Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional festivals - Why are there feet?

Why are there feet?

Foot-binding first began in Li Yu's reign in the Southern Tang Dynasty (969-975). A young girl in Li Houzhu is very clever. She wrapped her feet in silk and danced on the golden lotus to please the emperor. Later, this trend gradually spread to people's homes, and women all took foot-binding as beauty. At that time, the feudal literati and scholars were morbid in aesthetics, and regarded women as playthings and appreciated women's feet as hobbies. In addition, in ancient times, the patriarchal society had the traditional custom of "men are superior to women". After foot binding, women's mobility will be reduced, so foot binding has become an important way to restrain women.

After ancient women bound their feet, people called it "three-inch golden lotus". This little foot wrapped in cloth became the most private part for his own man to use. At that time, little feet could not be seen or touched by other men. This woman will be regarded as the greatest shame in life if she meets her accidentally.

Foot-binding first began in the reign of Li Yu in the Southern Tang Dynasty from 969 to 975. Some people think that it appeared as early as 770-476 BC during the Warring States Period, and maybe it can be traced back to the earlier Shang Dynasty. In a word, foot-binding has a long history, which has hurt countless women in China for thousands of years. It can be said that foot-binding is one of the most prominent manifestations of "men are superior to women" under the patriarchal tradition.