CHAUSSURES GOLDEN LOTUS, WAH AIK SHOEMAKER SHOP

For two generations, the owners of this store specialize in reproductions of miniature shoes, which were intended for the concubines in particular, but also for the rich Chinese women under the manchu dynasty Ching (1644-1912). They were bandait their feet to prevent them from developing and, indeed, they remained very small. The Mandchous were treating their wives to make sure they couldn't run skirt. This practice was followed by the towkays, the new rich of Malaysia who had at all costs to imitate the noble and believed, that by turning their daughters into disabled, they would forget their origins of coolie. This practice was prohibited in 1912. Today, these tiny and fairly expensive shoes are more intended for tourists than for women at lotus feet… sorry to break the myth!