The triad is a mafia in Chinese style

Of all the existing criminal communities, national groups are the most organized, cohesive and invincible. On hearing the Italian Cosa Nostra, the Japanese yakuza, the Chinese triad. Having grown up in local traditions, at home they become practically an ineradicable element of public life. And going beyond the borders of the country of origin, they seize the living space through strict discipline, deep conspiracy and special cruelty.

The emergence of triads

The Triad is, perhaps, the oldest criminal organization in the world. Some researchers erect its history at the time of the legendary - to the third century BC. Then pirates and robbers from the east coast of China created a kind of union - "Lotus Shadow". Soon after the appearance of the triads, "Lotus Shadow" merged with the newly created organization.

When the word "triad" was first used, the mafia in Italy did not appear. It is well known about the existence of groups with this name already in the XVII century. However, at that time the triads were not bandit organizations, but part of China's national liberation movement against the Manchu invaders.

According to legend, the first triad was founded by three monks from the Shaolin monastery destroyed by the invaders. In the view of the founders, the triad is "the union of the Earth, Man and Sky in the name of justice." These symbols were understood by every Chinese.

Initially, the militants of the triad were financed by ordinary Chinese, who were dissatisfied with foreign oppression. However, in a poor country, peasants and shopkeepers found it difficult to maintain a secret partisan army. The triads began to look for sources of financing in criminal businesses: robbery, piracy, slave trade. Gradually, the noble goals went to the background, and banditry became the essence of the triad.

Coexistence with the Communist Party of China

During the civil war in China, the triads supported Sun Yat-sen. This political error led to serious persecution of the triad figures after the victory of Mao. The Chinese communists were concerned not so much with the triad as a mafia dealing with all types of criminal crafts, but with attempts to destroy the monopoly of the Communist Party, the only political organization in the country.

Although little is known about the fate of triads in communist China, it can be said with certainty that repression of the leaders of the underworld has not weakened the influence of the triads. Militants of the organization still collect tribute from business and maintain order in the streets, have informers in the police and their people among party functionaries on the ground.

The leaders of the modern CCP do not worry their activities: if only they did not get into politics, did not compete with the Communists for influence, did not try to promote their people to leading positions in the country. The triad does not do this - the desire to grab a larger piece than you can swallow, the Chinese mafia is not peculiar.

Hong Kong triads

After the flight of Sun Yatsen to Taiwan, many triad leaders followed him or settled in British Hong Kong. The rapid post-war economic growth of Hong Kong has given many sources of wealth for the criminal gangs there. The Chinese triad levied tribute from small businesses, "oversaw" smuggling, drug trafficking, prostitution. Therefore, it is here that the most influential and well-known gangs, such as "14 K", grew up.

In the time of British rule, the power of the triads in Hong Kong was undivided. With the transfer of territory under the authority of China, many leaders of the underworld fled abroad. Probably, now the position of the Hong Kong triads is equal to the "status" of their "colleagues" from the PRC.

Structure of Chinese OPG

Let's try to understand what a triad is, from the inside. First of all, one must understand that this is a very conspiratorial organization, so there is not much reliable information about its device.

It is known that individual triads are quite separate organizations. There is no person who could be called the leader of all triads. But inside each gang hierarchy is very tough. At the head of the triad is the leader (we will not bring all the colorful names of this post), his post is inherited. The leader has two deputies in the areas of activity. They obey the security services, intelligence, recruitment.

In a large triad between leaders and ordinary fighters - "monks" - there can be up to four links of leaders. Although all members of the gang unquestioningly obey their bosses, each link is quite autonomous in accomplishing the tasks that the triad has determined for him. This provides mobility and flexibility, which is very important for a large organization.