The practice of foot binding is believed to have originated in China during the 10th century. One popular story credits its beginning to Emperor Li Yu of the Southern Tang Dynasty (937–975), who is said to have instructed his concubine, Yao Niang, to wrap her feet tightly in silk so they would take on a crescent shape as she performed an elegant, toe-pointed dance. Over time, the custom became increasingly widespread, particularly during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) and persisted for centuries before gradually fading in the early 20th century. It was regarded as a mark of beauty and status for women. The exhibit features a delicately embroidered shoe made for bound feet alongside a model that illustrates the extreme deformation caused by the practice. Foot binding involved tightly wrapping the feet to alter their shape, often leading to lifelong pain and disability. While it was once seen as a symbol of refinement, the practice was eventually abandoned as attitudes towards women's rights and beauty standards evolved.