Celestial Order of the Si-Fan

85 ALBERT EMBANKMENT, LONDON SE1, ENGLAND

Real Name:

Si Fan Tian Zhi (Chinese: 死 番 天 秩, Pinyin: Sǐ Fān Tiān Zhì English: Celestial Order of the Foreign Death).

Membership:

Mr. Aden, Allington, Mai Cha, Lou Cabot, Dr. Chang, Pan Chen, Jacob Edward Crossland, Lola Damas, Dr. Peter Marriot Doughty, "Dweller in Darkness", Fah Lo Suee, Farazan, Fu Manchu, Dr. Heron, Homopoulo, Hopkinson, James Rigwell Horton, Ibrahim, John Kennington, Shaka Kharn, Koenig, Chow Loo, Lopez, M'goyna, Mahmud, Midnight, Sha Mu, Paulo, Chai Phen, Professor Richner, Nadia Rostov, Sata, Seo-Kai-Chen, Shadow-Hand, Shadow-Stalker, Shang-Chi, Kwai Sing, Professor Swain, Tiger-Claw, Tsu-Gamo, General Huan Tsung-Chao, Johann Vortland, Lord Weimer, James Brownlow Wilton, Ecko Yusaki, Zazima, ranks infiltrated by Sgt. Jack Kenealy.

Objective: 

To restore China to the former glory of the Ming Dynasty. To undermine and overthrow world governments. 

Affiliations: 

Black Dragon Society, the Council of Seven, Kingpin Wilson Fisk, League of Good Americans, the Leopard Cult, Order of the Golden Dawn, Stark-Fujikawa, Sublime Order of the White Peacock.

Enemies: 

Rudolf Adlon, Captain Jacob Beecher, Blevins, Wilhelm Bucher, Cadre of Salvation, Professor Chiozza, Dr. Morris Craig, "Dark Angel" Mia Lessing, Marcel Delibes, General Diesler, Elektra, Robert Greville, Shan Greville, Rufus T. Hackstabber, Sir Gregory Hale, Hellfire Club, Captain Mark Purcell Hepburn, Iron Fist, Sgt. Jack Kenealy, Omar Khan, James Larner, Lyman Leeks, Li, Mara Ling, Sandra Ling, James Longton, Kwai Loo, Demmy Marston, Tony McKay, Pietro Monaghani, George Moreno, Oriental Expediters, Past Assassins, Dr. Petrie, General Quinto, Clive Reston, Shang-Chi, Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Sons of the Tiger (Abe Brown, Bob Diamond, Lin Sun), Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu, Maximillian Zaran.

Base of Operations: 

Headquarters - Honan, China.
Formerly the Village of the Leopard Cult - near Peru, South America.
Formerly an Unnamed Mountain Headquarters - Somewhere, Arctic.
Formerly International Headquarters - New York City, New York.
Formerly Shen-Yan's Opium Den - London, England.
Formerly Christophe's Citadel - Haiti.
Formerly St. Claire de la Roche - Southeastern, France.
Various bases in Cairo, Egypt; Hong Kong, China; London, England; New York City, New York; Paris, France; Rangoon, Burma.

History: 

1898
June
The Hundred Days' Reform begins.
The Sublime Order successfully maneuvers the Empress Dowager into accepting retirement and allowing the Emperor Guangxu to rule in his own stead.

Progressive Chinese officials, with support from Protestant missionaries, persuade the Guangxu Emperor to institute wide-sweeping reforms. One of these reforms is to create a modern Chinese army under tight central command. This reform is met with bitter opposition, since the military is predominantly under control of a few provincial Governor-Generals. This alienates many conservative officials.

October
The Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (Chinese: 义 谐 拳 會, Pinyin: Yì Hé Quán Huì) is a secret society founded in the northern coastal province of Shandong, China. Membership largely consists of local farmers, peasants, and laborers who have lost their livelihoods. Due to the martial arts they practice, foreigners refer to these well-trained, athletic, young men as "Boxers".

Made desperate by disastrous floods, famine, widespread opium addiction, and foreign imperialist expansion, the "Boxers" lay blame for their poor standard of living on Christian missionaries, Chinese Christians, and those foreigners colonizing their country.

