# The Pain Behind China's Lotus Feet **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Tags:** explore, medical\ **Created:** [November 2, 2026, 11:48am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/the-pain-behind-chinas-lotus-feet/24283 "2026-11-02T11:48:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sharmishta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/sharmishta/32/5934_2.png) [@Sharmishta](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Sharmishta)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 11:48am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/the-pain-behind-chinas-lotus-feet/24283/1 "2026-11-02T11:48:10Z")
We know China for its intricate culture, infrastructure, and cuisine, but have you ever came across an exploitative traditional practices like foot binding? ![The picture shows the lotus feet of china. This is usually done by binding the feet from a very young age.](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/uploads/medbound/original/2X/1/1b4db0bc2abacd624e9772a77ef01f09405b5667.jpeg) # **China’s Lotus Feet** **In the early 10th century** , young girls between the ages of four and eight had their feet bound tightly to achieve small, curved feet. The resulting shape is known as “lotus feet,” an ironic term given for its resemblance to the actual lotus flower. Women with the tiniest feet were cherished as being from prosperous families. There were also names given in accordance with size: the three-inch feet were known as “golden lotus,” while larger feet were called “silver lotus” and “iron lotus.” ## **The Historical Perspective:** You may wonder how these women walked. Privileged women from royal backgrounds mostly spent their lives in domestic compounds with limited walking and were carried in sedans. But poor women led toiling lives, facing hardships due to their bound feet. ![This image shows footwear that were used after binding of the feet to bring them in a shape that resembles a real lotus.](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/uploads/medbound/original/2X/2/237cac205674f81357fbd611bfda72554166c8d0.jpeg) They developed an unusual gait called the “lotus gait”; the wavering motion was often considered elegant. By the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, activists and social reformers condemned this practice and put an end to a long-standing tradition, yet some villages continued to follow it. With growing modernization and impact, the practice slowly vanished. Now it is retained only through museum exhibits and captured photographs. _Source:_ > **[Understanding Asia: Lotus Feet - Secret Retreats Blog](https://www.secret-retreats.com/blog/amp/art-architecture/understanding-asia-lotus-feet.html)** > > The Beauty Standard That Fascinates and Disturbs Imagine a beauty ideal so powerful that it shaped the lives of women for nearly a thousand years. Imagine a standard so admired that families believed it could secure wealth, status, and a better... #### **How much of what society considers beauty standards is shaped by patriarchy? Share your thoughts.** MBH/AS ---
**Author:** ![Prisha](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/prisha/32/770_2.png) [@Prisha](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Prisha)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/the-pain-behind-chinas-lotus-feet/24283/2 "2026-11-02T12:27:41Z")
Beauty standards and ancient practices are influenced by various factors but often reinforce patriarchy. Women are still objectified and controlled for the wishes of the society. One of the reasons foot binding was done so that women engage more in household work as they wont be able to walk outside as much. This looks so painful, I am glad that awareness was spread and foot binding for girls as well as women was banned ---
**Author:** ![Sharmishta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/sharmishta/32/5934_2.png) [@Sharmishta](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Sharmishta)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/the-pain-behind-chinas-lotus-feet/24283/3 "2026-11-02T17:11:00Z")
Absolutely! Women go through so many things just to live a normal life. ---
**Author:** ![Sindhu\_bethapudi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/sindhu_bethapudi/32/6238_2.png) [@Sindhu\_bethapudi](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Sindhu_bethapudi)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/the-pain-behind-chinas-lotus-feet/24283/4 "2026-11-02T17:12:48Z")
The amount of the pain they’ve gone through is unimaginable , I’m happy that i wasn’t a part of that era , still it wouldn’t be fair to treat women like this . And i heard that men used love women who has this kinda feet , that’s horrible tho . ---
**Author:** ![Sharmishta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/sharmishta/32/5934_2.png) [@Sharmishta](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Sharmishta)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/the-pain-behind-chinas-lotus-feet/24283/5 "2026-11-02T17:39:19Z")
I don’t know how they find it attractive, even after knowing the pain behind the procedure.