Show FIRST TO COMPRESS FEET favorite of chinese emperor Empt many centuries ago said to have originated the custom J P donovan authority on chinese customs in an article called romance lomance I in chinese literature published in the forum writes Nr ites the ideal of beauty and the mark of gentility for a woman used to be small feet the compression of which was not imposed by law but was a craze ot of fashion ns as slender waists were nere at one time in england several accounts are given as to the origin of the custom of 0 foot binding but probably the following is the correct one it is said that yao laug the beautiful concubine of emperor lelyu LI yu A D wag nas light find graceful in III all her movements being able to lance dance with ease and elegance she gave so much pleasure to her lord and muster that lie he caused io to be made golden lily flowers with movable petals for yao niang to walk on from her apartments to the palace to gratify the emperor still further she compressed her feet in order that they might look like a lily bud unopened until they were three inches long |