Asian Criminal Groups
The Chinese Triads, Japanese Yakuza and Vietnamese/Laotian Gangs
Criminal syndicates that emerged in China and Japan still conduct shady activities today, and the violence of Vietnamese/Laotian gangs is becoming well known.
Similar to Italian-American criminal groups, Asian gangs were first formed long ago and consisted of outlaws, bandits and several other kinds of notorious malcontents. Today they are still highly organized and are engaged in a myriad of illicit ventures like extortion, drug smuggling, prostitution and murder. This article looks at the origin of some high profile criminal fraternities hailing from China, Japan and the relatively new gangs of Vietnamese and Laotian heritage which are developing a reputation for extreme violence in North America.
The Chinese Triads
The Chinese Triads, or secret societies, were formed out of self preservation, patriotism and unity. In the late 17th century in mainland China the Qing dynasty, which was set up by the northern Manchu rulers, was seen as a repressive regime against the Han majority and was at the same time trying to break the rule of the older, weakened Ming dynasty. Kang-Hsi, the second emperor of the Qing, did not tolerate the existence of secret societies and outlawed Buddhist and Taoist practices. As a direct consequence of these extreme policies, the Hung Mun group was created. Secret forms of communication were developed to confuse and frustrate the spies of Kang-Hsi, and to foster a sense of brotherhood and loyalty. The Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901 saw the involvement of the White Lotus Society and the Society of Right and Harmonious Fists, which made an unsuccessful attempt to eliminate the presence of foreigners in China.
The Chinese Triads today are some of the largest criminal organizations in the world. The Big Circle Boys and the Ghost Shadows are two divisions of the Triads which have been most active in transnational crime and gained much notoriety throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Both gangs were conducting illegal activities in the Chinatowns of many large North American cities like Toronto, Vancouver and New York City.
The Japanese Yakuza
The origin of the word "yakuza" is clouded in mystery but it's most widely believed that it comes from the words for the numbers eight, (ya) nine (ku) and three (za). This numerical combination adds up to twenty which is a losing hand in hanafuda, a Japanese variation of blackjack. Translated into English the word "yakuza" means "worthless." Indeed, they are seen as social outcasts, unwanted by society.
In 17th century Japan, the kabuki-mono (crazy ones) was the samurai warriors with no masters, who were also known as "ronin." These men roamed the countryside with wide broadswords and caused all kinds of mayhem. Their speech and clothing was excessively outlandish and modern day Yakuza members trace their ancestry to these ancient outlaws.
Similar to Sicilian gangsters in the U.S., Yakuza groups are organized into families. Each of them is headed by an oyabun (boss) who gives orders to those lower down the chain of command called kobun (children). Their activities range from election rigging, protection rackets and white slavery. The Japanese syndicates also have their hands in drugs and prostitution. Loyalty to an oyabun is absolute and the practice of severing the pinky finger (yubitsume) is a form of apology if one gets out of line.
Vietnamese and Laotian Gangs
Although these gangs are not as tightly organized as their Chinese and Japanese counterparts, the members are not hesitant to shoot to kill. According to a story from the San Francisco Chronicle, bloody turf wars and home invasions are trademark practices of these Southeast Asian hoodlums. These descendants of hill tribes native to Indochina, the Khmu, the Mien and the Hmong are the sons of Vietnamese and Laotian refugees who came to the U.S. after the Vietnam conflict was over. Their activities also include heroin smuggling and auto theft.
