Modern Guangdong Hui Society: On Its Role in the Social Transformation of Modern Guangdong

Author: Lei Dongwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: In modern Chinese history, secret societies, with the Heaven and Earth Society as a typical representative, have continuously flourished across China. These secret organizations were primarily composed of the lower strata of society (especially itinerant and unemployed individuals) and widely recruited members from other social classes. With the principles of mutual assistance and anti-Qing, they posed a strong challenge to the existing ruling order and the structure of interest distribution. This made every ruling authority view the threat posed by these secret societies to the healthy functioning of the social system as a serious social issue.