Footbinding

Foot-binding By: Chris Appel- 8W

Originally foot binding was only done bye rich and high status people. But by the 17th century all Chinese girls practiced foot binding from the wealthiest to the poorest families. It was less usual among poorer families or those that had to work for living bye farming. Some supposedly around 2 billion Chinese women did this practice. Foot binding would destroy peoples feet and cause some disabilities. It also would restrict the amount of walking done bye this person. And people with bound feet were more likely to fall than people without. In 1949, foot binding was outlawed by the Communists.” Those who had bound feet were forced to unbind them or had to do physical punishment.

Process

First, each foot would be soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood; this was intended to soften the foot to help the process. Then, the toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent growth, since the toes were going to be pressed into the bottom of the foot. Next the girl’s feet were massaged in preparation. Cotton bandages, 3 m long and 5 cm wide were prepared by being soaked in the blood and herb mixture. To help the size of the feet to be shrunk, the toes on each foot were curled under the foot, then pressed downwards and then they were squeezed into the foots sole until the toes broke. This caused lots of pain to the girl for she was awake during the process. The broken toes were then squished against the sole of the foot. Then the arch of the foot was broken. The actual binding was then about to start. The bandages were then wound starting at the inside of the foot, then carried over the toes, under the foot, and round the heel, the freshly broken toes were being pressed into the sole of the foot. Each time around the foot, the binding cloth was tightened, pulling the ball of the foot and the heel close together, this made the foot fold at the arch making the toes curl under,...