In Shandong, China has given too many territorial and commercial concessions to several European nations. As a result, the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists attack the Christian community of Liyuantun village where a temple to the Jade Emperor had been converted into a Catholic church. This incident marks the first time Boxers employ the slogan "Fú Míng miè yáng" (Chinese: 扶 清 灭 洋, English: Support the Qing, Destroy the Foreigners). This incident sparks a campaign of regular attacks conducted on foreigners, missionaries, and Chinese Christians.

So begins the Boxer Movement. It's essentially a terrorist movement by the Chinese people to purify China by purging foreigners and foreign influence. It's an organic response to the long-train of increasingly distasteful attitudes and actions of the British and other foreign powers tword the Chinese people in particular and China in general.

Shan Ming Fu, as the governor of Honan Province, which borders on Shantung, can crush the movement in its early stages. However, he and the Sublime Order believe they can use this uprising and their anti-foreign credo to exile Westerners and remove their influence by restoring a sense of national unity and patriotism to the Chinese masses.

September
Opposition from conservative officials to The Hundred Days' Reform, forces the conservtive Empress Dowager to intervene. She seizes power from Emperor Guangxu, rescinds his reform edicts, and places him under house arrest. The failure of his reform movement disillusions many educated Chinese and thus further weakens Qing Government.
[ The Devil Doctor: The Early History of Fu Manchu by Dennis E. Power. ]

1899
The Boxer Movement spreads to Honan.
Many newly formed secret societies are joining the Boxer Movement throughout China. One such society, calling themselves the Celestial Order of the Si-Fan (Chinese: 死 番, Pinyin: Sǐ Fān, English: foreign death), forms in Honan. As Governor-General, Shan Ming Fu leverages his official position to cultivate this anti-Westerner sentiment within Honan. Consequently, the Si-Fan rapidly gain popularity and support throughout the province.

While Shan Ming Fu openly opposes Western Imperial expansion, he secretly harbors far more grand ambitions. It's because of such ambition that Shan Ming Fu joins the ranks of these Si-Fan. Shan Ming Fu quickly secures his rightful position of leadership as Dragon Head of the organization. The Sublime Order and the Council of Seven are quite pleased with this unexpected turn of events.
[ The Precursors of Dr. Fu Manchu by Dr. Lawrence Knapp. ] [ The Secret History of Fu Manchu by Dixon Kinqade. ]

1913 - 1914

Fu Manchu was first revealed to be a part of the Sublime Order's international operations. Yen-Sun-Yat of the Council of Seven provided assistance to the Reverend J.D. Eltham, earning the reverend the wrath of Fu Manchu as he attempted to learn who the traitor within the Si-Fan was. Yen-Sun-Yat was ultimately executed by the Si-Fan in China.

The Si-Fan was revealed to be an old secret society that sprang from Asia and grew to include many who were eager to manipulate world affairs. Fu Manchu served as the organization's Dragon Head. He sought to conquer the western world and restore China to the ways he preferred.

[ The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu ]

After Fu Manchu fell out of good standing within the Sublime Order, making an enemy of his rival Ki-Ming. Ki-Ming attempted to seize control of the Si-Fan. Fu Manchu regained control with the aid of his daughter Fah Lo Suee, the Lady of the Si-Fan. Fu Manchu and Fah Lo Suee attended a gathering of the Si-Fan - including the Council of Seven - in England, in which Fah Lo Suee was presented to the Si-Fan. This gathering was witnessed by Dr. Petrie. Fu Manchu and Fah Lo Suee managed to escape when the building was raided.

[ The Hand of Fu Manchu ]

1928 

Fah Lo Suee assumed leadership of the Si-Fan from her father. She hosted a meeting of the Council of Seven at El-Kharga, Egypt. When the gathering was infiltrated by Nayland Smith and his ally Shan Greville, the Si-Fan turned on them and Greville was briefly made their prisoner. Ultimately, Fu Manchu returned to lead the Si-Fan, relegating Fah Lo Suee to support him.

