The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 138

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138

jointly by the four bodies constituting the Synod-
ical Conference.

The next number of the PronEEr will bring
a full report of the proceedings of the Synodical
Conference in matters concerning our Colored
Missions. F.J.L.

Foot-Binding in China.

The Chinese formerly had an almost universal
custom of compressing the feet of girl children with
tight linen bandages. Before the present century
nearly all but those of the ruling Manchus, a few
wild tribes, slaves, and of immoral women were thus
bound. The origin of the custom is not definitely
known, and it dates back some ten to fifteen cen-
turies. Since the ruling Manchus did not bind their
feet, they at several times also issued edicts for the
purpose of stopping this evil custom, the most
famous edict being that of the celebrated Emperor
K’ang Hsi in the year 1665. But this decree was
canceled four years later. In 1895 ten ladies of
several different nationalities formed the T’ien Tsu
Hui, or Natural Foot Society. This body at once
decided to memorialize the empress-dowager, who,
as a Manchu, was a natural-footed woman. After
being drawn up carefully in English and then trans-
lated into Chinese, the memorial was distributed to
get signatures, and nearly all foreign ladies in the
Far East added their names. It is believed that
the petition reathed the palace, and in 1902 Her
Majesty issued an antifoot-binding edict. Tracts
were distributed by the hundreds of thousands, all
viceroys and provincial governors were memorial-
ized, concurrently numerous Chinese native soci-
eties opposing this cruel practise sprang into exis-
tence, schools were opened in which only natural-
footed girls were admitted, and in a few short years
the reform was practically completed. In 1906 the
Tien Tsu Hui made its last report. At the present
writing one may see all the older women with bound
feet, but the younger generation is growing up
almost altogether with natural feet. In Southern
China, owing to its long opposition to northern
customs and to the influence of the T’ai-p’ing Re-
bellion after 1850, the foot-binding custom is rapidly
disappearing altogether. In Northern China and
in the country districts there is still quite a bit of it.
In the territory where our Missouri Synod is doing
mission-work, one comes in contact with a fresh
case of foot-binding every now and then.

The accompanying picture shows the feet of

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

Li Mei-hsio, who for some time has been coming
to our Trinity Chapel at Shasi for instruction in
the Word of God. Mei-hsio is sixteen years of age
now, and her feet were bound by her mother when
she was less than twelve. Just recently she had
probably been a bit careless in keeping her feet
bound, and her mother again started binding them
tighter in order to make them smaller.. Mei-hsio’s
mother had betrothed her when she was but a child,
and now that she is becoming a young lady, plans
are buzzing for a future marriage. Communica-

Li Mei-Hsio.

Note how the toes and heel are forced under
the foot.
tions have been established with the people of the
future husband, and word was sent that he did not
want a wife with large, clumsy, awkward feet.
Hereupon Mei-hsio’s mother undertook to cramp
the feet still more.’ She first clubbed the girl over
the head to bring her into submission, and then
the cruel process began anew. Just at that time the
wife of the missionary happened into the home and
shamed the mother and brought the*cruel act to a
close for the time -being. As far as we know, the
mother has not tried to bind them since; for it is
contrary to present-day Chinese law to do s0,
although laws are at times practically just so much