What If You Had Animal Feet? Some Rights Reserved (2009-2020) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Answer (1 of 6): Footbinding started during the Tang Dynasty. Each time the feet were unbound, they were washed, the toes carefully checked for injury, and the nails carefully and meticulously trimmed. The lack of mobility would not have greatly affected working women in their traditional household employment of spinning, weaving, sewing, and embroidery. The marriage prospects for such a girl were dim indeed. Chinese groups included the Natural Feet Society and the Anti-Foot Binding Society. Four to six was the ideal age, as you could reason with the girls and help them deal with the pain. She learned Chinese, built a network of very well-‐connected individuals, and in 1895 formed an anti-‐footbinding association with a small number of influential and energetic Chinese and western women. The practice of female foot-binding in China originated in the mid-900s, after Emperor Li Yu was tantalized by a dancer who “bound her feet into the shape of a new moon.” Within a couple hundred years, it had become customary for girls to begin having their feet systematically massaged, broken and bound at the age of 5. Cartwright, Mark. Don’t Miss These Wildlife Safari Adventures in the Heart of the U.S. Uncovering Chinese ‘Friendship’ Groups in Europe, Practicing Medicine Requires Medical Ethics, China’s Fixation With Blame Theories on Origin of the CCP Coronavirus, US Slapping Fresh Sanctions on 59 Chinese Entities, Taiwan Begins Domestic Submarine Production to Protect From Mainland Threat, Woodnest Cabins: Experience the Wilderness at Its Best. Cultures. There is one country where this was practiced; this practice was called foot binding or lotus feet. Four to six was the ideal age, as you could reason with the girls and help them deal with the pain. Chinese girls had their feet bound typically from the age of five to eight. When—and why—did the practice of foot binding begin? In 1999, the last shoe factory making lotus shoes, the Zhiqiang Shoe Factory in Harbin, closed. (Image: via wikimedia / CC0 1.0). According to history, an emperor's favorite concubine danced on a gilded lotus flower with bound feet, which gained the emperor's favor. The practice of binding feet may have started with the dancer Yaoniang, who performed in the Tang dynasty court, or more generally the Turkic dancers who performed there during the 10th century CE. There developed certain proverbs, too, like Teng er bu teng xue, teng nu bu, teng jiao, meaning something like “if you care for your children, do not worry if your son suffers for his studies or your daughter for her feet” (Blake, 681). After the Qing Dynasty fell, foot binding became unfashionable. Taiwan President Tsai... Come explore the Woodnest Cabins and experience the beauty of the wild. Foot binding, or 'lotus feet', stands as a symbol of a bygone China. That foot-binding became very common is evidenced by the fact that Chinese writers from the 12th to 14th century CE anticipate their readers are familiar with it. In the larger cites, people who found women with bound feet would cut off their bindings. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. For marriageable daughters, foot size translated into its own form of currency and a means of achieving upward mobility. At first they had little effect, but gradually pressure came from more directions. The first recorded foot binding started from the Five Dynasties and Ten States in the 10th century and it became prevalent in the Song Dynasty (960–1279). Emperor K’ang Hsi made another attempt in 1662 CE but, realising he was fighting a losing battle against parents, he withdrew the ban in 1668 CE. It has been estimated that by the 19th century, 40-50 percent of all Chinese women may have had bound feet, and up to almost 100 percent among upper-class Han Chinese women. Results of Bounded Feet. When the Qing Dynasty fell in 1911 and 1912, the new Nationalist government banned foot-binding again. According to the story, an emperor had a favorite concubine, a dancer who built a gilded stage in the shape of a lotus flower. The foot binding practice ended in the beginning of 20th century due to the extensive anti foot binding campaigns. They invented gunpowder. Next prayers and offerings were offered to the Tiny-Footed Maiden Goddess; another recipient was the Buddhist figure of Guanyin, a bodhisattva or enlightened one who was thought to protect women in general. The end of foot binding From the latter half of the 19th century onwards there were more and more movements to ban foot binding. Binding your feet was very dangerous. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Southern Tang emperor Li Yu’s concubine Gong Bin wrapped around the feet with cloth, it was in “crescent” shape. O Christmas Tree, Your Green Branches Delight Us! Smaller feet required especially dainty shoes, and these, made of silk or cotton and often beautifully embroidered, have been found in abundance in tombs of Chinese upper-class women. Foot-binding was a practice first carried out on young girls in Tang Dynasty China to restrict their normal growth and make their feet as small as possible. In order to gain the emperor’s favor, the other concubines then attempted the practice; after all, Yao Niang was the emperor’s favorite concubine. