The curiosities of China take us on a cultural journey through one of the most interesting nations in the world. Its powerful dynasties, peculiar Chinese cuisine and strict standards of beauty have been a source of interest and research for centuries. There are many trials and horrors that Chinese women have had to go through throughout history, but among all of them, we pay special attention to small feet in China. This tradition, which extended from the 10th century to the 20th century, deformed the feet of hundreds of girls in a painful and cruel procedure. From the need to meet a beauty standard to participation in the local economy, they seem to have been the elements that determined this fierce practice. Today at we tell you the story of women with lotus feet in China. Join us!
The history of women with lotus feet in China
There are many cruel stories of women in the Asian giant, especially when we look at the past, but the long episode of the lotus feet in China is, without a doubt, one of the worst. It is not known for certain when foot binding began, but It is proposed that it was during the 10th century, in the Period of the Five Dynasties and the Ten Kingdoms.
There is also talk of a legend that may have generated the massification of small feet in China. It is said that the emperor had many concubines, but one stood out among the others. She created a lotus-shaped stage and began performing there for the emperor. At the same time, she began to tie her feet so that they were small and hoof-shaped, which pleased the monarch so much that he chose her as his favorite. Jealous, the other concubines also began to bind her feet and from there it is said that a creepy fashion was created, which would become a tradition.
How were small feet achieved in China?
The process of achieving the highly valued lotus feet in China was completely terrifying. This torture began when the girls were between four and nine years old. The feet were bound very tightly to keep them as small as possible., but this caused, of course, that they became more deformed every day and for the rest of their lives. Foot binding was as important for girls as puberty and menstruation and was considered fundamental on the path to maturity. Furthermore, she guaranteed that the girl would be desired by some good man to marry when she was old enough.
To achieve the highly valued appearance of small feet in China, it took about two years of continuous bandaging. The process began with a hot bath where the feet were immersed to soften the skin and remove dead skin. Nails were cut incredibly short to prevent injury. The bandages were immersed in water and wrung out, placing them around the feet with the toes facing inwards, towards the sole, with the intention that, when the bandages dried, they would put even more pressure on the feet. Another bandage was placed around the ankle and towards the big toe, forming a fractured arch in the foot.
In many cases, glass was put on the feet, so that they would be injured and a little skin or dead flesh could be removed and thus make the feet even smaller. The bandaging process was done frequently and, while the bandages were removed, the feet were cleaned and the nails were cut again. In some cases, the nails were pulled out to avoid later problems. The practice of lotus feet in China, as you can imagine, involved a lot of pain and problems for women. His entire body was altered. It was impossible for them to walk normally, they lost fingers, became weak and much more «docile.» As if that were not enough, they were more prone to fractures and infections and, as a result of this barbarity, some even died.
Why were women subjected to this practice?
The tradition of lotus feet in China survived thousands of years, to the point that the oldest victims who were subjected to this practice are still alive today. Traditionally, it was believed that the only motivation for subjecting girls to this torture was to turn them into a more desirable erotic object. However, Recent studies have established a new hypothesis, linked more to economics than to marital and sexual function. Let’s get to know both approaches.
1. Small feet in China as a sexual object
The tradition of lotus feet in China has traditionally been associated with the marital and sexual level. Sadly in China, girls were taught that they were inferior to men, that they were there to be watched, but not to be heard. They were considered an object that was molded for the benefit of man. And in this sense, It was believed that having very small feet was synonymous with beauty and perfection.and the woman who managed to have them like this was recognized by society for being extraordinarily attractive and delicate.
Clearly the practice of small feet in China did not generate any benefits for women, apart from being considered more beautiful than others. The only thing she brought with her was pain. However, for men it was something more advantageous, in addition to being incredibly attractive. But how could it be beneficial for men? Well, due to the procedure by which that strange shape was achieved in the feet, women had to walk at a shorter pace, with controlled steps, which was believed to make them The woman’s thighs, hips and pelvic region made more effort, achieving a tighter vagina that provided more pleasure to men during sex.
Lotus feet were also a strange fetish for men. Some practiced different sexual and strange acts with them.including smelling them, caressing them, licking them, and perhaps some of the most disturbing: drinking water where the feet had been washed or putting food between the toes and then biting them.
2. The economic hypothesis
Beyond eroticism, there is a hypothesis that is gaining strength, and that would serve to explain why the tradition of lotus feet in China persisted for so long, and also why it disappeared. The girls who underwent this procedure were far from leading an idle life. On the contrary, it is believed that foot binding had an impact on the local economies of the countryside. From the age of seven they were instructed in weaving, and By binding their feet the family ensured that they remained seated, making cloth, yarn, mats, shoes and fishing nets. The tradition disappeared as more economical and industrialized means of manufacturing became stronger.
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