Overview

For over 1000 years, bound feet were a major sexual fetish for high-born Chinese men. Han women tottered through life on four-inch long Lotus Feet showcased in exquisitely embroidered, tiny shoes. From these tiny beginnings, textile scholar Beverley Jackson embarks on an exploration of Chinese art and mythology, social and political history, and a truly exotic eroticism.

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9780898159578

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For centuries until the Cultural Revolution, Chinese women bound their feet to look like lotus buds. The aim was to have miniscule feet, only three inches long, which would be adorned with the most exquisite embroidered slippers, and admired by all who saw them. When marriages were arranged, these slippers were inspected as they were an important a part of the marriage settlement. Small slippers meant the girl could endure pain, that she was self-disciplined and likely to make a good wife. As a textile collector and historian, Jackson was initially attracted to the slippers for their beauty, but as her collection began to grow, she explored the social reasons behind the custom. Her fascinating account of the subject is a highly respectful look at a practice that many Westerners consider barbaric. Beautifully illustrated. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

BEVERLEY JACKSON is an esteemed art and cultural historian who specializes in Chinese art and costume. She tours and lectures on Asian art from her home in Santa Barbara, California.

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