History Main / TheTriadsAndTheTongs

* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': Mr. Chang from is a member of Sun Yee On, and members of the 14K also make an appearance.

* The Wing Kong and Chang Sing street gangs, referred to specifically as "triads", in ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina''. The Wing Kong are {{Mooks}} for the villain, and wear [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver red and black uniforms]], while the Chang Sing are [[NeighborhoodFriendlyGangsters good guys]] who wear white and gold.

* Due to EvenEvilHasStandards, they're the good guys for once in ''Literature/ThePowerOfFive''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Stranglehold}}'', in keeping with its cinematic predecessor ''Film/HardBoiled'', has Tequila going up against two of these along with a Russian crime syndicate.

* The two largest Triad groups known are the Sun Yee On and their rival, the 14k. They are the [[BlandNameProduct namesakes]] of the groups given focus in ''VideoGame/{{Sleeping Dogs|2012}}''. Their memberships reach in the ''ten-thousands''.

TheMafia.... [[RecycledInSpace BUT CHINESE!!]] Subject of a thousand HongKongFilms and a recurrent trope in Western stories with East Asian villains (sorta replacing the YellowPeril), the Triads started life as a Ming-restorationist Secret Society during the 1760s. There was a precedent for this sort of thing working, given the ''Red Turban'' society and rebellion which fractured the Yuan Empire and allowed the Ming to conquer China in the late 14th century, though said society's original intent had actually been to restore the Song Empire.

After contributing to [[UsefulNotes/NoMoreEmperors the fall of the Qing Empire in the 1911 revolution]], without resurrecting the Ming (as had been their original intention), the Triads now found themselves without a purpose and there was a split between the Mainland and overseas branches. The Mainland group is what we now commonly refer to as the Triads, while the overseas group became known as the Hongmen. The mainland Triads now turned to crime as they were unable to reenter normal society. After the Communist takeover, many Triad members moved to Hong Kong and Taiwan to escape new measures against organized crime. Hong Kong's Triad problems peaked in the 1970s, helped by [[DirtyCop police corruption]].

The Hongmen is divided into 180 branches, and is arguably a Freemason-like organization, with an emphasis on patriotism, given the circumstances of its origin. Distinguished politicians such as Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai Shek were senior members. It shares traditions with the Triads, since they were one and the same not that far back. They are illegal in Hong Kong due to their relationship with the Triads, but are legal in Taiwan as a secret society. Not surprising, since President Chiang Kai Shek was a member. They exist in China as a political party, and hold the single non-communist ministerial seat. It has branches in other overseas Chinese communities, where it is referred to as Chinese Freemasonry. Its membership is rapidly aging with the change in the times.

The traditional hierarchy and rituals, based in esoteric numerology and mythology, are not always followed as strictly or exactly as the old days, but many traditions live on in lingo and ceremony. The leader of a Triad is called the Mountain Master or Dragon Head. Below him are his highest tier lieutenants: Deputy Mountain Master, who acts as the Dragon Head's advisor and proxy, Incense Master, who oversees ceremonies and initiations, and Vanguard, who handles recruitment and assists the Incense Master. The middle officers are the Red Poles, White Paper Fans and Straw Sandals. Red Poles are the gang bosses and war leaders, commanding their own units to attack enemies, defend turf and engage in street crime. White Paper Fans are the consiglieres and administrators, managing and advising on finances, business and legal matters. Straw Sandals are liaisons, organizing and scheduling important meetings or gang fights. At the bottom are 49ers, who are simply the low-ranking initiates under Red Poles, and Blue Lanterns, the miscellaneous thugs, dealers, and contacts who are informally affiliated with or freelance for the group but not properly initiated into the Triad for life. Blue Lanterns tend to outnumber 49ers in modern times, but obviously are less trusted and more expendable. 25er is slang for a corrupt cop or contact in a rival group, serving as spies and informants.

As mentioned earlier, the traditional punishment is death by a hundred cuts, or getting ambushed and hacked up which is easier and quicker. Hong Kong triads [[DeviousDaggers especially love their cleavers,]] given the difficulty of obtaining guns in Hong Kong. A {{machete|Mayhem}} is fine too. Overseas groups may use guns, automatic weapons and explosives, if they don't find them dishonorable.
Some martial arts, especially some of the Southern Shaolin styles tend to have a reputation as being used by the Triads, especially due to their common origin myth in the Southern Shaolin temple.

