The religious and ritual features of groups such as the Tiandihui did not resist the competition of Christianity, Communism, and the new religions. In the end, only the criminal element remained.
Secret Societies
In Search of China’s Secret Societies. 5. Secular Brotherhoods or Religious “Cults”?
Confusion and ambiguity in the use of “fandong huidaomen” (reactionary secret societies) and “xie jiao” (heterodox teachings) has persisted to this day.
In Search of China’s Secret Societies. 4. “Primitive Revolutionaries”?
Both Sun Yat-Sen and some Marxists interpreted at least certain societies as forms of political or social rebellion.
In Search of China’s Secret Societies. 3. The Tiandihui Goes Criminal
By the 19th century, the society operated a wide range of criminal enterprises in several continents. But esoteric rituals were never forgotten.
In Search of China’s Secret Societies. 2. The Origins of the Tiandihui
The most famous “secret society” was discovered in Taiwan in the 18th century. It was probably born as a group saving funds for weddings and funerals.
In Search of China’s Secret Societies. 1. Matgioi and the Esoteric Connection
The old Western notion of “Chinese secret society” owes much to a French esoteric author who died in 1939, Albert de Pouvourville.