The recruits each handed the official some money, and in return received a joss stick which they held in both hands. The recruits then got on their hands and knees and crawled under the raised swords, symbolizing that they were “passing through a mountain of knives.”
Scarface, the Incense Master, stood and picked up the Warrant Flag of the Leader from the Tau and displayed it to everyone in the room.
“The Five Founders bestow on me the banner of authority,” he said. “With it I will bring fresh troops into the city. We will pledge fraternity according to the will of Heaven. None must reveal the secrets that may be disclosed to him. The brethren have elected me to take charge of the Lodge, and have entrusted the seal of authority to my care. I am determined to exercise my authority.”
The Incense Master then turned to three minor officials present near the altar. Bond recognized them as the three officials who were next in the chain of command of the organization. They were known respectively as the White Paper Fan, who acted as an adviser or counsellor; The Red Pole, who was a fighter and trainer; and the Straw Sandal, who acted as messenger and communications officer.
The Incense Master said to the Straw Sandal, “An order has been issued from the Five Ancestors Altar. Investigations must be made around the Lodge. If police are present to spy on us, they must be relentlessly washed.” With that, he handed the Straw Sandal a warrant flag and a sword.
Bond knew that “washed” meant “killed.” The Straw Sandal went around the room, checking the identities and hand signs of everyone present. When he was finished, he returned and handed back the flag and sword saying, “I now return the order flag in front of the Five Ancestors Altar. Thorough search has been made of the Lodge. Everyone was searched. All are surnamed Hung.”
This confused Bond until he remembered that “Hung Mun” was a universal surname meaning “Triad Society,” and was used by all Triads. The ceremony was clearly going to be a difficult test of Bond’s knowledge of Cantonese!
The Incense Master then lit two tall single-stemmed brass lamps on the altar, saying, “Two old trees, one on either side, will bring stability to the nation. Heroes are recruited from all parts of the country. Tonight we pledge fraternity in the Red Flower Pavilion.” Next, he lit five joss sticks, and then held them in both hands. He began to recite a lengthy poem.
“We worship Heaven and Earth by the three lights. Our Ancestors arose to support the Ming. The Hung door is opened wide and our brothers are many. Hung children are taught to remember the oaths and rules. Politeness, Righteousness, Wisdom, Faithfulness, and Virtue are our fundamental rules. The three talents—Heaven, Earth, and Man—combine to establish the nation. We dedicate ourselves by the drawing of blood. Our Ancestors showed their loyalty by sacrificing themselves for the Emperor.”
Bond watched and listened in fascination as the Incense Master continued his recitation. After several minutes, Scarface placed the five joss sticks in the main incense pot on the altar at the five cardinal points—north, east, south, west, and centre. As he did this, he said, “The smoke of the incense sticks reaches the Heavenly Court, penetrates the earth, rises to the centre, rises to the Flower Pavilion, and reaches the city of Willows. We pledge fraternity in a union to overthrow Ch’ing—to bring an end to the decadent Ch’ing dynasty, and restore the rivers and mountains to Ming.”
Next, the Incense Master took the dishes of fruit and flowers and a cup of wine and placed them in front of the memorial tablet on the wall. He recited a similar poem, then poured the cup of wine onto the floor.
The recruits knelt before the Incense Master and rolled up their trouser legs. The left trouser leg was rolled three times outwards to signify the resurgence of Ming, and the right was rolled three times inward to signify the disappearance of Ch’ing. Then they removed their shoes and put one straw sandal on their left feet. The Incense Master said, “Straw sandals were originally of five strands. In a battle at Wu Lung river they were lost. Only one was saved and retrieved at Chung Chau.”
Next, he poured the wine into cups and emptied them on to the floor. “Wine is offered to the souls of our Ancestors and to those who died for our cause. Our fraternal spirit will last forever. The heroes in heaven will protect us. We swear we will kill all the traitors, so that Hung brothers can enjoy happiness and peace.”
