You rarely see them nowadays, but back in the past, secret societies were the force back then. Protection money, gang fights, using violence to settle issues, these underground organizations were the bosses back in colonial Singapore. But how did they identify their “brothers” from the rival gangs?

Well, you see this amulet-like thing above? It kind of looks like those imperial stamps you see on those ancient Chinese drama TV shows, right? Well, it serves to identify oneself as a member of a kongsi, a Chinese secret society. It caught my attention with its ancient yellow parchment, standing out among other artefacts that record the prescence of secret societies.

This artefact over here, recorded down by the National Heritage Board as “Membership Certificate of the Penang Ghee Hin Kongsi (William Stirling Collection)” was known to be from the early 20th century from Singapore, but a little trip to Google and Wikipedia reveals that the Ghee Hin Kongsi was actually formed in 1820, having its roots in both Malaya and Singapore.

The Ghee Hin Kongsi were notorious for rioting against Catholic Chinese in 1850, killing over 500 people. Plus they rioted against the post offices in 1876.

It would probably make you feel better to know that they were suppressed from 1890s onwards by the colonial government, with their main lodging in Lavender Street torn down.

After all being involved in the Perak Civil War back in the 19th century kind of certifies them to certain extermination.

Don’t you suddenly feel so safe in a nation where most secret societies are a thing of the past? After all, there are still the shadows of salakau (369) and Ang Soon Tong that are flitting around…

Tags: Ghee Hin Kongsi, SGCool Contest