The Three-Inch Golden Lotus: A Novel on Foot Binding

The realistic, erotic and detailed piece vividly portrays the political and social conditions in China between the 1890's and 1930's. Although the novel's connection to the Cultural Revolution is not readily apparent, it is stated in the "Translators Postscript" that Jicai intended to indirectly expose the reader to the "revolutionary transformation that had spanned the entire twentieth century in China". By exposing the reader to characters such as Fragrant Lotus and her family, he succeeds in conveying a very clear message regarding the presence of the "unmitigated evil": the balancing of historical progress against the suffering of the innocent individual is not worth it. I was particularly attracted to the novel by its exact descriptions of characters, events and settings. Even though the book is translated from its original Chinese, the descriptions of the scenes are unique and memorable. The author's usage of syntax such as personification and similes, imagery and figurative language brings the piece to life. I particularly thought that the scenes where Jicai personifies the small "bound feet" as some living or non-living creature was profoundly striking. The detailed descriptions serve to bring the piece to life and create a tale that is thoroughly engrossing. The novel is captivating from the very first chapter when the reader is exposed to vivid descriptions of the process of "foot binding". I recommend this book because it is told as a story; however, there is an unstated meaning behind the play that consists of intricate, yet deep historical interpretations. A satire with literary and historical events of China interwoven with one another, the story is clearly one that is worth reading.

In 1890, Fragrant Lotus is a young Chinese girl who loves her grandmother very much. But one day her grandmother decides it is time that she bind her granddaughter's feet, a tradition going back a thousand years, and Fragrant Lotus' life changes forever. Though having bound feet is exceedingly painful, her grandmother does an extremely good job and through the beauty of her feet, Fragrant Lotus is able to move up through society and gain wealth, power, and prestige normally out of reach for the lower-class. However, the Communist revolution is coming. Where once Fragrant Lotus was the epitome of female beauty, in the 20th Century, footbinding becomes a symbol of the "old" China...a China that the government wants to escape. Fragrant Lotus continues to 'stand up' for footbinding, but it is a losing battle. In this book of fiction, the author draws comparisons between the bound feet of Chinese women and the "bound" minds of modern China after the Communist revolution. Readers of Chinese fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, and those interested in Chinese history will devour this novel.

What a treat it is to stumble upon a master storyteller! Feng Jicai tells this story with brilliant wit and intelligence. Kudos to the translator as well. He uses historical references to fill the reader in on the tradition of foot binding, as well as weaves a creative plot. The book focuses on Fragrant Lotus, a girl who has her feet bound in the golden lotus style, and her father-in-law, who collects daughters-in-law to serve his foot fetish. He and his other "lotus loving" friends have contests and long debates in their quest for the perfect bound feet. Fragrant Lotus eventually reigns supreme in the family by virtue of her stylish feet, but Jicai uses an ironic twist at the end of the book to ask the reader an underlying political question-- why the people of China have participated in things that caused them to suffer, such foot binding and the Cultural Revolution, and why social change often comes about with cruelty. This question is all the more touching because Feng Jicai's family was persecuted during the Cultural Revolution.

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.

I read this book years ago but am still intrigued by it. It was a fascinating story of a culture I knew little about. The characters brought the reader into tight grips with the author. An exceptional read worth every minute of the time.