It should be noted that "Chinese Mafia" is both an oversimplification and misconception of Triads and Tongs, as neither have that much presence in China itself. Triads have some influence in certain regions of China, but operate most extensively outside of mainland China, as Mao's regime dismantled traditional secret societies during the Cultural Revolution, and the Tongs are largely a western phenomenon with most members being of the Chinese diaspora. Within the actual People's Republic of China there are criminal outfits called Black Societies, [[TheSyndicate which wield significant but subtle political power and clout with local law enforcement]], and Dark Forces, which are [[GangBangers less organized, less powerful]] gangs (both terms being awkward translations of Chinese terms), neither having any relationship to traditional Chinese mysticism. Essentially, Triads are ethnically Chinese criminal societies [[RuthlessForeignGangsters abroad]].[[note]]Most prominently in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, with heavy presence in Southeast Asia, though they also have minor footholds in Japan, Korea, Russia, Australia, Europe, Hawaii and, thanks to Chinatowns and the Tongs, continental USA and Canada.[[/note]]

* The Creator/BusterKeaton silent film ''Film/TheCameraman'', in which Buster the newsreel cameraman goes to film a parade in Chinatown and winds up capturing a shootout between rival gangs (the "Tong War").

* ''VideoGame/HongKongNinja'' depicts the city in the future under total control of the triads, whose leader, Scorpion, had allied himself with a rogue ninja clan. Triad mooks dressed in slick suits, carrying pistols and looking a lot like extras from some John Woo film, are a recurring enemy type.

The secret societies used to be governed by strict codes of conduct and an inflexible hierarchical system, but that system has broken down in recent years, leading to behavior that many older members would consider unethical. The traditional secret societies have 36 Oaths which basically say, "don't screw over your sworn brothers, or you will get chopped up with lots of blades." (This phrase is repeated many, many times during the oaths, just to remind you). Doesn't mention anything about the morality of killing innocents. [[BloodBrothers The oaths are sealed with the drinking of blood mixed with wine, and the oath-takers enter into a sworn brotherhood with the rest of the members of their organization.]] No problems with having more sworn brothers from elsewhere, though.

* In ''VideoGame/AkatsukiBlitzkampf'', the ScaryBlackMan, Dawei Ye Lue and the DarkActionGirl, Marilyn "Sue" Dajie are members of the fictional ''Black Hand'' Triad under the leadership of a man named In Fu. Their Story Modes are kickstarted when In-Fu is murdered [[spoiler: by Marilyn under orders of the witch, [[ManipulativeBastard Mycale.]]]] It's also strongly implied that [[spoiler: In Fu was a clone of the BigBad Murakumo, and was offed because he was developing his own agenda.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': The gangs of bending criminals that control the poorer areas of Republic City are officially called Triads, though thematically they mix elements of [[{{Americasia}} both traditional Triad groups and 1920's American mobsters]]. The Triple Threat Triad, [[EqualOpportunityEvil which accepts members of all three main bending disciplines]], is the criminal group most focused upon in the series (particularly in the first two seasons), but some episodes have shown more element-exclusive gangs such as the Agni Kai Triad ([[PlayingWithFire firebenders]]), Red Monsoon Triad ([[MakingASplash waterbenders]]) and Terra Triad ([[DishingOutDirt earthbenders]]). The comics give them more focus with the ''Turf Wars'' Arc, which establishes the Creeping Crystal Triad as the latest earthbending gang.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' has Triad groups of bending criminals that have a large amount of influence in the poorer areas of Republic City, who are thematically [[{{Americasia}} a mix of both traditional Triads and 1920's American mobsters]]. The Triple Threat Triad, [[EqualOpportunityEvil which accepts members of all three main bending disciplines]], is the criminal group most focused upon in the series (particularly in the first two seasons), but some episodes have shown more element-exclusive Triad groups such as the Agni Kai Triad ([[PlayingWithFire firebenders]]), Red Monsoon Triad ([[MakingASplash waterbenders]]) and Terra Triad ([[DishingOutDirt earthbenders]]). The comics give them more focus with the ''Turf Wars'' Arc, which establishes the Creeping Crystal Triad as the latest earthbending gang.

* An episode of ''Series/{{Castle}}'' features a tong. This example is unusual in that a character mentions that most tongs are legitimate organizations.

* ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs2012'' is set in Hong Kong's criminal underbelly, with the protagonist Wei Shen being an undercover cop trying to infiltrate the [[{{Expy}} Sun On Yee]] gang.

