This is the grand membership certificate of the Ghee Hin Kongsi, the Hokkien-dominated and largest Chinese secret society in Singapore in the 19th and early 20th century. While most membership certificates had to be carried around by members at all times for identification purposes, this elaborate certificate were left at home and members carried around simplified versions. This particular certificate, however, does not have the necessary stamps of the society and its affiliates to validate it. Secret societies in Singapore were set up in the 19th century with increased Chinese migration to the British colony to provide mutual aid and support for the migrants. These societies had originated from the Tiandihui, which in turn was a local version of the secret society in China that was a sworn fraternity of men with the common aim of overthrowing the Qing dynasty and restoring the Ming.
