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- ³¼EXPOSED! - THE TRIADS¼
-
-
- ³PART III - LAW OF THE TRIADS²
-
- By
-
- ³Khul/Nerve Axis/ASCII Unlimited
- ¹
-
-
- ³LAW WITHIN A LAWLESS SOCIETY
- ¹
- Even the Triads have a code of conduct. Something which all Triad
- members must swear by but rarely adhere to. Nevertheless, there are thirty-six
- oaths which must be sworn to - breaking of any of these can result in severe
- punishment.
- These oaths were reproduced from the book mentioned before written by
- Morgan. It is not known whether these are based on guesswork by Morgan, it
- could however be the oaths as revealed by those who have turned their backs on
- the Triads.
-
- In these oaths references to "Hung" are made. In Chinese this word
- represents red. This could symbolise blood to maintain that members are
- bloodbrothers and therefore just as easily mean "Triad". The imagery of red
- throughout Chinese communities is evident, from good luck to the actual colour
- of communism (in China). However in Triad societies it symbolises blood and
- death...
-
-
-
- ÿi01³THE THIRTY-SIX OATHS
- ¹
- 1. 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 my oath.
- 2. 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.
-
- 3. 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.
-
- 4. I will always acknowledge my Hung brothers when they identify themselves.
- If I ignore them I will be killed by myriads of swords.
-
- 5. 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.
-
- 6. I shall never betray my sworn brothers. If, through a misunderstanding, I
- have cause the arrest of one of my brothers I must release him immediately. If
- I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.
-
- 7. 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.
-
- 8. 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.
-
- 9. I must never commit and indecent assaults on the wives, sisters, or
- daughters, or my sworn brothers. I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I
- break this oath.
-
- 10. I shall never embezzle cash or property from my sworn brothers. If I
- break this oath I will be killed by myriads of swords.
-
- 11. I will take good care of the wives or children of sworn brothers entrusted
- to my keeping. If I do not do so I will be killed by five thunderbolts.
-
- 12. If I have supplied false particulars about myself for the purpose of
- joining the Hung family I shall be killed by five thunderbolts.
-
- 13. If I should change my mind and deny my membership of the Hung family I
- will be killed by myriads of swords.
-
- 14. If I rob a sworn brother or assist an outsider to do so I will be killed
- by five thunderbolts.
-
- 15. If I should take advantage or a sworn brother of force unfair business
- deals upon him I will be killed by myriads of swords.
-
- 16. If I knowingly convert my sworn brothers' cash or property during a
- robbery I must return them to him. If I do not I will be killed by five
- thunderbolts.
-
- 17. 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.
- 18. 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.
-
- 19. 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 knowledge of their difficulties I will be killed by five
- thunderbolts.
-
- 20. 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.
-
- 21. 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.
-
- 22. I must not conspire with outsiders to cheat my sworn brothers at gambling.
- If I do so I will be by myriads of swords.
-
- 23. 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.
-
- 24. 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.
-
- 25. If my natural brothers are involved in a dispute or law suit 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.
-
- 26. 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.
-
- 27. 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.
-
- 28. I must not covet to seek to share any property or cash obtained by my
- sworn brothers. If I have such ideas I will be killed.
-
- 29. I must not disclose and 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.
-
- 30. 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.
- 31. 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.
-
- 32. I shall be killed by five thunderbolts if I behave indecently towards the
- small children of my sworn brothers' families.
-
- 33. If any of sworn brothers has committed abig offence I must not imform upon
- them to the Government for the purposes of obtaining a reward. I shall be
- killed by five thunderbolts if I break this oath.
-
- 34. 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.
-
- 35. I must never reveal Hung secrets or signs when speaking to outsiders. If
- I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.
-
- 36. 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.
-
-
- Having read through the oaths you cannot fail to notice that many
- criminal acts are suggested and forbidded if committed against another Triad
- member. Therefore the oaths are saying that you can commit all crimes against
- anyone as long as they do not affect Triad members. The last oath is also the
- most important, with "overthrow Ch'ing and restore Ming" being a popular Triad
- maxim. It can be traced back to the old days of rebellion and the "Five
- ancestors" refer to five generals who were later to die after rebellions. The
- oaths as you can see protect the interests of the society itself. It
- discourages harmful acts on Triad members because these acts can easily split
- the society in two and if this is so, the Triad society loses power...