The Triads are the Chinese secret societies that originated in the mythic Shaolin monastery, overthrew the Qing dynasty, evolved into organized crime syndicates and today dominate the international heroin trade. Their influence has spread worldwide through the Chinese diaspora. The symbol of the Triads is a triangle enclosing the characters for heaven, earth and man and membership involves the practice of complex rituals involving mystical and martial arts. This classic work is the definitive study of the history, symbols and secret rituals of the Triads. Beginning with the origins of the Triads, it describes and illustrates the initiation ritual of the mystical journey, secret signs and words, Triad slang, the rite of the magic mirror, the oath of blood brotherhood, the symbolic decoration of Triad temples, symbolic numbers, sacred colors, Triad magic, and the meaning of the many sacred objects and ceremonies at the heart of Triad practice in minute detail. The authors also compare the Chinese Triads with other secret societies and systems of belief including Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, and conclude that the Triad ritual is a potent mystical allegory with an immense power that can be used for good or ill.