Our Family Tree (Jiapu 家譜/家谱)

Great Britain since the 18th century consumed a lot of Chinese tea. There were no manufactured goods from England that the Chinese desired. The tea had to be purchased by English silver, which caused a drop in reserves. Britain then introduced opium from the British East India Company, and found a ready market in an addicted China. Sensing the destructions of their social fabric, Qing emperors fought and lost to the British this war.

The contestants were the Qing empire against a consortium of American and European powers. Again the Qing were defeated and lost port cities to the control of the western powers.

The bloodiest civil war in history with upwards to 70 million killed, between the Qing empire and a theocratic Christian based society. The Qing had to seek help from France and the United Kingdom. This weakened the central Qing government and saw the rise of warlords.

2nd foreign dynasty to rule China—Unlike the Mongols however, the Manchu adopted Chinese dress and customs. However, they did force men to wear the queue. Neo-Confucianism was made the official doctrine, demanding loyalty to the emperor, but Chinese culture was preserved and Chinese were excluded only from the very senior court positions. Increasing European trade causedforeign powers divide China into spheres of influence. The Boxer uprising caused the downfall of this last dynasty. source

These started as conflicts between clans and sensationalized by American media as gang and turf urban warfare.

Many reasons for these Associations to exist 1. insurance 2. protection 3. companionship 4. ancestor veneration