布履 (bù lǚ) is a classical Chinese term for 'cloth shoe' — footwear made entirely of woven fabric, typically hemp or cotton, without leather or rubber components. The character 布 (bù) means 'cloth' or 'fabric', while 履 (lǚ) is an elegant, literary word for 'shoe' or 'footwear', often appearing in formal, historical, or poetic contexts. Together, they evoke modest, traditional attire worn by scholars, monks, or commoners in pre-modern China.

Unlike modern terms like 鞋 (xié), which is neutral and general, 布履 carries a refined, slightly archaic tone and appears mainly in literature, historical dramas, or descriptions of classical aesthetics. It emphasizes simplicity, humility, and harmony with nature — values associated with Daoist or Confucian ideals. You’ll rarely hear it in everyday conversation today; instead, it’s used deliberately to evoke antiquity, rustic elegance, or moral purity.