What affects did Foot Binding have on Chinese Women and what was the purpose?

This art involved constructing the foot smaller using specially designed cloths that wraps the feet tightly after they have been broken at the toes and folded under the arch. The children’s mother would conduct this tradition in complete privacy and continuity reminds the daughter of the benefits of binding that it would bring her when she was at marrying age.  Most children do not question their parents’ authority and comply with what is asked of them (Rupp, 2010). Foot binding began primarily at the age of 6. This was when the bones were still soft, as breaking the feet would be easier. 

Bound Feet

Binding was a hellish ordeal and the women suffered in agonising pain for many years since the feet had to be continually  broken and tightly re-bound until they stopped growing As Guo Zhu-juan who was the only daughter of a wealthy family quotes “…it was extremely painful… and the pain became even more difficult for me to bear.”  (Rupp, 2010)Women suffered through this pain as its purpose was to find an appropriate and wealthy husband. “…the smaller a woman’s feet, the better husband she could find…” as men found tiny feet stimulating.  (Rupp, 2010) Tiny feet become a trend as it began from an emperor who was captivated with a particular woman who obtained smaller than average feet and performed on a lotus –shaped stage. (Hays, 2010)

 A law in Imperial China was that women did not choose their husbands as marriage was arranged by the men (Nosotro, 2000), which again stresses the dominate discourse of a male controlling nation. The men selected the women by the size of their feet, the wealthier men choose the woman with the smallest. A matchmaker would visit accompanied with a bachelor, and he would sit and observe the women’s deformed feet. If they were too large and did not satisfy him, he simply turned her down which was a “…very embarrassing affair…” quotes Zhang Ru-lian.

Golden Lotus

This idea might make you cringe but the ideal foot size was referred to as a Golden Lotus and it achieves its name from its origin previously stated. This measured three inches long (anomalies-unlimited.com, 2005), and stuffed into hand made shoes that were smaller and smaller each time the feet were rebound and tightened, this occurred about every 3 days  (Rupp, 2010).

The idea of food binding was so popular as the demonstrated that women could suffer through pain this demonstrated the trait of discipline which was desirable. To put this into perspective foot binding is almost like female circumcision, as it takes away some form of power, and it makes the women feel vulnerable (Jazz, 2009).