³¼EXPOSED! - THE TRIADS¼ ³PART 2 - CULTURE AND HISTORY ²By ³Khul/Nerve Axis/ASCII Unlimited ¹ ³THE HIDDEN PAST ¹ The Triads are formed from the largest nation in the world, China. Originally they were nothing more than groups of people who believed in rebellion to bring the rule of China to the people itself. During the Han dynasty of 206 BC - 220 AD China began to be recognised as one big nation. Before that period, China was a collection of different provinces and religions. Even today China is not a country of the same race, in fact there are nearly 54 different races and religions evident in mainland China. There are countless more in the remoter regions of Western China. During the dynasties the Emperor ruled. Like Middle Age Kings he was revered as the son of Heaven, destined since birth to rule the people. He was absolute power and meant that the monarchy also represented a totalitarian rule. However the Emperor could not be free to mistreat his people as legends had said that if he abused his position then the people had a mandate under heaven to rebel and depose the leader. During these times earthquakers, eclipses, floods, and other natural events were often seen as a sign from the heavens that the Emperor was not doing his job, and so the people would rebel. In 9 AD a group called the "Red Eyebrows" came from Shantung and were a secret society. They played a major part in the rebellions of this period and laid the foundations for a new dynasty. However they soon found themselves hunted by the Imperial troops and had to survive as outlaws. The Red Eyebrows had put red makeup around the eyes to show that they were part of the society. The Imperial troops did the same and after infiltrating the society they were captured and massacred. This form of government based on Emperors had survived until World War II when Japan led the downfall of the Emperor. This final act meant that the last Emperor died a gardener while communism gripped the country. The film "The Last Emperor" is accurate enough and apart from a few discrepancies portrays the events accurately. Chinese communties of long ago lived on rebellion and societies. They were concerned mainly with their locality and as such groups were born to protect the interest of the locals. This was in effect an emergence of the Triads and can be seen as a form of protection racket. Chinese people also lived their lives to three religious ideals: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. This is still present today and if you see a ceremony you will see many mysterious icons, images, flags, lettering, and colours. In 170 AD a leader came from the North-Eastern regions of China. He was called Chang Cheuh (pronounced Chin Chill) and he led a huge rebellion with 36 generals. Most of northern China was under their rule, and they soon became known as the Yellow Turbans. Their reason for rebellion was first of patriotism but once in power they became more concerned with their own benefits and turned to crime. Three heroes of the war were to swear a blood oath to their criminal activities and this practice is seen in many of the criminal groups today. They became bloodbrothers. These kind of rebellions between dynasties and rebels continued right up to the twentieth century. By this stage Triad societies were firmly in operation and their influence spread around the world. Many Canadian and American Triad groups operated from Canton, a group known as the Chi Kung Tong were in charge of organisation. The "big boss" or tai-pan at this point was a man known as Sun Yat-sen who was a member of several different Triad groups. A Triad led rebellion in 1911 meant that in 1912 the Republic of China was born. Men joined the ranks of the Triads in order to progress ranks in the army and civil service and to make money. At this time people joined because of patriotism and the Triads were also in charge of China for this reason. As time progressed it slowly became clear that the Triads plunged from patriots to common criminals, and from common criminals to a syndicate of crime... ÿi01³THE TRIAD LODGE ¹ The Triads are bound together through oaths. Each Triad gang is different from the other and each gang can survive on it's own. They may not have a headquarters where orders are given but they have lodges. These lodges are often part of a mother lodge and the branching is similar to that of a tree. Generally, there is a lodge where most orders are given to the local area. When the Triads first began to turn to crime they still followed ancient ceremonies and rituals. Todays Triads will only follow tradition when it is essential - they are more concerned about making money. Every lodge is run like a monarchy and has a hierarchy: Shan Chu (Leader) | Fu Shan Chu (Assitant to leader) | Heung Chu (Incense master) | Sin Fung (Vanguard) The last two runners of the lodge are responsible for general duties such as recruitment and punishment for fellow members. Following these four are different departments, each run by it's own head. Surprisingly unlike the Mafia where rule is passed onto members, the lodge members will vote for their leaders. When a member joins he or she must pay a fee, and then obtain someone to sponsor them. This person usually has to pay a fee in excess of the original fee. Although not clearly explained it seems the sponsorer is like a guarantor when someone is on bail - after all, someone has to pay for mistakes if the culprit cannot be caught. The Incense Master and the Vanguard will check the new member thoroughly before allowing him to join. Most money handed to the lodge is stored in a fund. This fund is sometimes run by a treasurer called the Cha So. Money is supposedly meant to be used only on general consensus but stealing by members is common. This leads to the splitting of a Triad group and the development of another branch. More often than not it will result in a conflict and murder is often the only solution. Among the members there are different ranks: Red Pole, White Paper Fan, and Messenger are the main ones. In rebellious times the Red Pole was a martial arts expert, a fighter who would fight with real weapons such as swords and spears. The Red Pole was therefore natural