I've added som new info, since I last poted this. Comments and additional information is welcome.
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Punishment of feet
Compiled by John "Pohlman" (pohlman@astro.uu.se)
I have spent some time gathering information concerning the concept of punishments applied to the soles of the feet, both in the context of "real" punishments and as BDSM play. It seems somhow, to have been put in to "common knowledge" that the Arabs punish on the soles of the feet, and it is not uncommon to see references to it in BDSM context. I wanted to find out a bit more about this form of punishment. One person told me that showing the soles of the feet is a strong signal of submission, like when a dog exposes it's throat, and to be punished on the soles is even stronger humiliation. Most (male) foot fetishists, however, wants to be dominated, and rather punished, BY a foot than the other way around. I've been mainly concerned with whipping and canings of the soles. Tickling have not been given the attention, it deserves. I have recieved some comments and I have tried to collect them here, as well as references to books, stories and movies e.t.c. If you have comments or information, please let me know.
I have found two specific names for this during my investigation. First, there is the "falanga, falaq" or "falaka" from the Persian gulf area. Second, there is the "bastinado" which seems to be the european variant. It seems to be a Spanish word, and means "to beat with a stick". I've also read one interpretation which says that the "bastinado" is the stock, to which the feet are tied while the soles are caned. Bastinado was used during the Inquisition. People also were tickled to death, the during Inquisition! I've also found out that spanking the soles should be a standard form of correction in Asia, China to be specific, to be compared with the "western" spanking on the bottom. I heard that still half the domestic spankings in china are on the feet. I still need to find out much more about the Chinese discipline. The "falanga" seems to be the generic name for beatings of the soles, if we look in the torture department. Still today it is used in a number of countries, by secret military police e.t.c. Heavy implements from sticks to iron pipes are used to beat the soles for long periods of time. When the victim stops screaming a heavier implement is used. I've seen indications that falanga is used in around 30% of all torture. Some countries still have corporal punishments as a "legal" punishment, but only Iran seems to include bastinado, which was said to have been reintroduced by Iatollah Komenhi in 1983? I don't want to dwell longer on the torture part. I find the historical details more interesting.
~From: KUJMAN@aol.com (Kurt Jelinek) Yes, I have uncovered a wonderful amount of actual historical infomation over the years, having been into foot torture since a child. As I described last time, in order to perform at medieval faires you must first create an ACTUAL character... after all, you are recreating life as it was in the middel ages for thousands of visitors who pay good money to attend. There can be no mistakes, second guessing, or "artistic license" so to speak (although we DO take some license when necessary, but everything can be backed up by fact!). In China for example, there were actual racks designed to hold and isloate the bottoms of the feet for torture: they resembled the stocks we have made and used at times with the feet together and toes tied back, hands to either side. They did use extensive toe bondage (feet were humilating and disrespectful to show-off: thus the humliation was twofold). We have recreated this both in public and in private, often combining the Chinese methods and our own. In China, another plank of wood or metal was lowered behind the toes. In this wood or metal were many holes in which rough twine was laced through and around each toe, pulling them taut to the wood or metal, thus totally immobilizing the feet for torture. We, of course do the same today, with more refined methods. From the 6th dynasty, many court record copies still exist which demonstrate the Chinese cruelty to the bare feet. In fact, some Tickling-the-feet type tortures from this peroid in Chinese history have even been quoted by American columnist Ann Landers!! Far more males and young boys were tormented this way in comparison to women, and foot torture was usually done in full court for members of the Chinese royalty. Often the young children of the royal elite were allowed to "play" with the victims to occupy them.This may seem strange in todays standards where "torture" is never heard of here in the USA.. But at THAT time it was an accepted, and very common, practice... just another everyday factor of life. And the Chinese prided themselves with developing new tortures that seldom left any marks, but were as painful as as could be survived. The bottoms of feet were targets of insane, intense tickling. Not playful with feathers for the most part, but rather sadistic with stiff pieces of bamboo shoots (some of which wound up under the toe-nails and set afire!). The stretched soles were methodically raked up and down virtually non-stop until the person simply couldn't breathe anymore and often fainted. To revive the victims, a method called "star-kicking" was employed: this was simply pieces of straw or paper placed between the toes and lit with a flame and allowed to burn down to the toes as the victim howled back into consciousness. The above tortures were used primarily for "lighter offenses of the Empire" and were administered by both male and female tortureres, some