Some groups or some tradition because it was not just one group,
it was a tradition that could include dozens of groups.
Some of them included more than one million or
some of them several millions of people in China.
So it was not just a local secret society.
It was a large, very large religious groups.
These groups finally step by step try to establish the old organizations.
In the traditional China, for example, in 18th century or
even earlier, these groups were organized around so
called alters or in Chinese the tan or
around some holes which also means shrine.
So for example the hole of the [FOREIGN] of Old Mother.
And some of these organizations had no any specific name.
Because it was just a local organization of some village.
So everyone, everyone knew each other didn't need any name.
But some of these organizations were connected some groups were
connected to each other.
And they identified themselves as a member of some traditions.
For example, Yiguandao or tradition of Xiantiandao.
So that's why they establish a different kind of societies or
ways, which is a name for the organization, or gates.
So in Chinese hui dao mong hui means society.
Dao, it means way.
And mong means gates, or doors.
Gates to the true teaching to the idea the gates for salvation.
Even today, especially in Hong Kong, in Taiwan, and among the Chinese
community outside China, for example, United States, or in United Kingdom.
We can find such a Hui, so it means societies.
And there are religious societies but at the same time,
they play a role of the self supporting societies for
the chinese who came from other provinces or other countries, and support them,
give money, give a bridge and support, for example, to find a good job.
So, today these organizations, especially outside China,
play a very important social role.
In mainland China today, the Peoples Republic of China,
such group should be registered and should have a legal status.
It means they have a special registration.
And should be connected to some State organization,
like a department of culture, or some religious official organization.
In Taiwan or in Hong Kong,
the majority of these organizations are so-called the self-organizing.
They just proclaim themselves.
They put some labels, some table, or some tablet,
on the door of some shrine, which was written name of these organizations.
And that's it, if they don't break some rules or regulations,
especially state regulation, state in Taiwan or in Hong Kong.
They don't pay too much attention to them.
If they follow some rules or regulations.
First of all in general, support the official politics.
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