Taming Violence: The Shanghai Green Gang and its Self-Legitimation Claims in the Early Twentieth Century

Abstract From the end of nineteenth century to mid-twentieth century, gangs and secret societies ( banghui ) exercised enormous influence on Chinese society politics. The two portrayals in historiography – as modern criminal syndicates that came out an emerging capitalist economy or, alternatively, a cultural succession traditional are so distinct their proponents often speak past each other. Revisiting primary secondary materials Shanghai Green Gang, one most active organizations during Republican era (1911–49), this article aims bridge understandings by focusing gang’s self-legitimation claims. Facing rapid social changes early twentieth I argue, Gang reframed its use violence disciplinary, revolutionary, nationalistic gain public legitimation. Together with involvement state building resource extraction, work contributed prominence led multiple political authorities promote it exceptional degree.