of the female torturess being only 14 years old! The bastinado of the soles was carried out upon a victim in a similar device, or upon what was called a "Ying-loo": the victim was wrapped in wet burlap and twine from shoulder to knees, layed facedown upon the floor, and feet strapped heavily to a couple of beams resembling a small fence. One beam, a few inches off the floor, allowed the knees to be tied to it. The other beam, two feet off the floor, was for holding strapped ankles. The feet were bared, toes tied to another cross beam which was then stretched taut via a pulley system, just short of dislocating the toes... but making the soles so wonderfully vulnerable to the bamboo cane, switch, hot coals, heated coins (which other royal members would toss trying to land a hot coin upon a helpless sole as a game!), and of course itching powder. Sometimes the victim was left that way for hours awaiting his or her fate. The waiting and panic in itself was a torture! The intensity of bastinado depended upon the "crime". If severe, bamboo canes that had been soaked in water were used (much as it is done today) and as much as 100 swats at a time could be delivered to each poor bare sole. A smaller offense might bring 25 swats using a "switch"... made up from many small shoots of bamboo tied together at the base (we have one of these!!). Or for showing disrespect, hot coals could be laid across the immobile soles as the skin seared. In between the torture, during a small rest from the swats, "itching powder" was often smeared into puffy, red swollen soles.. and the victim allowed to writhe in torment as the soles are engulfed in the itching and "biting of a thousand fire ants!"... the latter torment also being used by the small children upon a victim left bound for their amusement. I have seen actual ink drawings and wood engravings depicting these and will dig some up for future use in the newsletter. To give you an actual case history to dream of: there was a young servant woman (no age recorded other than young) and a young water boy (15) who were accused of taking food following a court banquet of some interest. If memory serves me right, this was actually recorded and witnessed by (or told to) Marco Polo. They were placed into the stocks mentioned earlier, and fastened tightly. For each morsal of food deemed missing, they were sentenced to 10 swats with a switch. They sat fastened in full view of the passing court (who paid little attention to such a common site) for the entire day as royal children used them for torment and play. It was reported that the screams of their laughter from the tickling fingers of children (whom I can tell you, from actual experience in public Renfairs, are THE most sadistic!!) could be heard well outside the palace walls by their loved ones. Tickling was the least of their worries, however, as their bare feet were abused with small, long "balsa-paddles", and burned lightly with "scorch-sticks" (I believe these to be long burning sticks of incense). At the end of the day, the bastinado was carried out, and many times they fainted. They were allowed to rest for the night (still in stocks) with itching powder applied to the toes and soles. The punishment was finished in the morning, and neither could walk away when finished. These two were "traded" afterwards... and one wishes they were alive today to tell their tale!! One side note: the girl was punished extra with "toe-pinchings" with a pliers-type device for having her second toe longer than her big toe, a sign of lowliness in China... and indeed this was also carried out into medieval and colonial times even with lowliness being swapped for a sign of the devil! Well, I hope I haven't bored anyone with too many details and have given you a taste of actual history. We recreate many of these tortures in public at Renfairs. Few people realize that we are REALLY doing these tortures t one another. Of course when we get visitors in the stocks, while we DO torment them, we limit ourselves severely. We have also actually used goats to lick honey off soles in public...... THAT is MURDER!! But more on that another time. It is pure panic to have someone douse your soles with itching powder after being locked in stocks in public, with the whole world staring at the bottoms of your bare feet.. then watch them leave you there as they walk away... knowing there is no hope of rescue. Aside from feathers hanging on hooks, there are also wooden cooking spoons for beating the soles... as well as a proclamation (in rhyme) telling all who pass to beat the soles till puffy and red... and most DO! Such is the case for "roasting the soles". Originating in Germany circa 1200, it was called "Der Fusseboden Verbrennin" and "Das Gerostet von Nacktfuss".. a most dreaded torture as under the guidence of a skilled tormentor it could be continued for days. The bare feet locked in stocks (body manacled to chair affixed to the stocks) are basted with animal fat or grease to prolong the agony and lengthen the burning as a brazen of hot coals is placed directly in front of the bottoms of the feet anf the feet allowed to "roast" until the victim confessed, or burned alive. Women were especially prone to fall prey to this torture during witch trials of the Inquisition. However today, with saftey in mind but no less sadism, we have refined this in private. The feet locked in, toes tied, feet sprayed with baby oil.... and a heat lamp placed cruelly close... and the feet allowed to "cook" until the victim "breaks" and panics or whatever it takes to create that excite for all! Especially on the bench we have, you are forced to watch your own soles cook!