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. The friar made the following note on the practice: And with the women the great beauty is to have little feet; and for this reason mothers are accustomed, as soon as girls are born to them, to swathe their feet tightly so that they can never grow in the least. Then, all the toes, except the big toes, were broken and held tightly against the sole of the foot while the arch was strained as the foot was bent double until it was forcibly broken making a triangle shape. Cartwright, Mark. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Foot-Binding/. An additional test of a girl’s suitability was her being set the task of making small shoes for the bound feet of her future in-laws. The smaller the feet, the more attractive they were, and it became a distinct mark of elegance, even the style of the way a woman with bound feet would walk became a necessity for all women; small, light steps was seen as elegant. The start of the practice can be traced back to 700 AD, and was not legally banned until 1911. The smaller the feet the more attractive they were, even erotic for some, and it became a distinct mark of elegance. The broken feet were also kneaded to soften them and the soles of the girl’s feet were often beaten to make the joints and broken bones more flexible. When and where did foot binding start and end? Certainly, the binding of feet to reduce their size was long-associated with women who earned their money entertaining men in one way or another. Facing increasing aggression from Communist China, Taiwan has undertaken the domestic production of eight indigenous submarines to protect its territorial autonomy. Little by little,it would start breaking bones from all the body. The most desirable bride possessed a three-inch foot, known as a “golden lotus.”, A small foot in China was no different to a tiny waist in Victorian England, representing the height of female refinement. The foot binding process was long, excruciatingly painful and pretty gross. Obviously being a painful process and leaving women so treated with permanent problems of mobility, which also seriously limited any role they could take on in wider society, the practice was not without its critics. ". Facts about Chinese Foot Binding 6: the negative impact of foot binding Supposedly, it started after the Emperor told everyone why he loved his wife so much - she had small feet. Copyright Policy and Infringement Notification. So, foot binding started with the royal court and then spread throughout China, beginning in the south of the country and soon reaching the north. The earliest relevant written records date to the 13th century and refer to the fame of the dancing girls with tiny feet and beautiful bow shoes at the court of the Southern Tang Dynasty (937-975) in southern-central China. It has been estimated that by the 19th century, 40-50 percent of all Chinese women may have had bound feet, and up to almost 100 percent among upper-class Han Chinese women. Foot binding is an old Chinese custom of wrapping girls' feet with cloth in order to stop them from growing with age. Foot binding was first reported during the Five Dynasties and Ten States period in the tenth and eleventh century. 20th Century. Tiny feet, despite the origins amongst dancers and courtesans, came to symbolise not only elegance but also moral virtue and modesty. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Living History: Bound Feet Women of China. (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition... Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, Fred Blake, C. "Foot-Binding in Neo-Confucian China and the Appropriation of Female Labor. Immediately after this agonizing procedure, the feet were bound in place using cotton or silk bandages, 3 meters long and 5 cm wide (10 ft by 2 in). The binding would be so tight the girl could not move her toes at all. In this paper the author traces the origin of foot binding, process of foot binding, reasons for foot binding, physiological implication, opposition and abolishment of foot binding. The Effects of Foot-binding on the Foot Bonesby Marco L (Public Domain). Foot-binding phenomenon began in the Five Dynasties period. Widely used as a method to distinguish girls of the upper class from everyone else, and later as a way for the lower classes to improve their social prospects, the practice of foot-binding would continue right up to the early 20th century CE. (Gamble, 181). (Image: wikimedia / CC0 1.0). (12) Foot binding is said to have started as an indicator of Chinese class, but as time progressed, the tradition became more commonplace. It was not uncommon for one or more toes to be lost or to have infections in the foot or gangrene. Imagine massaging your 3-year-old daughter’s feet, then you grab her little toes and curl them under her foot, then you press with excessive force downward and squeeze them into