Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-22
CHINA's VEGETARIAN SECT.
A Much Dreaded Secret Society and
It's Object.


It's Object.
From the New York Tribune.
The vegetarian Sect which is said to
be supporting the Boxers in Swallow, is the
second largest secret society in China. 1t
is not nearly old as the Triad Society
although 1t has a century two Of history
behind it, and 1T has not spread to foreign
countries, like its better known rival; but
within China itself 1t is quite as much fear
ed and justly so, for the organization has
accomplished wonders In certain directions
The society is Of religious origin, and
keeps up this character much more consist
emily than do the Triads. 1t is also poiti-
cal, and has for it's object the restoration
of the pre- Manchu dynasty of Ming It's
real name. Wu-Wei Kiaou, Is translated as
the Do-Nothing or No-Hypocrisy, League.
It's members are vegetarians and the high
err officers dress in white. The head of the
society has absolute control over the mem
bers, wherever they may be, and is regard
ed not only by members of his society but
by the Chinese in general as the possessor
of awful magic secrets in the existence of
which all Chinese believe. And. indeed,
more than one of their performances savors
of the uncanny. Early in the century this
society nearly accomplished it's purpose of
overthrowing the Manchu rule. a great
plot was laid TO blow up the palace at Pc
kin, and although hundreds. perhaps thous-
ands, were concerned in the affair, SO per-
feet was the discipline that the whole plot
was kept secret until the last moment. AT
the minute Of applying the torch fear over
came one of the conspirators, and by cry
ing out that they were betrayed he alarm
ed the soldiery and brought on himself and
his companions the fate he dreaded.
But the perfect organization of the soci-
ETY. was even more strikingly shown in the
affair of the pigtails. This sounds like the
title Of a comic story, and, indeed 1t is in
tensely humorous, from the occidental point
of view, although serious enough to a Chi
naman The queue of Chinaman is the
symbol of his submission to the Manchu
conquerors.. Hence the necessity of his
preserving 1t as he would his life. To cut
1t off is tantamount to saying Down with
the authorities" and the powers that be
the offender with such summary justice as
will forever prevent repetition Of the rasn
act. Imagink therefore, the CONSERVATION
on all sides when, without any apparent
SIDE No one was safe. The precious ap-
pendage would disappear like magic at the
most unexpected times-while eating, while
sleeping, while talking with a friend while
doing nothing at all. For time there was
a reign of terror. Every respectable Chi
naman kept Highland on his queue. real
izing only too e1early the close connection
between that and his head. If Snip went
one. Chop would go the other
At last, whenf this had been going on for
weeks and even months, the affair was ex-
planned The Wu-Wei Kiacu was doing it.
special kind Of scissors had been made
for its members. of small size and easily
held in the palm of the hand. With this in
genious weapon and a little dexterity It be-
came easy to cut queues on every side, as
a warning to the government that the
spirit of hostility to the Manchus was not
to be allowed to die. After this daring act
the Chinese people conceived for the WI
Wei Kiaou a profound and enduring re-
spect.