence still available in some villages. ( From wiki: As late as 2005, women with bound feet in one village in Yunnan Province formed an internationally known dancing troupe to perform for foreign tourists.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding) .

Process:

At the age from 3 to 11, when the young girls bones are not fully developed, foot binding process starts. Each foot would be soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood; this was intended to soften the foot and aid the binding. Then, the toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent in growth and subsequent infections, since the toes were to be pressed tightly into the sole of the foot. To prepare her for what was to come next the girl’s feet were delicately massaged. Cotton bandages, ten feet long and two inches wide, were prepared by soaking them in the blood and herb mixture. The toes on each foot were curled under, then pressed with great force downwards and squeezed into the sole of the foot until the toes break. The broken toes were then held tightly against the sole of the foot. The foot was then drawn down straight with the leg and the arch forcibly broken. The bandages were repeatedly wound in a figure eight movement, starting at the inside of the foot at the instep, then carried over the toes, under the foot, and round the heel, the freshly broken toes being pressed tightly into the sole of the foot. At each pass the binding was tightened, pulling the ball of the foot and the heel ever close together, causing the broken foot to fold at the arch, and pressing the toes underneath, this would cause the young girl excruciating pain. When the binding was completed, the end of the binding cloth was sewn tightly to prevent the girl from loosening it. As the wet bandages dried they constricted, making the binding even tighter.( Read more details on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding).

What theories says:Various theories are given for this foot binding custom like:

• The oldest one goes till Southern Tang dynasty in Nanjing, which celebrated fame of their dancing girls, renowned for their tiny feet and bowed shoes
• People say that for wealthy women feet binding was a status symbol which indicated that they don’t need to work in fields or their men are wealthy so they don’t need to work.

Whatever the reason may be, but  the process is so inhuman and painful… and when the traces of these customs are seen in 21st century is really sad. Again time to rethink, are these women tourist attraction or they need our help…

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