Inner Glow

A few days ago, I was approached by a woman who had purchased this image I made in China. Our conversation reminded me of how delightful this 93-year-old grandmother whose name was Li had been. I recall how she sat; her posture and facial expression exuding pride in her life and in her precious, three-inch golden lotus feet. Although emblematic of pain and suffering, the grueling practice of foot binding was also a symbol of status, wealth, and a longstanding Chinese tradition.

Li was born of a farming family. As a girl, she would help her mother in the fields. When she was eight, Li’s mother decided it was time to begin the foot binding process. The practice of foot binding was a fashion statement among the upper class, but spread to all levels of society. Eventually, it became a prerequisite for marriage. Li told me she had a wonderful husband and seven children; none of which she said would have been possible if her feet had not been bound.

As we look at this image today, I can’t help but think about Western parallels. In a sense, pride and beauty belongs to each individual person. If beauty is achieved solely for presentation or for attention—using makeup, wearing certain hairdos and clothing, having plastic surgery—it can be honored, or judged. More extreme practices such as scarification, tattoos, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, or even high-heeled shoes: are they any different than Li’s tiny feet? The answer to that question isn’t as important as understanding that a person’s internal beauty comes more from inner light than from outer decoration or transformation. Li glowed; I marveled. It was a moment both rare and beautiful.