Foot binding involved turning the four smaller toes of the foot inwards towards the sole and binding them with cloth. In a process accompanied by bleeding, suppuration, inflammation and swelling, the whole foot was finally reduced to a length of around 10 centimeters, commonly known as a "three inch golden lotus."
所謂纏足，是將大拇指外的其他四個腳指頭扭向腳心，以布捆綁，經過出血、化膿、發炎、腫脹等過程，最後整隻腳萎縮變形成十公分左右，俗稱「三寸金蓮」。