Who were Chinese tongs?

Tongs were usually composed of young men, some with criminal backgrounds, or outcasts who had been expelled from their associations. Notably, many of the traditional tong activities, such as gambling, were legal in China, but not in North America.

Where did tongs come from?

The first pair of tongs belongs to the Egyptians. Tongs likely started off as basic wooden tongs and then over time progressed to bronze bars as early as 3000BC. Over time they progressed to what we now know as modern-day tongs. An Egyptian wall painting from 1450 BCE shows a crucible supported between two metal bars.

What happened to the tongs?

These forces, consisting of a militant style police force, Donaldina Cameron, and a Chinese community finally united against the tongs along with the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 that brought the end of the tongs and the Tong Wars.

Who were the tongs in San Francisco?

While gang wars are not unusual in San Francisco, perhaps the longest running ones involve tongs, which are societies or organizations within a Chinese-American community. Tongs were associations formed within Chinese immigrant communities in the 1800s.

What is the hop Wei?

The Hop Wei is a tong in Chinatown who once controlled the opium drug trade and were led by Father Jun until he was usurped by Young Jun.

When were the tong wars in San Francisco?

tong war, any of several feuds carried on in U.S. cities (e.g., San Francisco and Los Angeles) between gangs of Chinese immigrants or their descendants. These gang wars spanned a 70-year period beginning in the 1850s and continuing until the 1920s.

Who discovered tongs?

There is evidence of Egyptians using metal rods and tong like tools to hold objects over fire, in around 1450 BC.

What is tongs made of?

Tongs are constructed of stainless steel, wood, nylon, aluminum, and other heat resistant materials with a few designs having plastic or silicon coated areas on the handles as well as the Tong tips to provide a more comfortable or secure hold when grasping and holding various food items.

What is a Tongtong in North America?

Tongs in North America showed many similarities to the triads of Hong Kong and British colonies in Southeast Asia. These included similar initiation ceremonies and paying respect to the same deities.

What is the history of the tongs?

History Tongs first appeared in China in 1644 when the Ming dynasty was overthrown by the Qing dynasty. One of the first tongs was established by the secret society Zhigongtang (Chee Kung Tong), which aimed to restore the power of the Ming dynasty by removing the new Manchu rulers of the Qing dynasty.

What is a Tong in China?

Tong (organization) A tong (Chinese: 堂; Jyutping: tong4; Cantonese Yale: tong; literally: ‘hall’) is a type of organization found among Chinese immigrants living in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

What are the different groups of tongs?

Other groups worldwide that follow this pattern and are connected with the Tiandihui are known as hui, Hongmen, and triads. Tongs first appeared in China in 1644 when the Ming dynasty was overthrown by the Qing dynasty.