for a leader and would often lead a "platoon" of men, sometimes as many as fifty men. Today with the disappearance of swords and spears, a Red Pole must be well versed in using a computer for hacking, cooking the books, etc. and modern weapons. These include handguns, Tommy guns, and even army issued weapons. The White Paper Fan is an educated person and is the thinker beind the running of the lodge. The Messenger is a liason or public(!) relations officer. He would collect money owed, pass messages, and liases between rival groups and internal members. Like the mysterious 424 of Virtual Dreams/Fairlight, Triad members are given numbers to represent their ranks. Most numbers if not all are generated through ancient lore on numerology. The numbers are issued as such: Shan Chu - 489 Fu Shan Chu, Incense Master, and the Vanguard - 438 Red Pole - 426 White Paper Fan - 415 Messnger - 432 There seems to be no reason as to why the numbers are given as such, only guesses can be made but the tradition continues and is accepted. Today's criminals are constantly on the move so the finding of a Triad Lodge would be rare even if one existed. In the 1950's, W.P.Morgan wrote a book on Triad societies and included a stunning description of a Triad lodge including all it's decor. Morgan states that although no offical police photos in Hong Kong have a Triad lodge on record his description is accurate as his information was gathered from arrested Triad members. Below is a simple ASCII rendition of a Triad lodge as described by Morgan. West Gate _________________________/ \_____________________ | | : : : : Incense [ Altar ] Leader Master s/ / l/ Two planked bridge Officials and / memorial tables M t a/ as on south side e a / m b c/ Stepping stones o l / r e i/ Fiery Pit i s / a f/ Heaven and Earth Circle l / f/ / O/ : : : : | | / \ South gate << Entrance no.3 >> North Gate \ / | | : : : : << Entrance no.2 >> << Entrance no.1 >> [Execution of traitors] [Banner of Triad society leader] [Recruiting banner] [Registration of recruits] : : : : |________________________ ____________________| \ / East Gate The original reports by Morgan has such a wealth of information that it would be pointless to try and recreate most of it here. You would be best gaining access to the book itself called "TRIAD SOCIETIES IN HONG KONG" by W.P.Morgan in 1960(!). ÿi02³TRIAD INITIATION ¹ This is the ceremony that will initiate you as a Triad member and membership is not to be taken lightly as it is a lifelong commitment. Many who have infiltrated the societies often find themselves having to pay the full price since they also became members. The ceremony can take between 6 to 7 hours and follows a pattern as described. First, the initiate must perform the "passing the mountain of knives". At the East gate a hand signal is given and he or she (saying he to save time from now on) must walk to an archway full of swords. There he must bow before the swords. Next he must pass beneath a yellow guaze. Yellow paper is burnt at an entrance to the lodge and he must pass beneath this and the collection of ashes that remain. This is known as the "fruit seller". Now the initiation becomes more sinister. A cockerel is decapitated and the blood is collected to show that that is the punishment for traitors to the Triad society. The initiate then has a finger pricked. The blood that flows is placed into a bowl along with wine, the cockerel's blood, spices, and the ashes of the yellow paper before being licked. The bowl is then broken to signify the breaking of one's life if they betray the society. While this ceremony is in progress, members perfrom a ritualistic dance. Chanting and recounting verses or rubrics. The ritual is complex and follows tradition hence the length of time needed. All officials or members of the Triad are expected to know the entire ceremony by heart. The burning of the yellow paper holds significance in that it is also burnt to show the forming of new Triad groups, and the joining of existing ones to form a new and stronger group. This act is not an invention of the Triads though and is found in ancient Chinese tradition. When two people agreed on a deal then they would write their names and addresses on the paper and burn it. This was to show that both persons would trust the other and keep the agreement made. During the ceremony traditional costumes are used. The Shan Chu (leader) wears a red robe and the Incense Master a white one with prayer beads. Apart from these two ranks, all others must wear a black robe in the fashion of buddhist monks. Headbands or turbans are worn with the ends at the back of the head allowed to drop onto the front shoulders. Trouser legs are folded up three folds with one leg being folded out, the other in. Shoes are removed and sandals are worn. The Vanguard carries an umbrella and whip to symbolize that he has travelled far to be here. If all this sounds crazy and wierd then remember that most of these acts are also used by the FreeMasons. In fact the act of folding the trouser legs as described is also a masonic act. Once initiated, members must communicate with each other, in and out of the lodge. There are many hand signs and code words that are used. For example, how you light a cigarette, hold your chopsticks, pay money, how you dress, how you write with a pen, and even how you hold up a cup. A finger hanging from one side of the cup or on the underside is enough of a signal to indicate that you are a Triad member. If members wish to contact one another it is not enough to rely on hand signals. Code words and phrases are used akin to spy movies where pointless questions are answered by equalling perplexing answers. All this is to ensure the secretness of the society in the same manner as the Freemasons. Many triad members will have joined for the crime aspect and as such will not be able to understand the symbolism of much of what they do. Remembering that Triads originated from groups who held patriotism, and religion quite highly it is clear that today's Triads are only holding ceremonies and rituals to give a false sense of unity between what are individual criminals. The mafia rely on the "family" image while the Triads rely on brotherhood.