effects of foot binding

Legend has said origins of foot binding go back to the Shang Dynasty (1700-1027 B.C). It generally began when girls were 4 to 7 years old, because at that age the bones in their feet were still fairly soft and pliable, and thus easier to reshape [source: Footwear History]. Health. Effects of foot binding. What are some of the health complications of foot binding. It was normal for centuries, until being finally outlawed in 1911. This led to the toes and feet becoming crooked and deformed. Foot binding, a debilitating, deforming, process which began in China in the 10 th century during the Southern Tang dynasty, was essential for a girl to be considered “Marry able.” The horrifying process of breaking bones and wrapping feet began at a young age and didn’t stop until the desired look was reached. There are several theories and legends that this practice leaves in its wake. ( Log Out /  Many studies have been done, in recent years, about foot binding and the physical effects it takes on feet and the rest of the body. As Chinese girls started the practice at such a young age, this stooped posture and difficulties with walking and balance affected their bone growth and inhibited healthy development. There are legend and historical reasons as to why foot binding started. For centuries, young girls in China were subjected to an extremely painful and debilitating procedure called foot binding. Painful Memories for China's Footbinding Survivors Millions of Chinese women bound their feet, a status symbol that allowed them to marry into money. Women who endured foot binding and who still live today openly admit their regret over having their feet bound, but stress that it was the only way to get married. While some of the beautifying processes that seem to make a woman more appealing are relatively harmless, such was not the case with foot binding. The binding of feet did not only result in pain and deformities of the feet but also deformities that encompassed the entire body as a result of the practice. Women with bound feet were more likely to fall, less able to squat, and less able to stand up from a chair without assistance than women with normal feet. Disclaimer - MyMed.com is for informational purposes only. How did foot binding come to an end? Some women's feet grew ½ - 1 inch after being unwrapped and they suffered less severe deformities. Bad Effects on Health. Considered an attractive quality, the effects of the process were painful and permanent. Having bound feet shifted the burden of weight to the lower body which put pressure on the pelvis and led to pelvic pain. Although the women who performed the practice were taught to religiously clean and care for their feet and wrappings, their feet would still continue to grow until adulthood, as is expected with natural human development. The foot binding process was long, excruciatingly painful and pretty gross. The tradition, known as foot binding, eventually came to symbolize China's backwardness, a relic from the country's distant past. The binding of the bandages are done in a figure-eight style, and the feet would need to be attended after the binding to make sure they are staying in the same shape. ( Log Out /  It is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or illness or act as a substitute for professional medical advice. See more ideas about history, chinese women, chinese history. The Shang Empress Taki had a clubfoot (deformed foot that is twisted so the sole can't be The story says that Emperor Li Yu told his concubine to bind her feet in white silk to represent a crescent moon, and perform a lotus dance on the points of her feet. -ancient-china/. Experts 3 have noted that this mysterious history is rooted in the fact that there is seemingly no specific reason that explains the origin of this body modification practice in China. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The feet are such a vital part of the human body, particularly for movement and balance. This foul process began between the ages of two and five. … Foot-binding, as it is known, was first carried out 1,000 years ago. ( Log Out /  The practice spread and became most popular in the Song Dynasty when every woman practiced it except those in the lowest class. foot binding was clearly detrimental to a woman’s well-being.” B “Virtuous women were prized according to the tenets of Neo-Confucianism, and foot binding was the ultimate symbol of a woman’s purity and discipline.” C “According to the legend, foot binding began when an ancient Chinese emperor’s A woman named Zhou Guizuen, who experienced foot binding as a child and knew full well the reasons women bound their feet, says that she regrets doing it. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. By that time, the feet were permanently deformed and pain was a constant part of life. Next, the mother, if she could even do this to her child, if not someone else would have to, would bend the foot as far as possible in order to break the arch of the foot. The toes would curl downwards and then inwards along the sole of the foot and often, the toenails would grow inside the flesh, resulting in infection. All of this was done to a two-year-old just for the hopes that someday, her feet would be small enough to marry somebody. No one knows exactly how foot binding began, but the most popular story dates back to Emperor Li Yu. Having bound feet would drastically affect a woman’s balance, her ability to walk, and her posture. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing … Their feet were bound tightly with cloth strips, with the toes bent down under the sole of the foot, and the foot tied front-to-back so that the grew into an exaggerated high curve. Foot binding resulted in the forward curvature of the lumbar vertebrae as a result of a woman struggling to balance and walk properly. Infection of the feet was one of the most commonly seen complications of foot binding. Infection was the most common problem with foot binding. Foot binding didn’t end until the early 20th century when it was banned by emperors and the culture began to convert to a more western style (Foot Binding). Still sometimes the toes would get infected and rot, causing them to fall off; since the ultimate goal was to get the feet to be smaller, this was considered a good thing (Foot Binding). Widely used as a method to distinguish girls of the upper class from everyone else, and later as a way for the lower classes to improve their social prospects, the practice of foot-binding would c… In some cases, this would mean a woman would have to have her toes removed entirely, if they did not fall off first due to the infection. Bending and squatting for women with bound feet was incredibly difficult, as was rising from a seated position – this put women at risk of falling and injuring themselves. Binding to an extremely painful and permanent also had 14.3 % less reach... 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