Capturing Voices Jane Kwok, Wu Ming Ting / Lisa Clayson

The story of Jane Kwok
Chinese name Wu Ming Ting.
Born Shanghai 1928
She is 94 years old.
Formby Podcast interviewed at her home in Crosby November 2022.

Jane was one of 6 children, girls and boys, born and raised in Shanghai during a time of massive cultural change and unrest in China.

Educated in speaking 5 different languages - regional dialects from China, Mandarin, Cantonese, English and French, Lucy got a job working with China National Aviation Corporation as an air hostess. During her travels with the job she met her husband and moved to the UK living in Crosby. Working, caring for family, bringing up 4 girls.

China was ruled one family during the Qing Dynasty from 1643 - 1912.

In 1900, China’s glory days were behind her. China was a nation in decline. In 1900, China was heavily controlled by foreign nations who tended to dominate the ports such as Shanghai. China was ruled by the Qing family, though the family is better known as the Manchu’s.

1912 - 1949 Chinese Republic was formed.

1949, Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People's Republic of China. Communism crept over China.

Jane’s memory of her mother was that she could not walk.

Foot binding had began and became a fashion in China’s educated soceity in the 1200s .
Binding girls feet is one of the most vivid images from China.
The culture of foot binding girl’s feet was a custom demanded by society.

“In Chinese society, it was the only way forward for women,” says Farrell. “They did it because they thought it would give them a better future, a better life.” Jo Farrell - photography published in The Guardian written by Jack Mills The Guardian Mon 15 Jun 2015 02.00 EDT

The photographer Jo Farrell tracked down 50 surviving women whose feet had been bound. Many could no longer walk, and kept their disfigurement hidden. Her images reveal the survivors’ strength, determination – and hope
Unbound: China’s last ‘lotus feet’ – in pictures

Foot binding was embedded in Chinese Culture - Jo Farrell reports - ‘Guo’s mother was unwilling to bind her feet, so at the age of 15 she bound her own. She had watched how her own mother did it and copied her. All her small toes are broken underneath the sole, but ultimately she didn’t manage to reduce the length of the feet.Jo Farrell

Living History: Bound Feet Women of China," talk
The Women's Foundation, HK (MAY 2015)
Asia House, London (JUNE 2015)

The Guardian (JUNE 2015)
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/15/the-last-women-in-china-with-bound-feet

How were the feet bound?

Foot binding, or footbinding, was the Chinese custom of breaking and tightly binding the feet of young girls in order to change their shape and size. Feet altered by footbinding were known as lotus feet, and the shoes made for these feet were known as lotus shoes. www.wikipedia.org

Why did the Chinese stop foot binding?
From https://www.britannica.com › science
Opposition to the practice became more widespread when missionaries to China argued that it was cruel; missionaries also pointed out that the rest of the world looked down on it. After the Nationalist Revolution in 1911, footbinding was outlawed in 1912.Oct 10, 2022
Interviewed by Formby Podcast in 2022 for ‘Catching Voices’

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Thanks to Lisa Clayson for arranging this incredible interview and for sharing her family story.

Thank you to
Wu Ming Ting /Jane Kwok

Note References

Jo Farrell - photography published in The Guardian written by Jack Mills The Guardian Mon 15 Jun 2015

Jo Farrell Photographer
Living History: Bound Feet Women of China," talk
The Women's Foundation, HK (MAY 2015)
Asia House, London (JUNE 2015)

The Guardian (JUNE 2015)
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/15/the-last-women-in-china-with-bound-feet

britannica.com

www.wikipedia.org

www.historylearningsite.co.uk

history.state.gov