When a lucky day had been selected, the girl’s feet were massaged with a mixture of herbs and liquids. The ingredients varied from region to region: animal blood, ground monkey bones, frankincense, and even urine were used. After the skin was supple and the muscles malleable, the toenails were clipped to prevent in-growth, and the toes were curled tight towards the sole of the foot. Depending on the age of the girl, the toes would either bend naturally, or be broken – all except the big toe which remained straight. Next, the arch of the foot would be broken, and an astringent powder called alum applied before the bandages went on. A fabric strip ten feet long was wrapped around each foot, and then sewn tightly to stop the girl undoing it.The breaking of the arch and subsequent binding made a deep ridge in the foot... (taken from echinacities...)
86 year old, Zhou Guizhen's bound feet