* The two largest Triad groups known are the Sun Yee On and their rival, the 14k. They are the [[BlandNameProduct namesakes]] of the groups given focus in ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs2012''. Their memberships reach in the ''ten-thousands''.

* ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs'' is set in Hong Kong's criminal underbelly, with the protagonist Wei Shen being an undercover cop trying to infiltrate the [[{{Expy}} Sun On Yee]] gang.

* The two largest Triad groups known are the Sun Yee On and their rival, the 14k. They are the [[BlandNameProduct namesakes]] of the groups given focus in ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs''. Their memberships reach in the ''ten-thousands''.

* ''WebOriginal/AcademyOfSuperheroes'': The Onyx Eye tong are a crime syndicate and a villainous martial arts school.

* Triads are mentioned in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''... as being wiped out by the Tsoo, a magically tattooed gang of [[GoddamnedBats ninjas and wizards]]. Really.
** Given their focus on ancestor worship and ability to summon said ancestors' spirits, it's likely that in this game's verse the Tsoo actually came first and that a lot of the Triads were willingly assimilated.

* ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' features them from the Hong Kong levels onward.
** The prequel ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' features the Harvesters, a gang in the fictional two-tiered Chinese city called Hengsha, who "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin harvest]]" mechanical augmentations from others. Their leader is Tong Si Hung, the father of Tracer Tong from the first and second games.
* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, the Camonna ''Tong'' is essentially the native Dunmeri (Dark Elf) Mafia, with elements of TheSyndicate. Into the early 4th Era, they essentially run Morrowind's smuggling, drug, and illegal slave trade operations. There is also the Morag Tong, a legal (at least in Morrowind) [[MurderInc assassin's guild]] that is officially sanctioned by the Dunmeri government as an alternative to [[AllowedInternalWar destructive open warfare]] between the [[TheClan Great Houses]]. Both of these come from Tong being Dunmeri for 'Guild' (Morag means 'Forester'. What Camonna means was never explained).

* ''VideoGame/TheGetaway'' features a London branch of the Triads, and it's spin-off "Gangs Of London" has the Water Dragon Triad as one of the five playable factions.
* The Triads and the Tongs have been featured in every 3D ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' game thus far. You only work with them in ''San Andreas'', however, though you get to wipe them out in ''[=GTA3=]''.
** The DS game ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoChinatownWars'' obviously features them far more heavily than other GTA games. The player is the nephew of a triad leader.

* ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'': The Snake Flower Triads are one of the game's villains, led by Lau Ka Long, who returns in the third game. The Triads once again play a role in the [[VideoGame/Yakuza6 sixth game]] as one of the groups trying to go after Haruka and her child due to the fact that [[spoiler:the child's father is secretly one of the sons of the boss]]. In ''Videogame/YakuzaLikeADragon'' the Yokohama Liumang are one of the three big criminal factions of Ijincho, with their leader Tianyou Zhao serving as a major supporting character and eventual party member after their plotline is resolved.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': Gotham's secretive China Town has been ruled over by numerous Chinese based gangs over the years. Eventually the Ghost Dragons, who started out as ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}} villains, took control from the fractured Triads and Tongs in the neighborhood. The Ghost Dragons' influence spread further into the city as TheMafiya lost ground.

* ''Anime/CowboyBebop'': The Red Dragon Syndicate is basically this. While the leadership shown is ethnically Chinese, it doesn't appear to be required as multiple mentions are made of how Spike was originally going to take over.

* ''Film/YoungAndDangerous'', a series of films based on a comic. Blamed for [[DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster glamorizing Triad life]] among young people.

* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" has the Tong of the Black Scorpion as {{Mooks}} serving their PhysicalGod Weng-Chiang (who turns out to be a psychotic time-traveller from the future who bamboozled them with high-tech tricks).

** ''Series/Daredevil2015''': Madame Gao ostensibly is a [[TheQueenpin Triad boss]], who smuggles heroin into the United States using Rand Enterprises. During the first season, she uses her connections with Wilson Fisk and the Ranskahov brothers to distribute the heroin on the streets of Hell's Kitchen. After the Ranskahovs are killed and Fisk is put in prison, Gao continues the operation using her role as a leader of the Hand.
** ''Series/IronFist2017'': In the second season, one of the major plots is a growing war between two Triad gangs, the Golden Tigers and the Yangshi-Gonshi as a result of the [[EvilPowerVacuum power vacuum]] left by the Hand's elimination in ''Series/TheDefenders2017'', a war that Davos eventually inserts himself into.

