On the Origin of the Gelaohui

Abstract

Various theories have been put forward, both in China and abroad, as to the origin, character, and name of the Gelaohui, which was the most widespread and powerful society of the late Qing. For a long time the most prevalent view among historians was that the Gelaohui and the Tiandihui both emerged from the anti-Qing, Ming loyalist organization formed by Zheng Chenggong in the Kangxi period (1662-1722). This view originated with bourgeois revolutionaries of the 191 1 period such as Tao Chengzhang (191 1) and others. They invented the far-fetched historical pedigree in order to make use of the societies to stir up revolution, and, embellished by certain secret society writings, this story has taken on a positively mysterious quality (Liu Shiliang, 1946; Liu Lianke, 1940; Zhu Lin, n.d.). After Liberation, and even today, although the error of this theory has been pointed out, it still has a certain amount of influence. In recent years, however, the discovery of a great deal of archival material has provided even clearer proof that this theory is entirely without basis.