The Three-Inch Golden Lotus: A Novel on Foot Binding (Fiction from Modern China)

This amazing little fiction about footbinding is set between 1890 and 1930 - roughly the last two decades of the Qing Dynasty and the first two decades of the Republic. Although written by a contemporary author, the writing style is baroque, with an embarrassment of detail and elaboration that makes for a joy-ride of imagistic reading. The narrative beads are strung along the life line of Fragrant Lotus, a young woman from a poor background who marries upward because of her excellently bound feet, and in an authorial tour de force eventually confronts the anti-footbinding movement. One can look at this as an allegory for deeper social and political questions, but it is entirely entertaining enough in its own right to be appreciated as a brilliant act of story-telling -- which is also high praise for the translator.

The translation won an award and it's easy to read, but there's more attitude than poetry in Feng's writing. The novel leaves the reader with a knowledge of the mechanics, art (if it can be called art), appraisal and history of foot-binding. Though the author is clearly condemning the practice, and presents the male fascination with bound feet as a nauseating fetish, he offers a sympathetic portrait of women who not only accepted but clung to the practice. However, the story itself is rather thin, and it reads like political literature in which the agenda dictates the plot.

Great book. I wish I had read the review further and seen that there was writing by someone who used the book for a class purpose. I loved the story and it didn't detract from that. The book itself was in good condition. I will now pass it around to friends to read.

Riveting ,historical , insight into the foot binding that went on for 1000 years in china and the tiny beautiful shoes they made and wore and why this continued for so long. I cried for the girls and the book made me understand reasons and processes involved . Like splendid slippers by Beverly Jackson and Snow flower and the Secret Fan by she story brought this custom into modern times. good story. great pictures.

Great

Christmas gift - recepient loves - giver happy

I have yet to review the books as my sister is bringing them back fro the states - delivery of one could not be made to Australia so I had both delivered to my nephew. I am happy to respond with a comment when I get the books.Thank youSusan GaalNote I have given 5 stars - though I am still to read the Book.

Subtitled "a novel of foot binding", this book was first published in China in 1986 by the enormously popular Chinese writer, Feng Jicai and translated into English in 1994.Told as a "once upon a time" story, the writer skillfully combines myth, reason and a compelling tale while bringing the reader into the world of the "three-inch golden lotus", the tiny bound feet of Chinese women.Everything I have ever wondered about this fascinating custom is right here in this book. From the agonies inflicted upon young girls whose childhood includes broken bones and searing pain to the high esteem these tiny feet bring them as adults, it's all here, including the group of men who erotically adore them.Set in the early part of the 20th century, Fragrant Lotus has her feet bound by her grandmother as an act of love and tradition. Later, her small feet catch the eyes of a wealthy man who makes her the bride of his oldest son. The women of the family all compete in family "foot contests" at which "lotus loving" friends of her father-in-law spend hours debating the fine points of the history of foot binding and its many nuances.Through the years, Fragrant Lotus becomes the head of the family and comes face to face with the changing movement to outlaw foot binding.At only 229 pages, this book is a great read on many levels. The writer really captures the world he has set out to describe, does a excellent job of characterization and keeps the tension high with his minute descriptions of the foot contests. He also has a way of making this all into a satirical tall tale as the concepts of truth and reality are constantly explored. Deceptively simple, this story has a far deeper meaning as a metaphor for the cultural revolution as standards of beauty change.Highly recommended.