point scale. For example:
T ype: Lotus petal, New moon, Harmonious bow,
Bamboo shoot, Water chestnut
Specifications: plumpness, softness, fineness
Gynocide: Chinese Footbinding
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Rank:
Divine Quality (A-1), perfectly plump, soft and fine
Wondrous Quality (A-2), weak and slender
Immortal Quality (A-3), straight-boned, independent
Precious Article (B-1), peacocklike, too wide, dis-
proportioned
Pure Article (B-2), gooselike, too long and thin
Seductive Article (B-3), fleshy, short, wide, round
(the disadvantage of this foot was that its owner
Excessive Article (C-1), narrow but insufficiently
pointed
Ordinary Article (C-2), plump and common
False Article (C-3), monkeylike large heel (could
climb)
T he distinctions only emphasize that footbinding
was a rather hazardous operation. T o break the bones
involved or to modify the pressure o f the bindings irregularly had embarrassing consequences — no girl could bear the ridicule involved in being called a “largefooted Demon” and the shame o f being unable to marry.
Even the possessor o f an A - 1 Golden Lotus could
not rest on her laurels —she had to observe scrupulously
the taboo-ridden etiquette o f bound femininity: (1) do
not walk with toes pointed upwards; (2) do not stand
with heels seemingly suspended in midair; (3) do not
move skirt when sitting; (4) do not move feet when
lying down. T h e same essayist concludes his treatise
with this most sensible advice (directed to the gentlemen o f course):
Do not remove the bindings to look at her bare feet,
but be satisfied with its external appearance. Enjoy the
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Woman Hating
outward impression, for if you remove the shoes and
bindings the aesthetic feeling will be destroyed forever. 2
Indeed. The real feet looked like this:
The physical process which created this foot is
described by Howard S. Levy in
The success or failure of footbinding depended on
skillful application of a bandage around each foot. The
