RAS Shanghai 10/12/13 – The Allure of the Lotus: Bound Feet as a Social and Historical Metaphor

Posted: December 9th, 2013 | No Comments »

The Allure of the Lotus: Bound Feet as a Social and Historical Metaphor

Dr Sheena Burnell

Tuesday 10 December: 7 pm for 7:30 start

RAS Library at the Sino-British College

1195 Fuxing Zhong Lu

  

SHEENA BURNELL on

“The Allure of the Lotus: Bound Feet as a Social and Historical Metaphor”

 

Today the subject of foot-binding evokes a mixture of fascination and revulsion and is the subject of a large amount of misinformation. However it was a practice carried out on a large scale by a very sophisticated and complex society for approximately a thousand years, and as such cannot be dismissed as an oddity. Understanding what was more than just a passing whim of fashion provides a window onto a closed and little-discussed period of Chinese history and allows a deeper understanding of the social, religious and historical pressures which affected all of Chinese society throughout several dynasties, especially its women.

 

This lecture will explore the historical and philosophical roots of the practice of foot-binding as well as elaborating upon the symbolic and aesthetic aspects of the shoes themselves.

Dr Sheena Burnell is an Australian-trained anaesthesiologist currently living and working in Shanghai. From an early age she has been drawn to Asia and the exquisite beauty of Asian art forms, and began collecting Japanese woodblock prints as an initial foray into this area. She subsequently developed her interest to include Chinese and Tibetan art and in particular Chinese textiles and embroidery. This further developed into a fascination with Chinese costume and dress accessories, particularly bound feet shoes and the extraordinary social history they embodied. Subsequently her interest in the area expanded to encompass Qing Dynasty kingfisher hair ornaments and more esoteric aspects of Chinese costume including theatre and post-Qing costume.

 

Dr Burnell has been invited to lecture on these collections both in Australia and Hong Kong as well as appearing on Australian television. Her current collecting interests are ethnic Chinese tribal jewelry and Tibetan gau boxes.

RSVP: to RAS Bookings at: bookings@royalasiaticsociety.org.cn

  

ENTRANCE CONTRIBUTION: Members 30 RMB  Non-members 80 RMB. Includes a glass of wine or soft drink. Priority for RAS members. Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption.

 

MEMBERSHIP applications and membership renewals will be available at this event.

 

RAS MONOGRAPHS – Series 1 & 2 will be available for sale at this event. 100 rmb each (cash sale only)

 

WEBSITE: www.royalasiaticsociety.org.cn

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