What is the link to the foot?
The leg bond is an ancient Chinese custom that included the creation of bones and the meat of the girl's legs into a shape that is often called a golden lotus. This shape causes the upper legs to be narrow and pointed, just like the crescent month. The leg binding was generally held in great respect for many centuries, but the practice disappeared in the 20th century. It is assumed that the practice began to create legs for dance. In western countries, the bound leg is considered to be deformity. The leg binding is associated with the effects on health, which in some cases have been recorded that in some cases it will last throughout their lives. In general, one of the main motives of practice was to get a woman suitable for marriage. Without specially shaped legs, women in China were generally considered unrefined and unattractive. The big fingers were likely to be the only parts of the leg that were free. The fabric was tightened daily to make the leg slimmer and shorter. This process eventually broke his fingers, and the tight binding raised the arches of girls' feet.
leg bond required a high level of care and attention to hygiene. It was common for the legs to swell, filled with pus and smell badly. When they were unpacked, the legs and any wounds that arose from the tight packaging were modified. Women also had to have their nails carefully shortened. The growing nails represented serious risks of infection.
leg bond usually began at the age of three and ten. The desired result was generally legs that were smaller than four inches. Women with small, bound legs usually showed them in small, embroidered shoes with a wooden platform. Even if they have achieved the desired shape, they generally continue to bind to the legs.
There are different theories about the exact origin of this practice. One legend will place the beginning of tradition in the 10th century. It is generally claimed that the leg binding has resulted in a Chinese ruler named Li Yu. One of his consort, named Yao-Niang, is said to dance on the golden loTos pedestals with legs wrapped in silk. He claims that if Yu was impressed by the beauty of Yao-Niang's dance, who allegedly stimulated other ladies to imitate her. In the end, the foot binding was accepted as a fashion trend and became part of general Chinese culture.