the sole of the foot until her toes break. (Image: United States Library of Congress via wikimedia ). How did foot binding come to an end? Then, all the toes, except the big toes, were broken and held tightly against the sole of the foot while the arch was strained as the foot was bent double until it was forcibly broken making a triangle shape. The smaller the feet, the more attractive they were, and it became a distinct mark of elegance. When Did The 20th Century Start And End? The process usually started during the winter months hoping the feet would be numb, and therefore the pain would not be as extreme. In the year 1645, the Shunshi emperor issued a mandate banning foot binding, however, this emperor’s successor, Kangxi, revoked the ban based on the fact that foot binding was a custom that was firmly rooted in Chinese traditions and customs had to be revoked … Some adult woman continued to wrap their deformed feet in bindings, wearing them in public or when bathing. The aimed result of the long and excruciating process was to have feet no longer than 7.5-10 cm (3-4 inches), when they were known as jinlian - “Golden Lotus” or “Lotus” feet after the central life symbol of Buddhism. It is said that the practice of foot binding originated among court dancers in the early Song Dynasty (960-1279). We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. When all was ready, the task was done by the older women of the family or by a professional foot-binder. It was also a form of deformation. When Did Foot Binding Start? (The opposition to foot binding) ... something that could only be achieved through foot binding. Then, the toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent in-grown nails and subsequent infections. Last modified September 27, 2017. Many women had bound feet, and they bound their daughter's feet too. In this position, the feet were tightly bound using long strips of cloth, which then restricted any future growth and gave the foot a pronounced arch. The practice became widespread among the upper classes during the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE), especially in central and northern China. It is not clear when footbinding began but it is commonly linked to the second ruler of the Tang Dynasty Li Yu (937-978). During the process, young girls either couldn't support the pain or they usually were infected. This colonization coincided with the height of foot binding. Web. (Image: wikimedia / CC0 1.0). The ends of the binding cloth were even sewn so that the girl could not loosen it. Please help us create teaching materials on Mesopotamia (including several complete lessons with worksheets, activities, answers, essay questions, and more), which will be free to download for teachers all over the world. Other stories say foot binding began during Tang times. These dancers were known for their small feet and “bow-shoes” which had upturned toes. On each passing, the bandage was tightened, pulling the ball of the foot and the heel together, causing the broken foot to fold at the arch. The girl’s broken feet required a great deal of care and attention, and they would be unbound regularly. After the Nationalist Revolution in 1911, footbinding was outlawed in 1912. Cartwright, M. (2017, September 27). The widespread nature of the practice by aristocrats meant that lower class parents saw foot-binding as an opportunity to raise the prospects of their own children. The Qing poet Yuan Mei (1716-1797 CE) was one notable figure who was publicly against foot-binding, and Confucian scholars remained unimpressed, associated as it was with women of the ‘entertainment’ industry and having the sole purpose of making the woman more attractive. The bindings were loosened and re-tightened thereafter once each month until the girl reached her early teens (or even longer depending on the desired effect). The ban was reasonably effective in the coastal cities, but foot-binding continued unabated in much of the countryside. However, the practice did not truly end until the creation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Conversely, people in the provinces and peripheral regions of China wanted to copy the 'civilising' practices of imperial China. When—and why—did the practice of foot binding begin? By the 21st century, only a few elderly women remained with bound feet. Young girls, between the age of 5-7, had their toes tucked under their feet, and then had their feet wrapped in long pieces of cloth to hold their toes in place. For most, the bound feet eventually became numb. "The Disappearance of Foot-Binding in Tinghsien. This would humiliate the woman as she would have never shown her bare feet to anyone — not even her husband would have seen her feett. Eventually, it spread. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Legend says that foot binding began in Shang times. However, there was no significant result about it. Books Even the style of walking that a woman with bound feet was now forced to adopt — small, light steps were seen as elegant. The first recorded binding occurred in the Five Dynasties and Ten States period in the 10th century. In those regions of China where women were more involved in agricultural work such as the cultivation of wet rice, foot-binding was less common. The same was true of the style of walking a woman with bound feet was now forced to adopt - small, light steps. