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It is still not known exactly where this custom came from, but one of the most popular legends was the story of Emperor Li Yu, who had many concubines. One of them, Yao Niang, came up with the idea of doing a tiptoe dance on a lotus-shaped stage decorated with jewels and gold. The girl wrapped her legs in white silk to resemble crescent moons and performed a “lotus dance” that delighted the emperor. She soon became his favorite concubine, and other women began to imitate her. Over time, foot binding became the norm, and the phenomenon itself was called “golden lotuses.”
