Chinese Mafia created by Shaolin monks
No one knows the exact size of the Chinese mafia community - the triad. But given that China has the largest population, it turns out that the triad is potentially the largest mafia. And who would have thought that such an organization was created not by bandits and robbers, but by pious monks from the famous Shaolin monastery …
BI century BC, the monk Kwi Pe created a unified system of self-defense - taijiquan, or "the art of the long fist." This art was especially diligently perfected by the monks in the Shaolin monastery. In 1674, the Manchus tried to take Shaolin by storm, but 128 monks successfully defended this monastery for almost 10 years. And yet, as a result of betrayal, the citadel fell. Only five monks were able to break through from Shaolin. These "five ancestors", as they came to be called later, founded the secret society "Union of the Triad" - "Union of Earth, Man and Heaven in the name of justice."
After the Manchu power fell in 1911 and the Republic of China was proclaimed, the triad received official recognition from the newly formed government for its contribution to the national liberation struggle. But it didn't do her good. The Triad began to turn into an ordinary gangster organization, asserting its power by gangster methods.
Rite of passage
True, at the same time, the triad retained its rituals, which gave it the appearance of a kind of sacred union and a special exoticism. For example, the solemn ceremony of initiation into members of the triad has remained unchanged to this day. The neophyte first has to go through three gates in the center of the ceremonial hall. A banner with an inscription is erected over each of them.
Above the first: "This includes only virtue!"
Promotional video:
Above the second: "Before the gates of loyalty and devotion, all are equal!"
Above the third: "The path of the Han heroes runs through the heavenly and earthly circles!"
After passing through the gate, the recruit must say as many as 36 oaths. After each, he puts out the smoldering incense stick. After that, a large sheet of yellow paper is burned, emphasizing the connection between the novices and the Shaolin monks. Ashes from the paper are placed in a goblet of wine, and one of the leaders of the triad, whose position is called "Red Staff", enters the ceremonial process. He cuts off the head of the sacrificial rooster and adds its blood to the goblet of wine. Then beginners also decant a drop of their blood there. Wine with ashes and blood is poured into bowls, after draining which the candidates for the mafia become full-fledged members of the secret society.
However, in order to get to the initiation ritual, a beginner still needs to go through an interview, and then complete some "party assignment." And usually this assignment is associated with bloodshed. Often with murder. Thus, the newcomer ties himself in blood with the triad and without wine with blood.
Compromise with power
Demonstrative cruelty is the hallmark of the triad. However, the communist government managed to shrink the triad and find a compromise with it.
It cannot be said that the Chinese authorities turn a blind eye to the triad's activities, so long as it does not interfere with the implementation of the decisions of the party and government. The fight is being fought, but not particularly zealous. As a result, the total number of the modern triad is estimated at about 1.2 million people. For a long time she has been controlling all illegal business in China: trafficking in heroin, opium and weapons, transporting Russian and Ukrainian prostitutes to brothels in Hong Kong and Macau. However, the triad also controls the legal business. And not only casinos and mahjong salons. Street vendors know very well that once a month take out and put in 15% of the mafia's profits if you want to live.
The triad is well structured and conspiratorial. Until now, all positions in the hierarchy of the Chinese mafia are encrypted with specific numbers. So it is almost impossible for the police to get to the leader of the triad, called "lung tao" ("dragon's head").
Be that as it may, parity with the authorities as a whole remains. Thanks to this, on the streets of Beijing, pumped-up guys with cold eyes and colored tattoos on their arms with images of a fighting dragon and a tiger are often found. The founders of the triad borrowed this ancient symbol from the Shaolin monks. He pointed not only to the military nature of the secret society, but also to its connection with ancient Chinese philosophy.
The Chinese mafia is not something big and indivisible. The Triad is more of a network of many criminal cells. It includes many gangs, the most famous of which are "Sun Ye On", "14K", "Vo Hop Tu" and "Vo On Locke". But power in the triad, like hundreds of years ago, is passed from father to son.