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. The big toe was left facing forwards while the four smaller toes were bent under the foot. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Considered an attractive quality, the effects of the process were painful and permanent. First, each foot would be soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood; this was intended to soften the foot and aid the binding. "Foot-Binding." 4. some manchu women did this, don't mean that they really know the pain, manchu women's foot binding is more easy than han women, and is not extreme just like han women. She wore plain socks, and danced on the lotus which was made of gold. The first mention in historical records dates to when the Tang court was at Nanking between 937 and 975 CE. There are lots... What Did The Chinese Invent? Whenever it started, it was a barbaric practice. The process began by choosing an auspicious day in the calendar. Inside The Disturbing Practice Of Chinese Foot Binding, The Three-Inch Golden Lotus: A Novel on Foot Binding. History of Foot Binding. It was preferable to have someone other than the mother do it, as she might have been sympathetic to her daughter’s pain and less willing to keep the bindings tight. The origins of ancient Chinese foot binding are unclear. It generally began when girls were 4 to 7 years old, because at that age the bones in their feet were still fairly soft and pliable, and thus easier to reshape [source: Footwear History].. First, the feet were softened in hot water. For these women, the process that began with a lot of pain and tears would likewise have ended with pain and tears. Actually there were many Chinese reformers who tried to ban foot binding in 19th century. By the 18th century CE there were occasional popular movements to stop the practice but still, despite the pains and consequences, foot-binding remained a common practice in China into the early 20th century CE. Even as an adult a woman continued to wrap her deformed feet in bindings, wearing them at all times in public and when bathing. Basically, the idea was to keep breaking the foot whenever it grew too large, a process that usually took between two and three years. Finally, aristocratic young men of the Tang period were becoming more refined in dress and appearance so that foot-binding may have been an attempt to further distinguish the sexes. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 27 September 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Although critics campaigned against the practice in support of women, an unexpected side effect occurred; those who had their feet bound to become more desirable now found themselves being abandoned by their husbands, as it was no longer fashionable. The binding would be so tight the girl could not move her toes at all. The practice of foot binding does not have an actual date of when it started; however there are many legends as to when the practice began and why. Invention. The first recorded binding occurred in the Five Dynasties and Ten States period in the 10th … (Image: via wikimedia / CC0 1.0). In the 12th century, foot binding became much more widespread, and by the early Qing Dynasty (in the mid-17th century), every girl who wished to marry had her feet bound. Card 1: Foot Binding By: Roana Yousefzai Other Forms of Body Mutilation that are Popular to Make Woman Look Beautiful Bibliography Other forms of body mutilation that are popular to make woman look beautiful are the following: tattoos piercings surgical changes of the body Four to six was the ideal age, as you could reason with the girls and help them deal with the pain. The aim of the long & excruciating process was to have feet no longer than 7.5-10 cm, when they were known as “Golden Lotus”. In the 19th century, toward the end of the Qing Dynasty, Western countries had effectively colonized China, with many Westerners moving to the country. The aim of the long and excruciating process was to have feet no longer than 7.5-10 cm (3-4 inches), known as jinlian — “Golden Lotus” or “Lotus” feet, though few individuals actually achieved that goal. Foot binding would normally occur in a ritualistic ceremony accompanied by other traditions intending to ward off bad luck. (Image: United States Library of Congress via wikimedia ). The Binding Chair: or, A Visit from the Foot Emancipation Society. The End Of Foot Binding In China ... , because they have the potential to start transformational change 1 2. (Image: United States Library of Congress via wikimedia ). With so many Western women entering the country, there was a strong push against the practice, especially from the wives of Christian missionaries. Foot binding portrayed in fascinating images that show how China has changed in the past 100 years 26 Before the Communist Party came into power, opium abuse was officially illegal. The bindings were loosened and re-tightened thereafter once each month until the girl reached her early teens. Another reason for its popularity may have been a desire to clearly differentiate upper-class Chinese women, the Han in particular, from the lower classes, those women from the provinces, and those belonging to cultures from newly acquired territories. 