An Odd Question

[machine_dove]

But you're an odd sort of group, so one of you many have the answer.

When a woman's feet are bound, do their toes (what's left of them, anyway) point inward or outward?

I ask because Erik was attempting to demonstrate a Ba Gua kick for me called the Woman's Kick that was supposedly taught to women with bound feet. It's designed to knock kneecaps off, but I suspect he's holding his foot wrong. (He's only seen it demonstrated one time, so it's a distinct possibility).

I also vaguely suspect that the whole "Woman's Kick" thing is made up, because foot binding really didn't do much for the balance, and I suspect a woman with bound feet wouldn't be able to stand on just one foot for long enough to kick anything. But it's still a neat kick.

In other news, I finally got Last Exile 7. With postcards. I'm trying not to drool on them too much.

Comments

[caduceuskun.livejournal.com]

Inwards. The toes were wrapped downward, so that eventually the whole outsides of the foot curved underneath and they started walking on them, so the little toes all pointed inwards. If you're brave, you can search for pictures on Google. I know they're out there.

[crimsonrhapsody.livejournal.com]

I'm not too sure which way they point, but I do want to congradulate you on getting your last exile 7!!

[cutelildrow.livejournal.com]

I highly doubt that women were encouraged to do any kind of martial art during the time of foot binding. Women at that time were second class citizens expected to serve, and do their duties in the kitchen and bed. Martial arts would mean empowerment of some kind. Also, a woman who was raped was expected to commit suicide out of shame, so self defense in the form of martial arts (unless you happened to have a knife hidden on you) is highly improbable at that time.

Furthermore, bound feet meant that in order for the foot to maintain it's four inch shape, all the toes except the big one was broken, and bend inward (toward the sole). Women were expected to walk on broken feet. I don't think you could kick anything and hope to break anything but more of your own toe bones.

Pre-footbinding though, it was possible, and I'd read of women partaking of martial arts, especially for aestethic (sp?) purposes. Sword dances, for example. But during the age of foot binding? I doubt it.