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The last little feet shoemaker
On September 4th, a touching story unfolded in Harbin City when a 90-year-old woman named Ai Mei finally found the right pair of shoes after years of struggle. For many years, she had been unable to find comfortable footwear due to her uniquely shaped feet, which were a result of foot binding—something that was common decades ago. After reaching out through various channels, she eventually connected with Master Ma Fu, a local shoemaker who, despite not making a living from traditional foot shoes, took it upon himself to craft a few pairs for her.
It is estimated that there are nearly 200 women over the age of 100 in Harbin, many of whom once had their feet bound. The tradition of creating "three-inch golden lotus" shoes, a symbol of this practice, came to an end in 1999 when the last factory owner sent the final pair to a museum for preservation. This marked the end of an era, leaving many elderly people with feet that no longer fit into modern footwear, making it increasingly difficult to find suitable shoes.
Master Ma, now in his 70s, has spent most of his life crafting traditional foot shoes. Born in Shandong Province, he moved to Harbin at the age of 12 and learned the trade from his father, who was also a shoe maker. He started learning to make shoes at 20 and worked for over 30 years. Today, his father is over 80, and he’s one of the few remaining artisans still practicing this rare craft.
Making traditional foot shoes is not an easy task. It requires patience, precision, and deep experience. Each pair can take two or three days to complete, and if the fit isn’t right, adjustments must be made repeatedly. A simple pair might cost between $35 and $50, but the profit is minimal. Still, Master Ma continues to do it for those who truly need it.
He recalls a time when an 86-year-old man asked him to make five pairs of small shoes. The man was worried he wouldn’t find anyone else to help him. But before the third pair was completed, the man passed away. These kinds of stories are becoming more common as the number of elderly people who have lived through the era of foot binding continues to dwindle.
In recent years, Master Ma has stopped taking on new orders for traditional foot shoes, as it’s no longer a viable business. Instead, he now sells groceries in the morning market to support his family. However, whenever someone reaches out, he never turns them away. Recently, an elderly man from Baoqing County asked him to make a pair of small shoes. Although he wasn’t eager to take on the job, he couldn’t say no. He began working late into the night to complete the order.
“I don’t do this for money,†he said. “I just want to help.â€
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