Triads - Overview

HISTORY

The Chinese Triads find their origin centuries ago. At least since the Tang dynasty (617-907) China has had secret societies. Several Triads identify themselves with the White Lotus Society. The White Lotus Society expelled the Mongolian occupation force from China and installed Buddhist monk Hung Wu as the first Ming emperor in 1368. Another incident several Triads identify themselves with, takes place in the 17th century. It tells the story of 128 monks of the Shao Lin convent who offer their services to the second emperor of the Qing dynasty, and defend China from invading forces. The emperor was frightened by their power and burned down their convent. 110 monks died in the fire, 18 escaped the flames, of which only 5 managed to get to a safe haven. These five monks became known as the First Five Ancestors. These five men founded a secret society to avenge their dead brothers.

TRIADS: BASE AND OPERATIONS

The Triads operate throughout the world, but their main base of operations is Hong Kong. Other important bases are: Shanghai, Macau, Taiwan, and Singapore. Triads are involved in gambling, loansharking, extortion, drugs- arms- and people smuggling.

The three main Triad groups are:
- 14K Triad, which consists of twenty subgroups.
- The Wo group, consists of twelve factions, including Wo Shing Wo, and Wo On Lok.
- The Teochiu Societies, consists of six subdivisions, of which San Yee On is the biggest and best known.

TRIAD HIERARCHY:

In a Triad society each rank has its own specific number. 489 indicates the leader, or Shan Chu. He is followed by the 438, the incense master, or Heung Chu, who is responsible for the ceremonial duties. Then there are the adviser, under 415, the Red Pole, under 426, who is a master in kung fu and is part of the military wing, the messenger, under 432, who meets with members of other Triads, and the 49, who holds the lowest rank.

PROFILES:

Hong Kong Wo Shing Wo Triad boss Kwok Wing-hung (prison)
The Rat who became King: Triad boss Raymond Chow (prison)
Macau Triad Boss: Tong Sang Lai (living in freedom)
Wei Seng Phua (living in freedom)
San Francisco Triad Boss: Peter Chong (living in freedom)
Macau Triad Boss: Wan Kuok-koi (living in freedom)
Dutch Triad Boss: Chung Mon (killed)
Shanghai Triad boss Du Yueh-sheng (dead, natural causes)

ARTICLES:

Triads: Origins of the Chinese Mafia
Associates of San Francisco Triad boss “Shrimp Boy” Chow off to prison
Chinese woman laundered £1.8 million in drugs money for Albanian crime group in just two weeks
How Triads run prostitution skyscraper in Hong Kong
Henchmen of San Francisco crime boss Raymond Chow reach plea deals
China sends crime boss and 66 members of mob-style syndicate to prison
San Francisco crime boss “Shrimp Boy” Chow gets two life terms in p...
Hong Kong Triad boss arrested in US$129 million fraud case
The Golden Triangle: How Triads cornered the heroin market
Bloody knife attacks as Triad gangs go to war in Hong Kong
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Green Dragons gangster has life sentence reduced
Triads continue to dominate VIP rooms in Macau casinos
San Francisco Triad boss Chow guilty on all charges
Violent New York Asian gang hit with racketeering charges
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Hong Kong Triads and 'their' lucrative movie industry
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Chinese network of people smugglers dismantled in Spain