 |
| (Image credit: Lai Afong/Wikimedia Commons) |
For a thousand years, the practice of footbinding had been considered the standards of beauty for women in China. However, there's a deeper meaning behind the practice that goes beyond beauty. And it is all rooted in China's steadfast loyalty to Confucian values, and how it permeated all aspects of people's lives.
Footbinding only started from the 12th century, and the story goes that it was inspired by a court dancer named Yao Niang who transformed her foot to make it like the shape of a new moon. The emperor had been captivated by it, and soon the practice spread through every corner of society.
More than being a fashion statement, footbinding became the Chinese women's symbol of cultural superiority over barbarians.
From the time it started until it was completely abandoned, the reason why Chinese women willingly forced themselves into footbinding was just one: to show their utter devotion to Confucian values. That was the main impetus for the perpetuation and longevity of footbinding in Chinese culture.
And to learn the whole story behind footbinding as well as some of the renowned and highly respected Chinese women in history, check out this article on Smithsonian Magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment