"Lotus leg" - an ancient Chinese custom, which was very common among aristocrats from the X to the beginning of the XX century. It consisted in the artificial formation of an abnormally small foot. A strip of fabric to the foot of young girls tied all toes except the big one, while they were forced to walk in small shoes. As a result, the foot was deformed, in the future sometimes the girls even lost the opportunity to walk. In China, the status of the bride depended on the size of the foot, and it was also believed that a rich lady should not move on her own.
Appearance of custom
Initially, the "lotus leg" symbolized impotence, the inability to move independently. It was believed that this is one of the attractive features of the aristocrat. While healthy legs were associated with poverty, peasant labor.
There are several legends of the ancient Chinese tradition of the "lotus legs". According to one of them, the concubine of the emperor of the Shang dynasty suffered from clubfoot. In order not to differ from most court ladies, she asked the emperor to order all the girls to bandage their legs. So, the legs of the concubine became a classic of elegance of that time.
There is another legend about the emergence of the "lotus leg" tradition in China. If you believe her, the concubine of the emperor Xiao Baojuan had surprisingly graceful legs, while often dancing barefoot on a gold platform, which was decorated with pearls and an image of lotus flowers. The emperor was so delighted that he exclaimed that from any touch of her painted lotuses bloom. It is believed that it was then that the concept of "lotus legs" arose. However, it is worth noting that in this legend, nothing indicates that the legs were bandaged.
The most common version, associated with the "lotus leg" or the tradition of ancient China, claims that the whole thing is in Emperor Li Yu, who asked his concubine to bandage his legs so that they resembled him a crescent moon. After that, the girl danced the "lotus dance" at her fingertips, finally conquering the ruler. Representatives of high society began to imitate her, so the tradition of "lotus legs" among Chinese women has become extremely popular.
It is authentically known that the custom spread during the Song Dynasty, which reigned from 960 to 1279. Towards the end of the reign of this dynasty, the "lotus legs" in ancient China became so popular that it became customary to put a small glass in the heel of a shoe and drink from it. During the reign of the Yuan Dynasty, men drank directly from the shoe, it was called "drain the golden lotus."
Features "lotus legs"
Women who bandaged their legs, as a rule, could not move independently. They sat at home, went out only accompanied by servants. Because of this, they were virtually excluded from public and political life, becoming completely dependent on her husband. Therefore, the Chinese "lotus legs" are also a symbol of the absolute masculine power of men over women and a sign of special chastity.
During the conquest of China by the Mongols, such a leg became a sign of national identity, which immediately distinguished the girl from a representative of another state. In ancient times, it was believed that this improves women's health and promotes fertility. As a result, a girl from a wealthy family could not get married if her legs had not been bandaged since childhood. Girls from poor families went to the trick; for them, bandaging was the only way to conclude a profitable marriage.
Foot options
"Lotus legs" in China had to meet certain parameters. Their length should not exceed 7 centimeters in length. Only such a foot could be called a golden lotus. A foot from 7 to 10 centimeters long was called a silver lotus, but if it was longer than 10 centimeters, it was called an iron lotus and was practically not quoted.
The emergence of this tradition is also associated with the philosophy of Confucianism, which dominated China in the Middle Ages. After all, Confucius claimed that a woman carries the beginning of yin, which personifies passivity and weakness. A deformed foot only emphasized these qualities.
Impact on neighboring countries
The Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi, who lived in the XII century, urged to extend this experience to neighboring countries. He believed that only he personifies the true and only right relationship between a man and a woman.
Despite the strong influence of China on neighboring countries - Japan, Korea, Vietnam - this tradition did not take root there. The "Lotus Leg" in Japan did not become popular, although they wore wooden or straw sandals on their feet, but they did not deform the leg as much as was customary in China.
Formation process
The process itself was important to start before the girl’s foot formed. Bandage was taken in winter or autumn for practical reasons. Due to the cold, the legs became less sensitive, the risk of infection was minimal.
In wealthy families, bandages hired a servant who looked after their feet, wore the girl in her arms when the pain became unbearable.
The "lotus legs" of Chinese girls took about three years to form. The process itself consisted of four stages.
Bandage steps
The first stage is an attempt to bandage. The feet are washed with a mixture of animal and grass blood, so the foot becomes more flexible. Toenails are cut as short as possible, and then the foot bends so hard that the fingers press into the sole and break. After that, cotton bandages in the form of a figure eight were applied. The ends of the dressing were sewn together so that it would not weaken.
In conclusion, shoes with sharp noses or special socks were put on the girl, and they were forced to walk so that the foot acquired the necessary shape under the weight of the body. In addition, walking was necessary to restore blood circulation in too tightly bandaged legs. So, every day they had to overcome at least five kilometers.
