来华传教士与近代中国的反缠足运动

Missionaries and the Anti-foot-binding Movement in Modern China

缠足陋俗在中国沿袭久远,影响甚深。近代以来,随着中国社会的急剧变化,缠足陋俗也发生了相应改变。这些变化肇始于来华传教士的努力,他们不仅大力进行反缠足舆论宣传,而且还将这些主张付诸于实践。虽说传教士的这些活动主观上是为其传教活动服务,有其局限性,然而客观上却充当了"历史不自觉的工具",推动了近代反缠足运动的开展。

The corrupt custom of foot-binding in China had a long history and a far-reaching influence. In the modern times, as Chinese society changed dramatically, the phenomenon of foot-binding also had a corresponding change. These changes began with the efforts of missionaries in China, who not only conducted vigorous propaganda, but also put these ideas into practice. Although subjectively these activities of missionaries served their missionary activity and had limitations, they objectively acted as an "unconscious historical tool" to promote the modern anti-foot-binding campaign forward.