At this point, two officials in black robes brought in three life-sized paper figures in a kneeling position. They were placed on the floor, and a label was attached to each figure bearing one of the names of three historical Triad traitors. An official known as the Sin Fung, or Vanguard, took a long sword from the Tau and approached the figures. He placed the five elemental flags around them and said, “A big flag is erected in the Lodge. All heroes come here to worship. When our troops move out on to the plain, this sword will first stab Ma Ning Yee.” With that, he swiftly cut off the paper head of the first figure.
“When the sword is turned back, it is used to stab Chan Man Yiu.” He then cut off the head of the second paper figure.
“On the third occasion, it stabs the bad Emperor of Ch’ing.” He then cut off the head of the third paper figure and called out, “Brothers assembled here, will you give help when the need arises?”
Everyone in the room shouted, “We will!” so loudly that it startled Bond.
At this point, the Incense Master took each of the items in the Tau, one by one, and recited a short poem about each. Following this was a long, drawn-out question-and-answer session between the Incense Master and the Vanguard, “proving” the identity and validity of the Vanguard and his role in the ceremony.
Then it was time for the actual initiation of the recruits. Each potential Triad member was given a joss stick, which was lit and held pointed down with both hands. The Vanguard asked them, “Which is the harder, the sword or your neck?”
The recruits all answered, “My neck.” Bond deduced that this was an indication that even the threat of death would not cause them to reveal the society secrets. Then the Vanguard began to read the Thirty-Six Oaths of the Society. As each oath was proclaimed, a new joss stick was lit and handed to each recruit. The recruits repeated the oath and then extinguished the joss stick on the ground in front of them, symbolizing that they, too, would be similarly extinguished if they broke the oath.
“After having entered the Hung gates I must treat the parents and relatives of my sworn brothers as my own kin. I shall suffer death by five thunderbolts if I do not keep this oath.
“When Hung brothers visit my house, I shall provide them with board and lodging. I shall be killed by myriads of swords if I treat them as strangers.
“I will always acknowledge my Hung brothers when they identify themselves. If I ignore them I will be killed by myriads of swords.
“I shall never betray my sworn brothers. If, through a misunderstanding, I have caused the arrest of one of my brothers I must release him immediately. If I break this oath I will be killed by five thunderbolts.”
The oaths continued in this fashion, mostly dealing with subjects regarding honour, betrayal, loyalty, and defending other members of the society. Several of the oaths were promises not to commit adultery or harm the other brothers’ family members. Finally, the Vanguard reached the last two oaths.
“I must never reveal Hung secrets or signs when speaking to outsiders. If I do so I will be killed by myriads of swords.
“After entering the Hung gates I shall be loyal and faithful and shall endeavour to overthrow Ch’ing and restore Ming by coordinating my efforts with those of my sworn brethren even though my brethren and I may not be in the same profession. Our common aim is to avenge our Five Ancestors.”
The Vanguard called out, “Will you swear to obey the oaths?”
“We swear to obey!” the recruits replied.
“Those who obey will be prosperous to the end. Those who do not will die as laid down in the oaths.”
During this recitation, the large yellow paper at the front of the altar was held up high, and then set on fire. The ashes were placed in the large bowl, to which was added rice wine, sugar, and cinnabar.
An official entered the room carrying a live chicken and a china bowl. He passed in front of each recruit, allowing them to touch the chicken’s head and the bowl. The Vanguard, who was holding the long sword, said, “The lotus flower signifies wealth and nobility. Loyally and faithfully we perpetuate the Hung family. The wicked and treacherous will be broken into pieces, in the same manner as this particular lotus flower.” That said, the Vanguard took the china bowl, tossed it in the air, and deftly smashed it to pieces with the sword. The official then handed over the chicken to the Vanguard, and helped him tie its legs together. They placed the chicken’s head on a chopping block, with the bowl of ashes, wine, sugar, and cinnabar on the floor next to the block.
“The chicken’s head sheds fresh blood. Here there is loyalty and righteousness. We will all live long
