Difference between revisions of "Footbinding"
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= Typical women with typical bound feet = | = Typical women with typical bound feet = | ||
| − | + | The custom of footbinding apparently began in the Song Dynasty.(Ebrey, 160) It lasted until well into the 20th Century. These pictures are all of women from the late 19th or early 20th Century. | |
[[File:1_footbinding.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Photo of Chinese woman with bound feet]] | [[File:1_footbinding.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Photo of Chinese woman with bound feet]] | ||
[[File:2_footbinding.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Bound feet of several wealthy Chinese women]] | [[File:2_footbinding.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Bound feet of several wealthy Chinese women]] | ||
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Walking on these poor feet, was an exercise in pain. After all the women's toes were now tucked into the sole of her feet. To walk, she either had to walk on her toes, or, learn to walk on just her heels (It is not easy to do.) Walking only on your heals gave these women a certain characteristic walk. Women whose feet were not bound, wanted to be able to walk the same way. So, they created special shoes to help them. | Walking on these poor feet, was an exercise in pain. After all the women's toes were now tucked into the sole of her feet. To walk, she either had to walk on her toes, or, learn to walk on just her heels (It is not easy to do.) Walking only on your heals gave these women a certain characteristic walk. Women whose feet were not bound, wanted to be able to walk the same way. So, they created special shoes to help them. | ||
[[File:14_shoes_for_manchu_unbnd_ft_women-_walk_like_bound.jpg|300px|thumb|center|Example of shoes, for women whose feet were not bound, designed to help them walk like women with bound feet.]] | [[File:14_shoes_for_manchu_unbnd_ft_women-_walk_like_bound.jpg|300px|thumb|center|Example of shoes, for women whose feet were not bound, designed to help them walk like women with bound feet.]] | ||
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| + | = Works Cited = | ||
| + | Ebrey, Patrica Buckley. "The Cambridge Illustrated History of China". New York, Cambridge University Press, 2010, 2d ed. | ||
Revision as of 03:34, 14 April 2012
Typical women with typical bound feet
The custom of footbinding apparently began in the Song Dynasty.(Ebrey, 160) It lasted until well into the 20th Century. These pictures are all of women from the late 19th or early 20th Century.
This is what the feet looked like properly wrapped up and with the women wearing their special shoes. Now take a look under the bindings.
Under the Bindings
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Walking on these poor feet, was an exercise in pain. After all the women's toes were now tucked into the sole of her feet. To walk, she either had to walk on her toes, or, learn to walk on just her heels (It is not easy to do.) Walking only on your heals gave these women a certain characteristic walk. Women whose feet were not bound, wanted to be able to walk the same way. So, they created special shoes to help them.
Works Cited
Ebrey, Patrica Buckley. "The Cambridge Illustrated History of China". New York, Cambridge University Press, 2010, 2d ed.