Why Women in the Qing Dynasty Wear High Soled Shoes (Flowerpot-sole Shoes)?
Women from the Manchu ethnic group liked to wear long dresses but found it inconvenient to walk. Thus, they added a special kind of thick sole under their shoes. The sole looked like flowerpots, so they were called flowerpot-sole shoes. According to legend, they made a rhythmic sound that would drive bad animals away. Another reason for wearing the flowerpot-sole shoes was that they supposedly made women slimmer and more coquettish.