Binding feet to find the source

 

Binding feet to find the source

 

Agudengba, Azhuo, Dawa, Chu Sanxing and Xiang Qima chatted about the ancient Chinese foot-binding custom while drinking tea.

In ancient Chinese aesthetic concepts, the so-called female beauty is to reflect their "feminine" side, which is petite, weak, demure, and have soft curves, etc. In terms of "smallness", small cherry mouth, oval face, and willow slender waist are all characteristics of female beauty, and feet are no exception. Although the custom of foot-binding did not appear before the Song Dynasty, and there was no fanatical phenomenon of deliberately making feet smaller or smaller, the concept that women's feet are small and beautiful does exist. In the Han Dynasty's "The Peacock Flies Southeast", there is a sentence "Slender steps are made, and the exquisiteness is unparalleled in the world", which clearly praises the slenderness of women's football.

The bound feet of a woman completely changed the woman's demeanor and gait, and produced a very restrained and delicate gait, making the whole body weak and shaky, creating a pitiable feeling. It was this "poor feeling" that inflated the feudal literati's sense of superiority. This gives rise to the highest degree of mystery in sexual ideals.

Agudenba said:

After the emergence of the custom of foot binding, the reason why it became more and more popular, popular all over the country, and lasted for a long time was inseparable from the aesthetic taste of the society at that time. People all regarded the slender bow under the skirt as a beauty.

There are many theories about when foot binding started, including Xia Yu, Shang Dynasty, Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, Sui Dynasty, Five Dynasties, Song Dynasty, etc. According to research by some scholars, foot binding began in the late Northern Song Dynasty and rose in the Southern Song Dynasty. Foot binding in the Yuan Dynasty continued to develop in a smaller direction. Foot binding reached its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The foot-binding trend has spread to women from all walks of life. Regardless of whether they are rich or poor, noble or humble, they all have their feet bound, but there are also many who do not.

Among various theories, some scholars believe that footbinding began with Xia Yu.

Legend has it that when Dayu was controlling floods, he married a daughter of the Tushan family and gave birth to a son, Qi. The Tushan girl was a fox spirit with small feet. It is also said that Daji, the concubine of King Zhou of the late Yin Dynasty, was also transformed into a vixen spirit, or a pheasant spirit. However, her feet did not get better, so she wrapped them in cloth. Because Daji was favored, the women in the palace followed her example and bound their feet. Of course, these are just folk myths and legends, which contain many romantic elements and are not enough to prove that women's feet were bound at that time.

Agudumba added:

There is also a theory that foot binding began in the Zhou Dynasty. As recorded in "Explanations of Han Li", the mother of Lao Lai, the poet and painter of Wuliang in the Han Dynasty, and the wife of Zeng Zi, were both sharp-edged in every step. Lao Lai and Zeng Zi were both from the Zhou Dynasty. Some people therefore believe that footbinding existed in the Zhou Dynasty.

There are traces of women from the Zhou Dynasty on the stone in front of Xishi Cave in Lingyan Mountain, Wuxian County, Jiangsu Province. They are three inches long, pointed at the front and rounded at the back. "The Story of Lotus Shoes" records: "The king of Wu from all over the world made a sound of clogs in the corridor for Xi Shi. It is suspected that the feet will be bound. The feet will be small, and then the sound of clogs will be fine and broken. It may be pleasant to hear when walking in the corridor. If it is not bound, the sound will be small." , just like the sound of a man's walking, how can it be used?" Therefore, some people think that foot binding occurred in the Zhou Dynasty.

It is believed that women in the Zhou Dynasty had already bound their feet. Some clues can be found in historical records.

For example, the "Book of Han" records that Zhao women "played the strings and stood on tiptoe." 觧 means a person who has no shoes to follow.

Another example is recorded in the "Yi Yu Cong Kao": "The "Historical Records" says that 'Linzi women play with strings and step on their feet', and it also says that they 'tease their sleeves and pick up their crotch'. Those who 'stretch their crotch' use the sharpest of words. So the practice of foot binding existed in the Zhou Dynasty."

Another example is recorded in "Tianlu Zhiyu": ""Historical Records" says, 'Linzi women play the strings and stand on tiptoe'. It also says, 'Zheng Ji, the daughter of Zhao today, trims her sleeves and picks up her crotch.' The sharpness of her head is what makes her sharp." "

Agudemba continued:

There is also a saying that foot binding began in Qin. It is said that when Qin Shihuang selected beauties, women’s small feet were listed as one of the beauty standards.

There is also a theory that it started in the Han Dynasty. For example, "The Legend of Lotus Shoes" records: "In "Feiyan Waizhuan", Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty was ill, and he was so weak that he could hardly survive. When he saw Zhao Hede's feet, he was as sick as if he had lost his feet. There must be something that can move people with the feet of Hede. Judging from this, there is no other way to get rid of the small bundles. If the five fingers are stretched out and they are huge, I am afraid that the emperor will not be able to hold them, so I will not hold them." This is one of them.

"Secrets of Miscellaneous Affairs" records: "Han Baolin Wu Jiao reported that the feet of the Liang Shang girl, the loyal marquis of Chengshi, were eight inches long...the toes were gathered together, and the socks were tied tightly, and the laces were as slight as a ban." Liang Ying, a daughter of the Liang Shang Dynasty, She was the empress of Emperor Huan of Han Dynasty. The Han ruler was shorter than today. Eight inches in the Han Dynasty is equivalent to 17 centimeters today. This is the second one.

"Peacock's Southeast Wind" of the Han Dynasty: "Skid silk shoes underfoot", "Slender and delicate steps, exquisite and unparalleled in the world". Some believe this is evidence of footbinding. This is the third one.

"Book of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of Liang Tong" records that Liang Ji's wife "bent her waist and walked". "A Textual Research on the Binding of Feet": "Those who walk with bent waists have feet that do not follow the body. This example is very clear. Can a person with big feet be like this?" This is the fourth point.

Agudengba said: The above four points all belong to the theory that footbinding began in the Han Dynasty.

Agudengba sang a song called "Foot-Binding Test":

 

Dayu once married a daughter of the Tushan family as his queen.

Tushan's daughter is a vixen with small feet;

The favored Daji was also a vixen;

Her feet are always wrapped in cloth.

Lao Lai’s mother, Zeng’s children and his wife are all sharp,

They are all Zhou Dynasty people who bound their feet.

Even in the Qin and Han Dynasties, there were women with bound feet.

Taking tiny steps on silken shoes.

He bends his waist and walks without any hesitation, his body is unparalleled in the world,

The bad custom of binding small feet has existed since ancient times.

When did Chinese women’s foot binding begin?

Myths and legends are spread among the people.