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Bound foot, China
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Bound foot, China
Two photographs of a womans bound foot, China. Date: circa 1890
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Media ID 14137259
© Mary Evans Picture Library/Pump Park Photography
Bind Binding Bound Custom Deformation Deformed Feet Foot Mutilation Painful Severe Technique Tradition
EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting image captures the painful reality of a centuries-old Chinese tradition: foot binding. Two photographs of a woman's bound feet, taken circa 1890, reveal the extreme lengths to which some Chinese women went to achieve the desired "lotus" foot shape. The technique involved wrapping and binding the feet from a young age, often starting before the age of five, and continuing until the bones and ligaments were permanently deformed. Foot binding was a symbol of beauty and status in Chinese society during the late imperial era, particularly among the upper classes. The smaller the foot, the more desirable the woman was considered. The painful process involved wrapping the feet in silk bandages, often soaked in a mixture of rice wine and water to soften the skin, and binding them with strips of fabric. The feet were kept bound day and night, with only brief periods of release for washing and changing the bandages. The consequences of foot binding were severe. The feet became deformed, often resembling small, misshapen lumps. Women with bound feet had difficulty walking, and some were unable to walk at all without assistance. The practice also led to various health problems, including bunions, calluses, and infections. Despite the pain and health risks, foot binding persisted as a cultural custom for over a thousand years. It was not until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the influence of Western culture and the Chinese Republican government, that the practice began to decline. Today, foot binding is widely condemned as a form of mutilation and a violation of human rights. These photographs serve as a reminder of the painful history of this once-prevalent tradition.
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