Golden Lily ---foot binding

 The practice of foot binding spread throughout China in Song Dynasty.   The “Golden Lily” was a symbol of gentility and elegance.  The practice was first started in the royal palace, where imperial concubines were required to dance with their feet bound, then spread to the popular generation until it was outlawed in 1911.  In remote mountain regions, girls still had their feet bound as late as 1949.   The last factory producing Golden Lily shoes closed in 1998.

This pair of Golden lily shoes ( shown in the picture) was hand made by Grandma Wang.  She is one of the few in the village who can make this kind of shoes.