In the Han tradition, foot binding, known as lotus feet or chanzu in Chinese, were a symbol of feminine beauty, seduction and social status. From the X century A.D. until the last century, girls from wealthy families (in most cases, the oldest sister) started the process of foot binding at around four years of age.
The treatment was permanent and irreversible that impeded them from working but helped them to get a suitable marriage. Foot binding women wore beautiful small shoes like this pair, decorated with embroidered birds, silk and gold threads, metallic colored sequins and the detail on the toe decorated with a glass bead.