Chinese Secret Societies. Volume 2, The Yuan Ming Teachings

Author: Lian Lichang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Secret societies, also known as secret organizations, are social groups formed by a portion of the population for certain political, economic, or other purposes. Because they have not obtained legal status, they are considered "illegal associations." These illegal associations have existed throughout history and still do today. In Chinese history, secret societies are divided into two major systems—"secret clubs" and "secret religious sects"—based on their organizational structures and behavioral patterns. The former are formed through sworn brotherhoods, with the bonds of brotherhood and other feudal ethical concepts serving as the ties that bind them together. The latter are established through master-disciple lineages, with the distorted and reinterpreted classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism serving as the bonds that hold them together. Later, secret clubs gradually evolved into gangster organizations, with some becoming part of the underworld. Secret religious sects, on the other hand, transformed into cults, becoming reactionary organizations both politically and socially. If, in old China, secret societies still had certain positive aspects due to their objective resistance against feudal rule, then with the founding of the People's Republic of China, the feudal and backward secret societies completely lost their relevance and became a major social cancer. Thanks to the correct policies and strategies adopted by the Communist Party of China and the Central People's Government, the problem of secret societies, which had long been a challenge for feudal ruling classes, was basically resolved in less than three years. This is a great achievement of the Communist Party of China, one that deserves serious reflection and summary. China's Secret Societies comprehensively and systematically discusses the history and current state of Chinese secret societies, realistically evaluates the pros and cons of these societies in history, and objectively analyzes the successes and failures of past regimes in governing them. This book helps us understand and address illegal associations in contemporary society, providing historical insights for dealing with related issues today.