What is a Chinese Triad?
During the senate probe on the shabu shipment surpassed the security of the Bureau of Customs, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was accused by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of being a member of a triad, a chinese transnational organized crime syndicates based in asian countries like China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. There are reported members of the triad living in United States, Canada Korea, Japan and the Philippines.
The roots of the Triads are found in centuries-old secret societies that date back to 1000 B.C., when peasants were often preyed on by evil leaders and protected themselves by forming “self help” groups. According to legend the first Triads were founded by Chinese monks committed to fighting injustices. Over time these groups, it is said, became so politically powerful they were able to prop up or bring down emperors at their whim.
The influence of organized crime is believed to have risen as the Chinese economy slowed.
Triads were involved in a variety of crimes from extortion, money laundering, prostitution and selling illegal drugs.
Sun Yee On is the largest triad and the second is the 14k triad.
According to the article of Vostok Magazine about the triads, ranks of the members were determined by digit rows that are linked to the Chinese “Book of Changes”
These are the ranks of the Chinese Triad according to the Magazine:
So, the head of the clan, who is also called “Mountain Master” or “Dragon Head” is 489; the sum of the digits is 21, which in its turn is understood as 3 (“creation”) multiplied by 7 (“death”) – “resurrection”. 438 is “Deputy” of the Leader. The sum of the digits gives us 15 – a number that, according to Chinese tradition, brings luck. Other important posts in triads are: “Straw Sandal” (432; one version implies he is a messenger between different parts of a triad; another implies he is responsible for contacts with other triads), “White Paper Fan” (415; one responsible for finance and education of newcomers). Number 49 is another name for “Monks” – ordinary members. 4 multiplied by 9 is 36 – that is the number of oaths to be given upon entering the gang.
Traditional triad organization structureLike what Senator Trillanes got from his “foreign intelligence” one of the sign that you are a member of the Chinese Triad is the tattoo embedded in their body.
However, not all Chinese Triads are not putting dragon tattoo in their bodies, some of them chose Snake which means wisdom, turtles means longevity, phoenix means light and dragon means luck and power.
Senator Trillanes also asked Paolo Duterte to remove his shirt during the hearing so he can take a photo of the Vice Mayor’s tattoo and be decoded by the foreign intelligence so they can determine if the presidential son is really a member of the organized crime group.
However, Paolo Duterte refused to show his tattoo and invoked his ‘right of privacy’
According to the article of Vostalk, police can manage to decode the tattoos of some members of the triad to determine their role to the triad by looking at the ‘sacred digits’ embedded in their bodies:
For example, Group 36 exists, taking its name from the number of oaths given by a newbie when he enters the “society”. This number correlates with the number of parts of the sky, as it was thought in China when first triads were created. It’s also known about Group 24 – this one is after the number of stories about the “filial respect”, which are explained to the newcomers.
These are some of the tattoos of the triad members we got on the internet:
All photos from http://blog.asiantown.net/-/1604/chinese-black-society-gang-triad-show-off-property
To become a member of the triad:
You must be recruited by an old member of a triad.You must go through a trial period which he will also be committing crimes together with the other members of the triadOne must participate in a special initiation ceremonyMust learn 36 oaths, 21 of the triad’s code of honor and 10 punishments that will be given for breaking the rules of the organized group.
New candidates often begin the ritual barefoot, and wearing special clothes and perform things like salutations, special handshakes, ritual dances and Taoist and Buddhist prayers.
