Footbinding was a practice adopted by many Han Chinese women from ancient to modern times, influenced by temporary public aesthetic tastes and constraints of tradditional rites and teachings. This research focuses on Shanxi, a region pivotal due to its unique geographical isolation and economic significance, exploring how geography, economic and social factors intertwined with the local custom of footbinding. This thesis integrates regional history with archaeology, presenting a combined analysis of bioarchaeological findings and cultural-historical research. The primary data for this study include female skeletal remains and grave goods from two archaeological sites in Shanxi: New University Campus Site (山西高校新校区) and Xifengbao Cemetery Site (西冯堡墓地). These are supplemented by historical texts and an examination of the local geographical conditions. Unlike current research, this thesis specifically examines the role of the Jin merchants—a prominent economic and social group during the Qing dynasty—and aims to analyze and discuss how Jin merchants' economic endeavors impacted local practices and the widespread occurrence of footbinding in the region.