footbinding

The practice of footbinding may have had its origin in the liking one Tang emperor took to his dancing girl's tiny feet. By the late Song era, upper-class men had a preference for small feet of women. Due to the importance of negotiating a marriage for their daughters, mothers began to bind their daughters' feet around age five or six. The girl's toes were turned under her feet and bound with silk that grew tighter as she grew older. By the time she of marriageable age, her feet had been transformed in "lotus petal" or "golden lily" shapes. The bound feet were constantly painful for the women. It became very difficult to walk, even short distances. This made it easier for husbands to confine their wives to family dwellings. Also, limited mobility prevent women from participating in occupations outside of the home. This practice was slow to catch on in the peasant classes because they depended on the labor of women. However, eventually, the desire for a good marriage overcame this and even some peasant began to bind their daughter's feet.



Created by Becca Ellison November 7, 2008 Edited by Allie Pinosky: 10.09.08 Edited by Jaclyn Speer 11/10/08 Edited by Anna Mack 11/10/08 Edited by Alexa DeAntonio 11/10/08

Unit 4 Terms