Attempt to tighten
The second stage was called an attempt to tighten. It lasted at least six months. The bandages tightened more and more, which intensified the pain. Broken fingers required care. Because of this, the dressings were sometimes removed, removing tissue that was affected by necrosis.
The nails were cut, and the feet were massaged to make it easier to bend. Sometimes they kicked the legs to make joints and already broken bones more flexible.
After each such procedure, the bandage was tightened even tighter. In rich families, this procedure was repeated every day, it was believed that the more often, the better.
Tight Bandage
At the third stage, the toe of the foot was maximally attracted to the heel. In this case, the bones were bent, and sometimes broke again.
Finally, the fourth stage was called bandaging the arc. It was necessary to form the rise of the foot so high that a chicken egg could fit under the arch. As a result, the foot resembled a stretched bow.
After a few years, bandaging became a less painful procedure. Adult women bandaged their own legs; they had to do this all their lives.
The effects of bandaging
The most common problem of the Chinese woman with the "lotus legs" was infection. Although the nails were regularly cut, they still grew in the foot, causing inflammation. Because of this, nails sometimes had to be removed.
In addition, blood circulation was disturbed in the foot, in the toes it disappeared altogether. Particular infections caused tissue necrosis. Moreover, if the infection passed to the bones, then this was only rejoicing. In this case, the leg could be bandaged even tighter.
When the girl initially had too wide feet, fragments of shingles or glass were specially stuck in them to provoke an infection. The negative consequence of this was blood poisoning, even if the girl survived, she had numerous diseases in adulthood.
It was difficult for adult women to maintain balance, so they often broke their legs and thighs. It was problematic to get out of a sitting position.
Male attitude
Chinese men considered the deformed foot very erotic. At the same time, demonstrating a leg without shoes and bandages was considered indecent. Therefore, men, as a rule, preferred not to look at the female leg without a bandage.
A woman was allowed only before bedtime to slightly loosen the bandage and put on shoes with soft soles. Even on erotic images of nude women, which were very popular in China, shoes remained on their feet.
A real cult was created from a small female foot. There were eleven ways to touch the female foot and 48 erotic games with it.
Foot Bandage Criticism
The process of bandaging the legs began to be criticized in the Middle Ages. In the works of art, the heroes were outraged by the existence of the custom, when girls had to suffer in childhood, not to sleep at night, and then suffer from various diseases. Many Chinese even at that time claimed that it was causing serious damage to health.
In 1664, the emperor issued a decree banning bandaging of legs after the Manchu dynasty came to power. After 4 years, the law remained in force only for girls of Manchu origin, and for Chinese women was repealed.
In the mid-19th century, bandaging was criticized by British missionaries who called for the destruction of this custom. Many Chinese women who converted to Christianity responded to the call, and the Heavenly Leg Society was even organized. The initiative was supported by other Christian missionaries who advocated for equality between men and women.
At that time, the Chinese themselves began to realize more and more that this custom of theirs did not correlate with a progressive society. In 1883, the "Leg Release Society" appeared.
Popular in the 19th century, the Chinese philosopher Yan Fu called for immediate reforms. He argued that it was necessary to abolish not only bandaging the legs, but also smoking opium, which was ubiquitous among the Chinese. An important postulate of Yan Fu was a call for Chinese women to play sports in order to give birth and raise healthy children.
And the Chinese public figure Su Manshu, who translated the novel Les Miserables, even introduced a character who criticized many Chinese traditions, including foot bandaging, into the narrative. The hero of the novel called him barbaric, comparing female legs with pig hooves.
Supporters of the theory of social Darwinism also advocated the abolition of leg bandaging. They argued that this custom weakens the nation, since such women cannot give birth to healthy sons. At the beginning of the 20th century, the movement of Chinese feminists, who also opposed this tradition, gained popularity.
Ban foot bandage
The Chinese government has repeatedly made attempts to ban foot bandaging, but finally managed to do this only in 1949, when the Communists came to power. They managed to do this even in remote rural areas, where before residents did not obey the decrees of the government from the center.
This ban is valid today. It is worth noting that the mentality of the Chinese has changed during this time. A lot of attention has been paid to the development of sports, including women's. In such conditions, there can be no question of bandaging the legs.
The concept of female beauty and attractiveness has changed; today they are not associated with deformed and unnaturally small legs. At the same time, shoes for deformed legs were produced for many more years, since Chinese women were alive, whose legs were bandaged in childhood. The last pair of these shoes was sewn in 1999, since then this need has disappeared. The shoe factory in which such shoes were made was solemnly closed.