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Tian Zu Hui
The ''Tian Zu Hui'' (Natural Foot Society), was a Chinese organization against foot binding, founded in 1895. It was the first secular mass organization against foot binding in China. It was founded by ten women of different nationalities under the leadership of Alicia Little in Shanghai in 1895. There had been many anti-foot binding societies since the foundation of the Heavenly Foot Society in 1874, but with the exception of the Chinese Foot Emancipation Society, they mainly functioned within Christian missionary societies, focused on Christian converts, and were not successful. The Natural Foot Society was strictly secular, and welcomed members of all religions and nationalities. The Natural Foot Society campaigned by way of lecture tours, information, pamphlets and name lists. They focused on the non-Christian Chinese upper class elite and engaged Chinese upper-class women, which was a new method. In contrast to previous societies which had condemned foot binding in connection ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Foot Binding
Foot binding (), or footbinding, was the Chinese custom of breaking and tightly binding the feet of young girls to change their shape and size. Feet altered by foot binding were known as lotus feet and the shoes made for them were known as lotus shoes. In late imperial China, bound feet were considered a status symbol and a mark of feminine beauty. However, foot binding was a painful practice that limited the mobility of women and resulted in lifelong disabilities. The prevalence and practice of foot binding varied over time and by region and social class. The practice may have originated among court dancers during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in 10th-century China and gradually became popular among the elite during the Song dynasty, later spreading to lower social classes by the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Manchu emperors attempted to ban the practice in the 17th century but failed. In some areas, foot binding raised marriage prospects. It has been estimated that b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