~From: perone@prometheus.hol.gr (perone) Third name: In my country, Greece, we call it 'fallaggas' (I think it is similar to 'falaka' from Persian gulf). We have learnt it from the Turks. When Turkie had occupied Greece (the occupation ended in 1821), 'fallagas' was a common form of punishment of the turkish occupation goverment. After 1821, we have also used it at schools for the naughty pupils. I think it was mainly boys that suffered from 'fallagas'. Nowadays, it has been mentioned that it is still in use by the police and the secret military forces of Greece, of course illegally. I don't know about the schools (it has been abolished many many years ago) but generally the feet are tied on a long rod (sometimes two rods were used-feet hel between them) which is being held by two other persons. In the army (yes, it has also been used there as a punishment) feet were tied on a gun.
~From: wi.4176@wizvax.com "According to a semi-recent article in Child Abuse & Neglect, small rattan switches are routinely used on children in Hong Kong. Such switches are sold in the market places. Apparently they can be very painful. The article stated that it is common for adults to identify corporal punishments with such implements as the most painful experiences of their childhoods."
~From: wi.3459@wizvax.com "Years ago I was a teacher in a middle-Eastern country which has since fallen into anarchy and disarray. I taught at a boys' school, grades 6, 7, and 8, where I had several opportunities to witness coroporal punsihment as administered there. In the second instance, a boy who had gotten in trouble for a long string of misdeeds was caned on the soles of the feet in the school courtyard during a regular class period. Since most rooms faced on the courtyard, we all could see and hear the punishment. Two of the school janitors held his feet up in the air with a rope tied around his ankles, and the school's assistant head caned him for at five or ten minutes while the boy, about 13, yelled and writhed on the ground, frequently pulling the rope from the hands of the men who tried to hold him in place. He probably received forty or fifty strokes with the same sort of thick cane used on the boys mentioned before. I had to stop teaching, because the boy's howling was obviously genuine and impossible to ignore. I mentioned to my students that I felt the punishment was very severe and I was distressed to watch. The students said I was a nice person because I was soft-hearted."
Bastinado is not an "invention" soley from China or the Middle East.
~From: Anonymous source I know something about what you write about. For centuries three tribes of North American indians fought each other and there was some enslavement. Bastinado was the tool used to keep the captives in line. Male, Female. It made no difference the pain and having to crawl for weeks reminded one of their status. The indians here took Bastinado a step further. They had a way of using a knife to slash the soles. Cutting grooves to retard healing. Prolonging the misery and pain. For nearly 700 years, the three tribes were at almost constant war with each other. This was in between the years 670 AD and 1300 AD. This was long before a European ever knew this land existed. the wars had been passed down thru the generations with the real root cause all but forgotton. The males killed each other off in great numbers. Women and children were enslaved by each others tribe. The heredatiry hate was almost constant. The women of the three tribes met in secret with each other. They were tired of seeing thier husbands, sons, brothers etc. killing each other. They decided to take drastic action. The women outnumbered the men and revolted against them. In the middle of the night, the men were bound hand and foot by the women and were made aware that the women had enough. The women were taking over leadership of all three tribes. The men who dared object had thier feet cut off. They spent the remainder of their lives weaving baskets. The men were very plainly informed that they were to live in peace or die by the hands of the women. Some of the men were killed, I understand. I also understand that the new ways did catch on. Those ways are still practiced. They do not kill men anymore. Any man there who chooses not to follow the rules is expelled and must go to live in the white mans cities and never return. The women still have no qualms about using any means they want to keep the men in line. Many generations of this lifestyle has taken a great deal of the fight out of the men. From young boys they are taught to obey females. Bastinado is the most common form of punishment used. I have wittnessed and received this kind of punishment many times. the mental effect is amazing. You will do anything you can to avoid it after one of their treatments. Bastinado is a public event. Every Wedensday night, men and boys who dared offend any woman of the tribe were taken to the plaza. There were poles in the ground about 4 feet high and 8 to 10 inches in diameter. At the top edge of the poles were straps to hold ankles. The men were placed on their bellies with their ankles secured to the poles. Any woman who had a grievience could use a wooden rod or switch about 1/4 inch in diameter on the soles of the hapless man. This still goes on today.
