It is generally believed that women's foot binding began in the Southern Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties. According to records, the girls in Shougong Palace in Li Houzhu "wrapped their feet with silks to make them slim and slightly curved to make a new moon", then put on plain socks and danced gracefully on the lotus stage. As a result, my wife was favored by Li Houzhu, and other concubines followed suit. This is the beginning of a group of women's foot binding.

There was no historical record of foot-binding behavior in the hundred years of the Northern Song Dynasty. According to the textual research on the history of foot-binding in Gao Hongxing, it is proved that foot-binding originated in the late Northern Song Dynasty and the custom of foot-binding rose in the Southern Song Dynasty. Foot-binding in Yuan Dynasty continued to develop in a slim direction. The wind of foot-binding in Ming Dynasty entered a prosperous period, and "three-inch golden lotus" appeared.

In the Qing Dynasty, foot binding reached its peak. The wind of foot-binding has spread to women in all walks of life, rich or poor, but there are not a few who do not.