The Chinese custom of foot binding, beginning…

The Chinese custom of foot binding, beginning in the tenth century, is confined to court dancers of the Song Dynasty.

Multiple accounts attempting to explain the origin of foot binding exist, each advancing a different theory: from the desire to emulate the naturally tiny feet of a favored concubine of a prince, to a story of an empress who had club-like feet, which became viewed as a desirable fashion.

However, there is little strong textual evidence for the custom prior to the court of the Southern Tang dynasty in Nanjing, which had celebrated the fame of its dancing girls renowned for their tiny feet and beautiful bow shoes.

First present in the elite, foot binding is initially a common practice only in the wealthiest parts of China, but the custom will be increasingly practiced on young Chinese girls and women for approximately one thousand years.