The Culture of Foot Binding

In this week’s Notorious Knowledge segment, Jen explains the self-mummification practices of the Sokushinbutsu. Then Robin takes on the task of discussing the Chinese cultural practice of foot binding. Throughout history, body modification has been a huge component of culture. For many years the women of China underwent the incredibly painful and sometimes deadly practice of “foot binding.” It was for fashion, vanity and the illusion of being “high class” that these young girls were tortured. The bones of their feet were broken and reshaped to create the Golden Lotus, the final product of foot binding. While this may be shocking to some, ask yourself, are today’s beauty standards any different?

Sources

Smithsonian Magazine
All That’s Interesting
NPR

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