Foot Binding

Foot binding was the Chinese custom of wrapping young girls' feet in tight bandages so the feet would not grow normally. The process included the deliberate breaking and forcible relocation of the four small toes and the disruption of the foot's normal arch. The resultant adult foot was dysfunctional, often as small as three inches, but was considered to be a greatly desirable trait for women. Foot binding resulted in the basic inability of the individual to walk and was accomplished only at the cost of incredible pain and frequent health complications. The popularity of the custom varied through time but it was widespread for hundreds of years until it was officially declared illegal in 1911.

Imperial Examination