In November 1997, UC San Francisco released details of the first study on the consequences of foot binding. In a news release it said:

The origin of foot binding can be traced back to the Five Dynasties. ... The practice of foot binding lasted through Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties and was officially banned in 1911,

So exactly what is foot binding? In a nutshell it was an attempt to stop the growth of the feet. It usually began somewhere between the ages of four and seven.

CHINESE FOOT BINDING ... In the 10th century, in China, legend says a prince began the practice of foot binding because he loved the small "Lily Feet" of his concubine.

Chinese foot binding was once used as a measure of beauty in China. Chinese foot binding was started in the Southern Tang Dynasty but then outlawed in the 20th century. ... Foot Binding Facts

The first documented reference to the actual binding of a foot is from the court of the Southern Tang dynasty in Nanjing, which celebrates the fame of its dancing girls renowned for their tiny...

The History of Foot Binding ... The general consensus is that the roots of foot binding lie in the Sung1 dynasty (960-1279 AD) in China, although there are numerous folk lore and legends surrounding

Lesson plan on foot binding in China. This is a sample from the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project's award winning lesson compilation: Golden Legacy. ... Picture of Chinese Foot Binding (below --

Ancient China; Foot-binding discussion; Chinese shoe; ... (More on foot-binding); You might have a class discussion about whether this is really so unusual though – isn’t it just another instance

Chinese Foot Binding ... First, the whole ugly process of foot binding began when a girl was about 4 years old. A long cloth was tightly bound around each of her feet, causing her four smaller toes