Here's parental foot discipline. An extract from the true story "My Childhood Footwhippings".
~From: wizard2@buffnet.net, (MistressK): After about 15 lashes into the my one foot I began to move to much,and that really made things worse. Mom said that we would finish this upstairs in her room. When I got up ther I was told to lie on my back on the bed,and mom tied my feet in the air about a foot off the edge to each post. She said to me that because I had moved that I was to get 75 lashes starting from the beginning on each foot. She took the belt and whipped first 10 on one foot then moved to the other. She whipped me for about 45 minutes till she had done all 75 on both of my feet. One of her friends said that that looked liked a good way to punish. So mom asked if she would like to give 10 more on each foot,just to see how she liked it. So she said that she would like to use the ruler,mom said that was fine with her. So she took the ruler and gave me 10 more on each sole till my feet were so red and sore that I couldnt walk for two days.
~From: an212334@anon.penet.fi "The beating of the soles is known as bastinado, in europe, and falaq, or falaka in parts of the Persian gulf area. While I was in Saudi Arabia during the gulf war, I came acrossed a shop that sold elegent crop-like "falakas" with which a man would punish a disobediant wife. The falaqas were from about 18" to a meter of rhinocerous hide wrapped in a spiral, or braided. I think that there might've been a dowel, or switch inside, but I'm not certain. They were usually dyed red or a kind of amber/yellow, sometimes forest green, and had a brass, or gold statue, or knob on the thickest end, with a wrist-loop."
I have got many responces where people states that great caution must be taken when dealing with punishments on the feet. This is certainly, fully in order, and I think that many people are frightened by the brutality of the oriental bastinado.
~From: Janet W. Hardy (verdant@crl.com) "*PLEASE* play very cautiously with spanking on feet or hands. The Asian and Arab tortures you've read about frequently leave their victims crippled for life. Hands and feet are astonishingly complex mechanisms, full of tiny fragile bones and tendons and such. Most people I know won't allow themselves to be struck on either the hands or the feet. If you really want to experiment, try something very lightweight and stingy (a slender switch cut from a tree or some such) that will not injure muscle or bone."
~From: andreasman@aol.com (AndreasMan) "Yes, great care should be taken with the feet! Heavy beating of the feet is an old and vicious practice of several secret police & military forces. Those familiar with Reflexology will know that most of the bodies nerve systems have endings there - hence severe beatings of the feet have resulted in substantial damage to the person as a whole."
A lot of people are frightened by this, but some seem to like it.
~From: UGMS07D@prodigy.com (Emily Pagiel) "I'm a drafter/designer by trade and built a pair of foot stocks for his birthday a couple of years ago. They've been put to good use as he secures me in their padded grip for some of the more intense foot play. They also protect the ankles and the rest of my foot when he is slapping at the tender soles with a riding crop or soft leather whip."
~From: UGMS07E@prodigy.com (Spenser Affleck) "Scuse me.... but I've got one who does! My lady enjoys (and I mean that in the fullest sense of the word) having her soles and toes treated to, among other things: -- tickle torture -- clothespins on each toe -- heated by a portable hair dryer -- chilled immediately by ice cubes -- moderate "bastinado" with crops, tapping with canes, and short rubber and leather cats. She also enjoys them rubbed, fondled, massaged, and kissed!"
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Books:
~From: an194776@anon.penet.fi "PEGASUS IN FLIGHT, by ANNE MCCAFFERY, it's towards the end...the one girl who is telepathic gets bastinadoed by some arab dude... the girl is the crippled boy's friend; i think that his name is Peter..."
~From: llori@aol.com (LLori) "There are several very sexy books by Beartrice Small that have scenes in them about spanking the soles of the feet. The books are Skye Omally. They are romance novels. There are 5 in the series but I think only the second one has feet scenes."
