Triad (organised crime)

Lore & Background

The Triad, a China-based criminal organisation, secret association, or club, was a branch of the secret Hung Society, a secret society formed with the intent of overthrowing the then-ruling Qing dynasty. Triads therefore first began as part of an organised patriotic movement to overthrow ethnic Manchu Qing rule, which was considered tyrannical and foreign to the Han ethnic majority. At the turn of the 19th century, Chinese triads were involved in revolutionary and underground activities designed to subvert the ailing Qing, which was considered corrupt and incapable of reform. Secret societies in the Qing Dynasty era were synonymous with patriotism, with groups operating under the banner of: 'Oppose the Qing and Restore the Ming dynasty' (反清复明; Fǎn Qīng Fù Míng). Triads were also enlisted by the Kuomintang (KMT) during the Republican era in order to assassinate political opponents and attack political enemies. After the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, secret societies in mainland China were suppressed in campaigns ordered by Mao Zedong. As a result, most traditional Chinese secret societies, including the triads and some of the remaining Green Gang, relocated to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and overseas countries (particularly the United States), where they competed with the Tong and other ethnic Chinese criminal organisations. Gradually, Chinese secret societies turned to the illegal drug trade and extortion for income. In mainland China, there are of two major types of 'mainland Chinese criminal organizations': loosely-organised 'dark forces' (黑恶势力; Hēi è shìlì) and more mature 'black societies' (黑社会; Hēishèhuì). Two features which distinguish a black society from ordinary 'dark forces' or low-level criminal gangs are the extent to which the organisation is able to control local markets and the degree of police protection it is able to obtain.

Reader's Guide

The triads' significance lies in their evolution from patriotic secret societies aimed at overthrowing the Qing dynasty to transnational criminal syndicates. Their historical roots in the 18th and 19th centuries, influenced by earlier White Lotus societies, reflect a complex interplay of political rebellion and organised crime. During the Republican era, triads were used by the Nationalist regime for assassinations, and after the Communist victory, they were driven to Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas Chinese communities. Their re-emergence in mainland China since the Reform and Opening Up period, alongside reported connections to the Chinese government, underscores their enduring influence. The triads' legacy includes their role in the illegal drug trade, extortion, and their adaptation to modern criminal enterprises. The generic use of 'triads' for all Chinese criminal organisations is imprecise, as triad groups are geographically, ethnically, culturally, and structurally unique, with traditional triads originating from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, while mainland Chinese criminal groups are termed 'black societies' or 'dark forces'. The triads' historical and contemporary impact on organised crime in Greater China and globally makes them a subject of ongoing study and law enforcement attention.

Did You Know?

• According to the Oxford English Dictionary, 'triad' is a translation of the Chinese term San He Hui (三合會), referring to the union of heaven, earth, and humanity.
• At the end of the 19th century, at least one-third of Hong Kong Chinese were estimated to be part of the triads.
• In the early 1980s, the Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary of Xinhua News Agency, Wong Man-fong, negotiated with Hong Kong-based triads on behalf of the government of People's Republic of China to ensure