Four Brothers (tong)
Encyclopedia
The Four Brothers was a New York-based tong
which rivaled the On Leong
and Hip Sing Tongs for control of Chinatown during the early 1900s. Their murder of 21-year-old Bow Kum
, recently "bought" by a member of the rival On Leongs to take as his wife, began a violent gang war between the three Tongs lasting over a year before a truce was arranged by the United States and Chinese government
s.
Tong (organization)
The word tong means "hall" or "gathering place". In North America a tong is a type of organization found among Chinese living in the United States and Canada. These organizations are described as secret societies or sworn brotherhoods and are often tied to criminal activity...
which rivaled the On Leong
On Leong Tong
The On Leong Chinese Merchants Association or simply Chinese Merchants Association, formerly known as the On Leong Tong , was a tong society operating out of its territory in Mott Street in New York's Chinatown. Established in November, 1893, the tong fought a violent war for control of...
and Hip Sing Tongs for control of Chinatown during the early 1900s. Their murder of 21-year-old Bow Kum
Bow Kum
Bow Kum was a Chinese-born slave girl who belonged to the Hip Sing Tong and later to the On Leong Tong around the turn of the century...
, recently "bought" by a member of the rival On Leongs to take as his wife, began a violent gang war between the three Tongs lasting over a year before a truce was arranged by the United States and Chinese government
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
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