These are the oaths said upon entering the triad:
After having entered the Hung gates I must treat the parents and relatives of my sworn brothers as my own kin. I shall suffer death by five thunderbolts if I do not keep this oath.I shall assist my sworn brothers to bury their parents and brothers by offering financial or physical assistance. I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I pretend to have no knowledge of their troubles.When Hung brothers visit my house, I shall provide them with board and lodging. I shall be killed by myriads of knives if I treat them as strangers.I will always acknowledge my Hung brothers when they identify themselves. If I ignore them I will be killed by myriads of swords.I shall not disclose the secrets of the Hung family, not even to my parents, brothers, or wife. I shall never disclose the secrets for money. I will be killed by myriads of swords if I do so.I shall never betray my sworn brothers. If, through a misunderstanding, I have caused the arrest of one of my brothers I must release him immediately. If I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.I will offer financial assistance to sworn brothers who are in trouble in order that they may pay their passage fee, etc. If I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.I must never cause harm or bring trouble to my sworn brothers or Incense Master. If I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.I must never commit any indecent assaults on the wives, sisters, or daughters, of my sworn brothers. I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I break this oath.I shall never embezzle cash or property from my sworn brothers. If I break this oath I will be killed by myriads of swords.I will take good care of the wives or children of sworn brothers entrusted to my keeping. If I do not I will be killed by five thunderbolts.If I have supplied false particulars about myself for the purpose of joining the Hung family I shall be killed by five thunderbolts.If I should change my mind and deny my membership of the Hung family I will be killed by myriads of swords.If I rob a sworn brother or assist an outsider to do so I will be killed by five thunderbolts.If I should take advantage of a sworn brother or force unfair business deals upon him I will be killed by myriads of swords.If I knowingly convert my sworn brother’s cash or property to my own use I shall be killed by five thunderbolts.If I have wrongly taken a sworn brother’s cash or property during a robbery I must return them to him. If I do not I will be killed by five thunderbolts.If I am arrested after committing an offence I must accept my punishment and not try to place blame on my sworn brothers. If I do so I will be killed by five thunderbolts.If any of my sworn brothers are killed, or arrested, or have departed to some other place, I will assist their wives and children who may be in need. If I pretend to have no knowledge of their difficulties I will be killed by five thunderbolts.When any of my sworn brothers have been assaulted or blamed by others, I must come forward and help him if he is in the right or advise him to desist if he is wrong. If he has been repeatedly insulted by others I shall inform our other brothers and arrange to help him physically or financially. If I do not keep this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.If it comes to my knowledge that the Government is seeking any of my sworn brothers who has come from other provinces or from overseas, I shall immediately inform him in order that he may make his escape. If I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.I must not conspire with outsiders to cheat my sworn brothers at gambling. If I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.I shall not cause discord amongst my sworn brothers by spreading false reports about any of them. If I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.I shall not appoint myself as Incense Master without authority. After entering the Hung gates for three years the loyal and faithful ones may be promoted by the Incense Master with the support of his sworn brothers. I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I make any unauthorized promotions myself.If my natural brothers are involved in a dispute or lawsuit with my sworn brothers I must not help either party against the other but must attempt to have the matter settled amicably. If I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.After entering the Hung gates I must forget any previous grudges I may have borne against my sworn brothers. If I do not do so I will be killed by five thunderbolts.I must not trespass upon the territory occupied by my sworn brothers. I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I pretend to have no knowledge of my brothers’ rights in such matters.I must not covet or seek to share any property or cash obtained by my sworn brothers. If I have such ideas I will be killed.I must not disclose any address where my sworn brothers keep their wealth nor must I conspire to make wrong use of such knowledge. If I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.I must not give support to outsiders if so doing is against the interests of any of my sworn brothers. If I do not keep this oath I will be killed by myriads of swords.I must not take advantage of the Hung brotherhood in order to oppress or take violent or unreasonable advantage of others. I must be content and honest. If I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I behave indecently towards small children of my sworn brothers’ families.If any of my sworn brothers has committed a big offence I must not inform upon them to the Government for the purposes of obtaining a reward. I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I break this oath.I must not take to myself the wives and concubines of my sworn brothers nor commit adultery with them. If I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.I must never reveal Hung secrets or signs when speaking to outsiders. If I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.After entering the Hung gates I shall be loyal and faithful and shall endeavour to overthrow Ch’ing and restore Ming by co-ordinating my efforts with those of my sworn brethren even though my brethren and I may not be in the same professions. Our common aim is to avenge our Five Ancestors.
After that, they were taught how to use secret gestures:
Like what the defenders of Paolo Duterte said, it’s hard to determine if the accused is really a member of an organized crime. If there’s a dragon tattoo embedded in their body, it doesn’t mean that they are already belong to a triad.
Do you believe that Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte is a member of a Triad? Share your thoughts below: