The "hoonhoozy" or Chinese bandits roamed the countryside in Manchuria and parts of Siberia, the areas that bordered Manchuria. Those of you who saw the wonderful Akira Kurosawa movie that was made in the 1970s,"Dersu Uzala," may recall a scene where "hoonhoozy" are encountered. Actually, Dersu and his Russian companions stumble upon "hoonhoozy's" grisly work. But "hoonhoozy" were not the only Chinese bandits that were around in China and its bordering countries. There were Chinese bandits operating all over China. Now the bandits I am referring to are not to be confused with the Triads that operate in the cities. So, in a sense, there were two types of criminal organizations operating in China in the old days. The Triads (they were known as "Tongs" or neighborhood associations in America) were very sophisticated organizations that no doubt are still thriving in some parts, especially in places like Hong Kong where traditionally the Triads had been doing well. They have learned to keep a very low profile, especially in China where the PRC government is ruthless in dealing with such groups. The "hoonhoozy" of the old days, on the other hand, have disappeared.
China has been splintered throughout its history. It is only today that it is united under one rule, the PRC. But even that is not entirely correct since there is what may be called a separate state in Taiwan that is known as the Republic of China. So, even today, it is not completely unified. But in the old days, it was constantly being split, then unified in some parts, then split again. So the map of China literally changed from one dynasty to the next. In many cases, the various so-called kingdoms that existed in China in the past were founded by war lords who got their own start as brigands. So, throughout China there were always bandits in the countryside and in the population centers, more sophisticated criminals that later became to be known as Triads.
Manchuria was not considered part of China in its earlier history. In fact, the inhabitants of Manchuria were ethnically different, they were not the "han people" as Chinese call themselves. However, the Chinese did colonize Manchuria and moved-in many of its own people to make Manchuria more Chinese. Today, of course it is Chinese, although even today there are groups in Manchuria that call for autonomy! But in the early 20th Century, it had an identity crises which the Japanese tried to solve by creating the puppet state of Manchukuo. As I say in the book, Manchuria was run loosely by war lord Chiang Su Ling, and the countryside was wild, with "hoonhoozy" operating unmolested. Japanese were finally able to put a stop to the bandits operating freely, but they still practiced their trade!
In other parts of China bandits operated in the similar fashion as "hoonhoozy" in Manchuria. They may not have been called by the same name, but they were the same kind of brigands. Many American readers of comic strips in newspapers were exposed to Chinese bandits for the first time when they read "Terry and the Pirates" in the 1940s, and later "Steve Canyon" a very popular syndicated comic strip that appeared in the "Stars & Stripes" regularly and ran until the 1980s. Some may recall the rather sympathetic and comical portrayal of Chinese bandits who were protectors of Steve Canyon's adopted daughter, Poteet. I don't know where the author/cartoonist Milton Caniff found such lovable bandits, but in real life, they were ruthless and not so kindly or lovable. But then, it was just a comic strip.
The Chinese bandits were most active in outlying areas, at the edges of the country where there was minimal government control. Manchuria was just such a place until the Japanese moved in and somewhat subdued the "hoonhoozy."
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