Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2017, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (03): 344-358.

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A study of the foot-binding phenomenon of Qing Dynasty females in Shandong Province

ZHAO Yongsheng, GUO Lin, HAO Daohua, LI Baolei, ZENG Wen   

  • Online:2017-09-15 Published:2017-09-15

Abstract: In the excavation of Mushan reservoir ruins in Anqiu County and Shicun site in Guangrao County, Shandong Province, foot deformities were observed on three female remains. Compared with the historical records and X-ray films of bound feet of modern female, it can be speculated that the deformities of our ancient samples are resulted from foot-binding. Based on observations of their foot bones, three features of bound feet can be concluded: 1) All foot bones are thin, especially the metatarsal bones; 2) Wedge-shape evolution in tarsometatarsal joints and tarsal bones; 3) Under-development in muscle crests of lower limb with smooth bone surface and articular surface appeared at lips of lower tibia. Comparing foot binding group and non-footbinding group, their metatarsal bones are found with most obvious difference. Moreover, the robustness of lower limb bone of foot binding group was slightly weaker than the nonfootbinding group

Key words: foot-binding; foot deformities; delicacy