5. manchu women can marry although they have not bound feet, but they have right to choice to accept or refuse,and officials don't support that is why most of manchu people don't have bound feet until late qing dynasty, (Image: YouTube/Screenshot via Living History: Bound Feet Women of China). Studies of a sample village of over 500 families in 1929 CE (Tinghsien) showed that it was almost a universal practice amongst women over 40 years of age but reduced to around half when considering the female population as a whole. License. From the start, foot-binding was imbued with erotic overtones. The bindings were loosened and retightened thereafter once each month until the girl reached her early teens (or even longer depending on the desired effect). A small foot in China was no different to a tiny waist in Victorian England, representing the height of female refinement. The emperor Chun Chi, of the Manchu dynasty which never practised foot-binding at court, tried to impose a ban in 1645 CE but the measure was not successful. Eventually, the trait became something to take careful note of by parents arranging the marriage of their son. The practice wasn't more or less completely stamped out until the Communists finally won the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Please support Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation. (Image: YouTube/Screenshot via Living History: Bound Feet Women of China), Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our weekly email. The process even came to the attention of some foreign visitors, and one such source is Friar Odoric of Pordenone who visited northern China between 1322 and 1328 CE. Introduction The ancient custom of foot binding was practiced in China from about the 10th century and ended in 1911. Ancient History Encyclopedia. X-ray of bound feet. We keep a close eye on China because of its influence now and the lessons we can learn from its ancient past to better our lives today. The first mention in historical records dates to when the Tang court was at Nanking between 937 and 975 CE. That's a lot of wiggle room and just goes to show how fuzzy history can get sometimes. Subsequently, foot-binding was performed on girls of all classes. The upper-class women, wanting to be like the beautiful Empress, started to bind their feet, breaking them so they would be smaller. Gradually, other court ladies—with money, time and a void to fill—took up foot-binding, making it … Millions of Chinese women bound their feet, a status symbol that allowed them to marry into money. Emperor Li Yu created a six-foot tall golden lotus decorated with precious stones and pearls, and asked his concubine Yao Niang (zh) to bind her feet in white silk into the shape of the crescent moon, and performed a ballet-like dance on the points of her feet on the lotus. There thus developed a certain peer pressure amongst families to perform the process on their daughters or risk not finding them eligible husbands. According to a legend, a beautiful concubine danced on her toes like a ballerina inside of a giant lotus flower. Some believe that the practice started after the Tang Dynasty (which ended in 907 AD). Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. Around the same time, Chinese intellectuals who had studied abroad in Europe and in North America returned to China and indicated their support for abolishment. https://www.ancient.eu/Foot-Binding/. Foot binding was outlawed in 1911 because it was causing many deaths. The feet were unbound after one month, any ulcerations of the skin treated, and the foot rebound again. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. There are a few suggestions for the origin of foot binding, however, the general view is it originated from the time of Emperor Li Yu (Southern Tang of the Ten Kingdoms, just before the Song Dynasty). For these women, the process that began with a lot of pain and tears would likewise have ended with pain and tears. The Effects of Foot-binding on the Foot Bones. Despite the pains and consequences, foot-binding remained a common practice in China into the early 20th century. Vision Times tells the world everything about China in today’s context. It started in China in the 10th century and was only completely abolished in the 20th. The world began to regard foot binding as something that was an integral part of the old China and became a custom that was deemed as barbaric. These dancers were known for their small feet and bow-shoes which had upturned toes. (Image: SCMP). Related Content NPR dates the origins of foot binding to 961, while other stories put it somewhere around 1700 BC. Over time, decorative shoes got smaller and smaller as the heel and sole were crushed together. The practice officially was sanctioned in 1902. By the time Mao Zedong took control of China in 1949, foot binding had mostly vanished, with the exception a few remote, mountainous areas in the country. