Secret society, founded in China as a
Buddhist cult AD 36. It became known as the
Triad because the triangle played a
significant part in the initiation ceremony.
Today it is reputed to be involved in
organized crime (drugs, gambling,
prostitution) among overseas Chinese. Its
headquarters are alleged to be in Hong Kong.
In the 18th century it became political,
aiming at the overthrow of the Manchu
dynasty, and backed the Taiping Rebellion
1851 and Sun Yat-sen's establishment of a
republic 1912.