always.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

8:54 PM

DAY TEN - HISTORY LESSON TWO

I was curious in class today as to the topic of foot binding and eunuchs
did some research back at the hostel and here are my findings

FOOT BINDING

a lil something for the girls

It began during the Tang Dynasty and ended in 1911. Foot binding was an ancient tradition of beauty and torture which lasted for about a 1000 years. There are many theories as to why foot binding.

1. Women who had their feet bound are less independant and can be controlled

It was to ensure that the women would not wander and travel away from the control of their husbands and fathers. The pain would be too great to allow them the freedom of being free

2. The smaller a woman's feet, the more desirable she would be in marriage

Families needed the security of a daughter marrying “well” to ensure the families place in society

3. To show status

Neighbours would perceive they have a capable and working member of their family not work, hence implying success

Foot binding was to restrict growth so that the feet would not exceed 3-4 inches. It was considered elegant to have small feet and the process normally begins when the girls are between ages 3 - 11 years.

begins with the clipping of toe nails and the soaking of feet
the feet is then massaged and doused with alum
all toes (except the big one) are BROKEN and FOLDED under the sole

To encourage the feet to achieve its desired conformation, the girls are made to walk long distances. Their own weight would crush their feet into shape.

the ideal length of a woman's feet

EUNUCH

a lil something for the guys

castration = to remove the testicles of a (male)

a rough idea on how its done

Sun Yaoting
the last Chinese eunuch

He was castrated at 8 by his father with a SINGLE SWOOP of a razor. Not only did he endure a lifetime of incontinence and sexual frustration but also in fear of punishment during the Cultural Revolution.

Eunuchs went through excruciating pain without benefit of anesthesia (other than chile peppers in some cases). In addition to this, they had a lifetime of impotence. They would keep their severed genitals pickled in a jar so they could be buried as complete men.

Sun Yaoting died in 1996. His family disposed of his pickled "precious three" during the Cultural Revolution, denying him the right to return to earth as a complete man.

THE END