A spirited and rebellious Chinese girl born into an upper-class family in Nanjing. Unwilling to endure the pain and physical limitations of foot binding, she defies centuries of tradition. Her independence leads her to pursue a public education and chart a highly unconventional path for a woman of her era.

Ailin's intelligent father, who possesses modern sensibilities and a mild manner. Unlike the more traditional members of the household, he recognizes that China is changing and supports Ailin's desire to remain unbound and receive a public education.

A young male member of the prestigious and wealthy Liu family, originally intended to marry Ailin. He attends public school and introduces Ailin to the idea of Western education. Their engagement breaks due to her unbound feet, but he retains a lasting curiosity about her choices.

Ailin's uncle and a staunch traditionalist who favors imperialist rule and strict adherence to old customs. Crass and uncouth, he loudly opposes foreign influence, public education for girls, and Ailin's refusal to bind her feet.

Ailin's older sister, who adheres to the traditional expectations of upper-class Chinese women. She submits to the painful process of foot binding and values family standing, serving as a direct contrast to Ailin's rebellious nature.

A like-minded classmate of Ailin's at the MacIntosh School. Also possessing unbound feet, she aspires to become a doctor and remain independent rather than marry. She is proud of her large feet and shares Ailin's rebellious spirit.

An American Protestant missionary and English teacher at the MacIntosh School. As the first foreigner Ailin interacts with, she recognizes her student's talent for languages and provides crucial support and connections to the outside world.

An American missionary family residing in China, consisting of parents Timothy and Imogene and their young children, Billy and Grace. They harbor deep suspicions about Chinese culture and Confucianism, creating cultural friction with their employees.

A Chinese-American man born in San Francisco to a family that owns a Chinatown restaurant. As a working-class second son, he feels restricted by his family's business hierarchy but is deeply inspired by Ailin's fierce independence and courage.

The strict matriarch of the Tao household. She places paramount importance on the family's social standing and fiercely advocates for traditional gender roles, insisting that Ailin must have her feet bound to secure a prosperous marriage.

Ailin's mother, who enforces the household's traditional expectations. Concerned with the family's financial losses and social standing, she believes Ailin's headstrong nature and unbound feet will ruin her future prospects.

Hanwei's mother, a woman from a wealthy and traditional family. While she adheres to modern fashion in some respects, she firmly expects her future daughter-in-law to have bound feet as a mark of status and obedience.

A foreign teacher at Ailin's public school who views Chinese culture through a highly critical and prejudiced lens. She openly denigrates China's history and believes the culture is inherently oppressive to women.

The patriarch of the American missionary family that employs Ailin. He is deeply wary of Chinese philosophies, incorrectly viewing Confucianism as a heathen religion and demanding his children receive a strictly Western education.

The matriarch of the Warner family. She relies heavily on Ailin to care for her children, though she also exhibits cultural misunderstandings regarding Ailin's background and language.

The five-year-old son of the Warners. Rambunctious and unruly, he shares a kindred spirit with Ailin, who manages to soothe him using traditional Chinese stories.

The six-year-old daughter of the Warners. She is cared for by Ailin, who bribes her and her brother into good behavior with the promise of teaching them Chinese brush-painting.

Ailin's governess. Constrained by her own bound feet, she struggles to keep up with the energetic, unbound young girl and assists in the attempts to force Ailin into the foot-binding process.