191097
How far back can the origins of triads be traced
in Chinese culture and history?
Paul pawlim@mbox2.singnet.com.sg
The Chinese placed strong emphasis on companionship and brotherhood and tend to form groups wherever they go. There are mainly three types of groups that existed in China's history. The first consists of bandits or outlaws who live in the hills and supported themselves by robbing passerby. The second consists of schools of martial arts which have their own groups of students, some growing so large that their influence spread over a few provinces. The third are civilian self-help groups that consists of people in the same trade or originated from the same province.
These are the groups that traditionally existed within the Chinese society, some of which may have develop into 'triads' in our time. Their intention is to help themselves and others in need.
The first group that actually fit our ideas of 'triads' however, only appear in the Qing Dynasty, and is known as "Heaven and Earth" or "Tian Di Hui". They are the first 'underground' or 'secret' society in China. It consisted of people who wish to overthrow the Manchurian Monarchy and re-establish the Ming rulers, who are 'Han' Chinese. They have branches all over China and engaged in various anti-government activities.
The traditional Chinese groups and 'triads' are a disciplined lot. They are governed by strict internal rules and placed personal honour and honour of the groups above everything else. At heart, they are still the 'self-help' groups that existed in old China.
But time have changed and the characterises of these groups changed also, developing into the triads of today.
