Flag of the five founders used in Tiandihui initiation ceremony

The flags of the five founders of the Hung Society were used during the Tiandihui initiation ceremony. They represented the society’s five founders and the provinces of its lodges. Representing the fifth principal lodge, the flag with a black border shown is ‘Honghuatang’ or the Vast Change Hall. These secret society paraphernalia are part of the William Stirling Collection. William George Stirling was the Assistant Protector of Chinese in Singapore from 1921 to 1931.