~From: Aegis62@aol.com (Mark Williams) "I have read a few stories on the bastinado in books by the late F.E. Campbell some paperbacks sold through Hom Inc. books are listed as HIT 100-211 each has a title as well. They are sold through Hom Inc. Below are just a few titles I know for sure that deal with foot punishment": hit 147 Captured hit 152 Pasty Pendleton hit 162 praire prisoner hit 164 pandora hit 210 compelled by bondage hit 211 submissive of the castle You can write to H.O.M. INC PO BOX 7302 VAN NUYS CA 91409 USA
~From: klaus@diku.dk (Klaus Ole Kristiansen) "There is a scene in 1001 Nights where the caliph is bored. An advisor tells of this really funny street comedian he has seen, and the caliph orders him to go get him. When he finds him, he promises to take him to the caliph for 1/3 of the take. Awed by performing for the caliph himself, the comedian is not funny at all. Anoyed, the caliph orders him to make him laugh or get beaten. This doesn't help at all, of course, and the caliph orders the comedian given a certain number of stick blows to the soles of his feet. When he has got 2/3, he explains that the advisor should get the rest. This makes the caliph laugh, and the comedian gets paid and leaves. AFAIR the advisor doesn't get beaten."
Apparently there's foot punishments in various BDSM movies and magazines. These are often rather brief and poorely performed scenes, unfortionately. There are a few video references, but I haven't been able to check out any of them myself.
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Movies:
In "The adventures of Baron von Munchasen"? the sultans cook gets 20 strokes on the soles.
There is a brutal bastinado scene (M) in "The midnight express".
~From: Anonymous Another bastinado in the forbidden film "The Wall"of the Turkish film director Gilmaz Giunei (I don't know if I have spelled it right)
~From: Anonymous In "Slave Girls of Sheba" a woman is beaten on the soles, by the caliph, and "Adventures of Hajii Baba" also have foot whipping.
~From: Anonymous In the movie "Autumn born" Dorothy Stratton (some, in real life playmate, that was later killed by her jealous boyfriend), gets bastinadoed by blackmailers.
~From: Anonymous The movie "Eleni" has a foot torture scene in it. Its stars John Malkovich and is about the greek civil war during wwII (please excuse if my history is wrong, I can't exactly remember the plot of the movie). The woman protagonist is tortured with a heavy flat club to the soles of the feet. It is pretty brutal. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stories:
I have found a few stories on a.s.s, usually, that involves foot punishments.
"Punishment night", by Andrew John Conway (conway@bdt.com) is available from the Louvre, The maid gets a couple of licks of the riding crop on her soles.
"What she needed was a good foot Spanking!", true story by John Marcovitz (JohnM23357@aol.com) was posted on a.s.f.f some time ago.
"The bitch" and "Sonja", by Mark Williams (Aegis62@aol.com), involves bastinado.
"Sabrina's First Bastinado" a true one from an37177@anon.penet.fi (I.M. Profane). A young girls feet are cropped.
"Punished toes" by Donna Freeman (alegend@delphi.com). A woman gets what the title says.
In the follow up, "My Agony", The titular character Donna is bastinadoed.
"Progress" by Francis R. (an60355@anon.penet.fi), Long story (250K), with a short sequence, where a Japanese girl is caned on her soles.
In "Holly's Home Invasion" by an128592@anon.penet.fi a girl gets her feet tortured.
"Princess Charming" by an268488@anon.penet.fi (TruthHurts). A girl gets her feet burned.
"Agony in Pink" by an128592@anon.penet.fi (The Dark Ranger) is a foot torture classic.
"Diane", by sd@magenta.com (Steven S. Davis) contains a scene in which the titular character is severely bastinadoed. Available from the Louvre.
In "Stop", also by Steven S. Davis, a woman gets to chose between tickling or caning of her soles.
"My Childhood Footwhippings" is a short but very true story by MistressK, (wizard2@buffnet.net), about her mother strapping her bare feet.
In "Terror on the Farm", by BreeannaD (breeannad@aol.com), a teenage girl gets her bare foot, whipped with a paint-stirrer.
Jenny's Story - Lisa Takes Charge. A riding crop is used to whip girls soles. By Marlboro Man.
ABSOLUTE SUBMISSON, by an126791@anon.penet.fi (JWJ), containes enslavement of a female, and she is punished with a bastinado.
Two, I wrote myself, "The Sole Discipline" and "Isabelle", where girls are being disciplined on the soles of their feet. (pohlman@astro.uu.se)
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Images:
BDSM oriented BBSes sometimes have a few pics, showing feet being punished. I have a few GIFs and JPEGS myself.
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Mailing list:
We (some 40 people) have a M/L devoted to the concept of foot discipline. The FDML. This includes anything from tickling and bondage to caning of feet. I should mention that the "orientation" of the list is towards M/f or F/f. If you're interested, contact me (pohlman@astro.uu.se).
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Thats what I collected so far. I intend to get more.