Footbinding revival occurred during which dynasty?

• A. Yuan
• B. Ming
• C. Song
• D. Qing

Answer: (B)

Footbinding is a powerful example of how cultural practices encode gender roles and social status in imperial China. It originated earlier and became a widespread mark of elite beauty and marriageability. The Ming dynasty is the period most associated with a revival of this custom because, after Mongol rule, Ming rulers and scholars reinforced Neo-Confucian ideals about female virtue and the domestic role of women. In that context, binding a daughter’s feet became a visible sign of refinement, lineage, and the ability to secure advantageous marriages for elite families, helping to stabilize and reproduce the social order.

The other dynasties don’t fit the idea of a revival as clearly. Under Mongol rule, Han cultural practices like footbinding didn’t undergo a renewed emphasis; the tradition had earlier roots and was already established by the Song era, not specifically revived later. The Qing continued the practice rather than inaugurating a new revival wave, so the Ming period stands out as the era characterized by a renewed push to reaffirm this custom.