> The problem is that I understand that they carve while holding the 
work with their feet, and I can't do that.

Chinese do use their feet often, but don't confuse Chinese traditions of 
woodwork with Japanese.  Shoot, most of the world uses feet -- useful 
appendages.

 > One is bent at the end and sharpened like a small pull knife. I 
cannot learn to use that one at all.

That one looks an awful lot like a stock maker's scraper for inletting 
barrels into the stock.  'Spect it's a scraper rather than a chisel.

 > The tools are considerably longer than western carving tools, and 
most are bent near the end.

Consider what the Chinese are carving.  There are intricate carvings of 
people, trees, buildings and streets on the two '40s vintage chests I 
have, and a long reach was required for some of the work.

 > In contrast, I have a number of Japanese carving tools, and they are 
all quite short, and do not have sockets. I can't get it together with 
the japanese carving tools either.

Again, don't confuse Japanese woodworking traditions with any other in 
the world, and especially not the Chinese or Viet-Namese.  On the other 
hand, I was given a very nice set of Japanese carving chisels, a gift 
from a man whose brother is a "Living National Treasure" maker of Noh 
masks.  They've worked fine for me.

Mike in Sacto