* Like canon, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' DistantSequel fic 'Fanfic/AvatarTheLegendOfArata'' has three bending gangs. The Triple Threats runs by Chikao and later [[TheStarscream Habiki]], the Agni Kais ran by Kosuke, and the Red Monsoons ran by Jiang.

* ''Series/{{Bosch}}: Bosch's ex-wife Eleanor Wish uses her position as a professional gambler to assist the FBI in their investigation into Triad activities in Los Angeles; this results in [[spoiler: her death in a drive-by shooting]].

** ''Series/Daredevil2015''': Madame Gao ostensibly is a Triad boss, who smuggles heroin into the United States using Rand Enterprises. During the first season, she uses her connections with Wilson Fisk and the Ranskahov brothers to distribute the heroin on the streets of Hell's Kitchen. After the Ranskahovs are killed and Fisk is put in prison, Gao continues the operation using her role as a leader of the Hand.
** ''Series/IronFist2017'': In the second season, one of the major plots is a growing war between two Triad gangs, the Golden Tigers and the Yangshi-Gonshi as a result of the power vacuum left by the Hand's elimination in ''Series/TheDefenders2017'', a war that Davos eventually inserts himself into.

* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'': A group of Tong serves as the main villain in the episode "[[Recap/SherlockS01E02TheBlindBanker The Blind Banker]]", though it's referred to as an ancient Chinese crime syndicate rather than a Chinese-American organization a little over a century old ([[spoiler: and, as with the previous episode's villain, it turns out that Moriarty's {{The Man Behind The|Man}} DragonLady]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' has Triad groups of bending criminals that have a large amount of influence in the poorer areas of Republic City, who are thematically a mix of both traditional Triads and 1920's American mobsters. The Triple Threat Triad, [[EqualOpportunityEvil which accepts members of all three main bending disciplines]], is the criminal group most focused upon in the series (particularily in the first two seasons), but some episodes have shown more element-exclusive Triad groups such as the Agni Kai Triad (firebenders), Red Monsoon Triad (waterbenders) and Terra Triad (earthbenders). The comics give them more focus with the ''Turf Wars'' Arc, which establishes the Creeping Crystal Triad as the latest earthbending gang.

TheMafia.... [[RecycledInSpace BUT CHINESE!!]] Subject of a thousand HongKongFilms and a recurrent trope in Western YellowPeril stories, the Triads started life as a Ming-restorationist Secret Society during the 1760s. There was a precedent for this sort of thing working, given the ''Red Turban'' society and rebellion which fractured the Yuan Empire and allowed the Ming to conquer China in the late 14th century, though said society's original intent had actually been to restore the Song Empire.

* The French film ''Les Anges Gardiens'' has a club owner trying to rescue his late friend's son (and millions) from the Triads.

* ''Manga/HaouAiren'': An OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent named Kurumi Akino saves the life of a handsome stranger and nurses him back to health. It turns out he's Uon Hakuron (a.k.a. [[spoiler:Li Shen Wong]]), a dangerous and sexy Triad leader, and soon after said incident she's kidnapped from school and taken to Hong Kong. Did we mention Mayu Shinjo has a thing for {{Fetishized Abuser}}s?

* ''VideoGame/HongKongNinja'' depicts the city in the future under total control of the triads, whose leader, Scorpion, had allied himself with a rogue ninja clan. Triad mooks dressed in slick suits, carrying pistols and looking a lot like extras from some John Woo film, are a recurring enemy type.* In ''VideoGame/KaiserreichLegacyOfTheWeltkrieg'', the Triads have become very influential in the Legation Cities, and part of their focus tree involves dealing with the Triads. Alternatively, the player may choose to have the Triads launch a coup and outright ''take over'' the Legation Cities, making the Triads a nation-state in their own right.

* In ''Film/KungFuHustle'', several street gangs are causing trouble in 1930s Shanghai; with the [[AnAxeToGrind Axe]] {{Gang|OfHats}} (led by [[BigBad Brother]] [[TheDon Sum]]) being the most feared and powerful criminal organization in the city. In fact, the film begins with a minor mob boss (the leader of the Crocodile Gang) bullying a local cop inside a police station, only for he and his men to be eliminated by the Axe Gang soon afterwards.