Cixi issues an edict banning foot-binding, a first for Chinese rulers.
On September 4, 1902, Empress Dowager Cixi issued an edict to ban the cultural practice of foot-binding, marking the first time a Chinese ruler formally prohibited the practice. This decree was a significant step toward reforming social customs that had subjugated women for centuries. Though enforcement varied across regions and met with resistance, the ban symbolizes Cixi's efforts to modernize Chinese society and improve women's status. This edict laid the groundwork for future reforms and highlighted her visionary leadership amid socio-political constraints.