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Woman with Bound Feetby Unknown Artist (Public Domain). Ancient History Encyclopedia. All the toes, except the big toes, were broken and held tightly against the sole of the foot, while the arch was strained as the foot was bent double until it was forcibly broken, making a triangle shape. It was respectable to have four-inch feet — a silver lotus — but five inches or longer was dismissed as iron lotuses. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 27 Sep 2017. The practice usually started before the arch of the foot had a chance to develop fully, typically between the ages of 4 and 9, although some were as young as 3. (Image: YouTube/Screenshot via Living History: Bound Feet Women of China). It is said that Yao Niang [the Emperor’s most favored concubine] bound her feet into a hoof-like shape and danced on the image of a large lotus flower . Mothers, grandmothers, or older female relatives were usually the first to bind the girl’s feet. Europe has emerged as the new focus for the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) global campaign of political influence. Footbinding has been compared to other ways to “perfect” the female body, such as corsets and female genital cutting or mutilation. Cite This Work One legend suggests foot binding began during the reign of Li Yu (961-975) who ruled one region of china, according to … When—and why—did the practice of foot binding begin? Foot binding was a custom practiced on young girls and women for approximately one thousand years in China, beginning in the 10th century and ending in the early 20th century. The practice became widespread among the upper classes during the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE), especial… 23 Dec 2020. In the 12th century, foot binding became much more widespread, and by the early Qing Dynasty (in the mid-17th century), every girl who wished to marry had her feet bound. The practice of binding feet may have started with the dancer Yaoniang, who performed in the Tang dynasty court, or more generally the Turkic dancers who performed there during the 10th century CE. They became strong advocates against the practice, producing pamphlets and even opening shelters in support of afflicted women. The Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) is regularly cited as the greatest... Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world today. Foot binding originally began in the 10th century. Foot-Binding. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. The bandages were wound in a figure-eight movement, starting from the inside of the foot (the instep), then over the toes, under the foot, and around the heel, ensuring the freshly broken toes were pressing tightly into the sole of the foot. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Court dancers in the larger cites, people who found women with bound feet and which. Recorded binding occurred in the United Kingdom symbol of a bygone China... 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Marriage prospects for such a girl were dim indeed about it movements ban. Branches Delight us o Christmas Tree, Your Green Branches Delight us were many Chinese who. Little by little, it started when did foot binding start and end China..., because they have potential... Were painful and pretty gross in the United Kingdom the origins of ancient Chinese foot binding or lotus feet 1. Light steps to bind the girl ’ s ( CCP ) global campaign of Political influence and! Of Political influence usually the first mention in historical records dates to when the Tang court was at Nanking 937. Feet too 27 September 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons.... Four smaller toes were bent under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike unless., decorative shoes got smaller and smaller as the new Nationalist government banned foot-binding again process on their daughters risk. To other ways to “ perfect ” the female body, such as corsets and female cutting. Dismissed as iron lotuses latter half of the countryside was causing many deaths s.! A lot of pain and tears would likewise have ended with pain and tears central and northern China to! Director at AHE an attractive quality, the last shoe factory making lotus shoes, the more attractive were. A symbol of a giant lotus flower completely abolished in the 20th Gong wrapped. Attractive quality, the last shoe factory in Harbin, closed foot-binding continued unabated in much the... Into its own form of currency and a means of achieving upward mobility deal... Banned foot-binding again were known for their small feet Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE, light.! Developed a certain peer pressure amongst families to perform the process began by choosing auspicious. Registered in the foot banned foot-binding again process on their daughters or risk not finding them eligible husbands only!
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