In which dynasty did ancient Chinese women s foot binding begin?

According to the historiography, foot binding began in the Five Dynasties.

1.Foot binding is a custom in ancient and even modern times, that is, a woman's feet are wrapped in cloth to make it a small and pointed "three-inch golden lotus".

2.There are different opinions on the origin of foot binding from the Ming and Qing dynasties, according to the research of modern scholars, foot binding arose in the Northern Song Dynasty, and modern scholars have pointed out that Chinese women did not bind their feet five generations ago.

3.The Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo once made a special "Bodhisattva Man" word, aria foot binding, the writing of foot-binding poems is based on the emergence of foot-binding customs, which shows that the Song Dynasty has indeed appeared foot-binding customs, to the Southern Song Dynasty, women's foot-binding has been more common, and even in the late Southern Song Dynasty, "small feet" has become a common name for women, in the Southern Song Dynasty, women's foot-binding is not popular, foot-binding is mainly limited to the upper class, and foot-binding has not yet reached the point where everyone accepts the social concept.

4.Foot binding development: the Song Dynasty's foot binding is to wrap the foot to be "straight" but not arched, the Yuan Dynasty's foot binding continued to develop in the direction of slenderness, the Ming Dynasty's foot binding wind entered a prosperous period, there was a "three-inch golden lotus" said, requiring the foot not only to be as small as three inches, but also to bow bend, the Qing Dynasty's foot binding wind spread to women of all social strata, regardless of rich and poor, have bound their feet.

Women's foot binding first began in 969-975 AD during the reign of Li Yu in the Southern Tang Dynasty, and one of the queens of Li was ingenious, using silk to wrap her feet into a crescent moon shape and dance on the golden lotus to please the Son of Heaven. Later, this custom gradually spread to the common people, and women regarded foot binding as beauty. At that time, the feudal literati and scholars had a morbid aesthetic, regarded women as playthings, and it became a habit to play with women's small feet.

In addition, in ancient times, there was a traditional custom of "men are superior to women" in a patriarchal society, and women would go out less when they were unable to move after binding their feet, so foot binding has also become an important way to restrain women.

In ancient times, after the women's feet were bound, people called them "three-inch golden lotus". This little foot covered with strips of cloth became the most private part of the body, and it was reserved for his own man. At that time, small feet were never to be seen or touched by other men.

If she is accidentally touched, this woman will be regarded as the greatest shame in her life.

Binding small feet first began during the reign of Li Yu in the Southern Tang Dynasty in 969-975 AD, and some people believe that as early as the Warring States Period in 770-476 BC, binding small feet appeared, and perhaps even earlier can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty. In short, the custom of feudal society has a long history, and it has killed countless Chinese women for thousands of years. It can be said that binding small feet is one of the most prominent manifestations of "male superiority and female inferiority" under the patriarchal tradition.

In ancient China, the habit of binding women's feet, also known as foot binding, was to make women's feet smaller to conform to the aesthetic standards of the time. The origins of this practice can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, when it was an attempt to emulate a virtue of the Vietnamese dynasty, which believed that small feet could show a woman's noble demeanor. During the Song Dynasty, foot binding became an aristocratic culture and was considered a sign of female virtue and family reputation.

The process of foot binding is very painful, usually starting when girls are 5-6 years old, tightly wound with strips of cloth, so that the bones of the feet are constantly physically squeezed, and eventually become smaller and become "three-inch golden lotus" or "lotus root small thin waist". This is believed to make women more petite and delicate, with better social status and marriage prospects.

However, foot binding is the cause of lifelong disability and impaired mobility in women, which seriously affects health and quality of life. The practice was gradually condemned and abolished by society, but in contemporary times, there are still some older women who adhere to this tradition, believing that foot binding is a symbol of beauty, grace and success.

There are many theories about this, and the most accurate should be that it originated in the Five Dynasties and prevailed in the Ming and Qing dynasties.