Lotus shoe

Pair of Shoes for Women%E2%80%99s Bound Feet, 19th century

Lotus shoes are a type of footwear that was traditionally worn by women in China. They were designed to fit feet that had been modified through the practice of foot binding, a custom that involved tightly wrapping the feet of young girls to alter their shape and size. The practice of foot binding is believed to have originated among the court dancers of the Song Dynasty in the 10th century and continued until the early 20th century, despite various attempts to ban it. Lotus shoes are so named because the bound feet, once modified, were thought to resemble the bud of a lotus flower.

History and Cultural Significance

The tradition of foot binding and the wearing of lotus shoes were deeply ingrained in Chinese culture and were associated with beauty, status, and eligibility for marriage. Smaller feet were highly prized, and the ideal length for a woman's foot after binding was called the "Golden Lotus," measuring around 3 inches (about 7.6 cm), while a slightly larger foot was termed "Silver Lotus." The smallest bound feet, known as "Iron Lotus," were less than 3 inches long and were rare due to the extreme difficulty and disability they caused.

Design and Construction

Lotus shoes were crafted from various materials, including silk, cotton, and animal hide, and were often richly embroidered with symbols meant to bring good luck and fortune. The shoes were small, with pointed toes and a very high heel that forced the wearer to walk in a manner that was considered graceful, albeit with great difficulty and often pain.

Social and Health Implications

The practice of foot binding and the wearing of lotus shoes had significant social implications. It was a marker of social status, as only those families who could afford to have their daughters not work could practice foot binding. However, it also had severe health consequences for the women, including chronic pain, infections, and mobility issues. The practice was criticized and eventually outlawed due to these health implications and the changing social attitudes towards women's rights and gender equality.

Decline and Legacy

The practice of foot binding began to decline in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, under both internal reform movements within China and external pressures. The last factory making lotus shoes closed in the early 1990s, marking the end of an era. Today, lotus shoes are collected as antiques and are displayed in museums as a reminder of this aspect of Chinese cultural history. They serve as a symbol of the lengths to which societies will go to conform to beauty standards and the impact of such practices on women's health and status.