The most painful tradition done in the name of beauty- “Foot binding”
Young girls' feet were bound tightly in the traditional Chinese practise of "foot binding," which caused the feet to become malformed and substantially smaller than they should have been. From the 10th century until the early 20th century, this tradition was followed, and it was regarded as a sign of beauty and social standing.
Foot binding was first practised during the Song dynasty (960–1279), and during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) it spread widely among upper-class families. Given that it was regarded as a symbol of riches and nobility, the tradition was especially well-liked by affluent families who wished to demonstrate their rank and reputation.
As a sign of femininity and beauty, the practise was also thought to enhance women’s attractiveness.
Foot binding was a very painful procedure that frequently led to major health issues. Young girls' feet were severely bound with bandages, with the heel pushed inward and the toes curled under. The restraints tightened as the girl grew, breaking the bones in the feet and causing the arch to collapse. As a result, the feet were substantially smaller than usual and malformed, frequently measuring only three to four inches.
The health of the ladies who underwent foot binding suffered significantly as a result of the practise. They struggled to walk due to their misshapen feet, which frequently caused chronic discomfort, infections, and trouble standing for extended periods of time. Additionally, the practise restricted women’s movement, making it challenging for them to work or take part in daily activities.
Between the ages of four and ten, the girls' feet were shackled.
A heated herbal and bleeding combination was administered to the feet to soften them. The in-growth was prevented by peeling the toenails.
The toes, with the exception of the big toe, were crushed into the sole of the foot, where they broke and curled under. Then, in order to line the foot with the leg, the arch of the foot was badly broken.
The broken foot was covered with bandages that were three metres (ten feet) long. The bandages were sewed together so that the girls couldn’t unwind them.
It was advised that a skilled foot binder complete the foot binding. The moms weren’t the best choices because they had too much sympathy for their suffering children and wouldn’t bind the girls' feet tightly enough.
Every several days, the feet were untied and cleaned to prevent infection of the wounded feet. Additionally, the rotten flesh was removed. One of the 10 girls died from the illness. The bones could be broken again if necessary to significantly modify the size of the feet. The girls had to walk long distances to further fracture the bones in their feet and to improve circulation.
The practise of foot binding has lasted for generations despite the health dangers. Young girls were expected to go through it as a rite of passage, and those who did not were sometimes despised by society. Additionally, it was thought that a lady was more desirable if her feet were smaller.
Foot binding started to disappear in the late 19th century as it came to be seen as a primitive and outmoded custom. Westerners and the Chinese government both started to speak out against the practise, and in 1911 the newly founded Republic of China outlawed foot binding.
The custom remained in some places despite the ban, and it wasn’t until the Communist Party came to power in 1949 that it was ultimately abolished. Foot binding is now universally regarded as a cruel and out-of-date practise that represents the subjugation and mistreatment of women. This custom is nevertheless still carried out in a few isolated regions of China.