[ The Daughter of Fu Manchu ]

1930 

The Si-Fan assisted Fu Manchu as he sought the holy relics of El Mokanna in an attempt to foment a religious war.

[ The Mask of Fu Manchu ]

1932 

The Si-Fan met with Fu Manchu as he plotted to transform Sir Denis Nayland Smith with the murderous psychopathy of Jack the Ripper. Smith was saved by the arrival of Lyman Leeks and Dr. Petrie.

[ MOKF #100. This story is told in flashback. ]

1933

The Si-Fan aided Fu Manchu as he resumed operations in England and sought to make Fleurette his bride. Fu Manchu's base was brought down in a police raid.

[ The Trail of Fu Manchu ]

1935 

The Si-Fan assisted Fu Manchu in his attempt to control the next President of the United States through a front organization, the League of Good Americans. Virtually no one within the League was aware of the Si-Fan's involvement. Members of the Council of Seven were captured in New York by Nayland Smith, but had to be released due to lack of evidence.

[ President Fu Manchu ] 

When Pan Chen attempted to leave the Si-Fan with his lover Ducharme after botching an assassination, Fu Manchu captured the couple and had Chen put to death.

[ MOKF #44. This story is told in flashback. ]

1937 

The Council of Seven ordered the deaths of the fifteen men who could cause World War II. Many of these were killed while some, such as Pietro Monaghani, submitted to the Si-Fan and were spared.

[ The Drums of Fu Manchu ]

1940 

The Si-Fan set up a base in Christophe's Citadel, Haiti. They recruited followers from local voodoo worshipers, only to have their operations interrupted by Nayland Smith and Bart Kerrigan. The Citadel was ultimately destroyed when their Erickson ray attracted a bolt of lightning from the sky.

[ The Island of Fu Manchu ]

1941 

Fu Manchu's bride, Mara Ling, was tempted with the Elixir Vitae, but refused to remain with Fu Manchu. One of the Si-Fan was dispatched to pursue her and her true love, Li.

[ MOKF #114. This story is told in flashback. ]

1947 

The Si-Fan planted agents among those working with Dr. Morris Craig, seeking to obtain his transmuter weapon. Fu Manchu went so far as to offer Dr. Craig a position in the Council of Seven. Tthey were ultimately denied the weapon.

[ The Shadow of Fu Manchu ]

1951 

The Si-Fan assisted Fu Manchu in his plot to use a Runsen beam to transmute US gold reserves into lead. Nayland Smith discovered their operations and helped arrest the Council of Seven.

[ The Wrath of Fu Manchu ]

1956 

Agents of the Si-Fan aided Fu Manchu in his attempt to overthrow Communist China by making the US powerful enough to conquer it for him. His plot was discovered by Nayland Smith and Brian Merrick, Jr.

[ Re-Enter Fu Manchu ]

1957

When police Sgt. Jack Kenealy infiltrated the Si-Fan, Fu Manchu became aware of his true identity and had him killed using an electrical charge transmitted through the Si-Fan amulet Kenealy had worn.

[ The Word of Fu Manchu ]

1958

Fu Manchu and the Si-Fan made an alliance of convenience with Communist China, diverting resources to their own organization. They attracted the attention of Nayland Smith and Tony MacKay. The register of the Si-Fan's membership was stolen from General Huan Tsung-Chao. Ultimately, it wound up in the hands of Smith, who hoped that it might be the means to permanently cripple the organization.

[ Emperor Fu Manchu ]

1959

Smith and McKay launched their attack upon the Si-Fan. The attempt failed. Fu Manchu had McKay killed. He tortured Smith by having his sumo servant Tak crush his legs.

[ SME #15. This story is told in flashback. ]

1962

When Shang-Chi was ten, the assassin Tiger-Claw petitioned Fu Manchu to make him a lodge-master in the Si-Fan. He exhibited his prowess by killing three of Fu Manchu's best Si-Fan warriors. Fu Manchu accepted him into the Si-Fan.

[ MOKF GS #4. This story is told in flashback. ]

1971

Fu Manchu ordered Kwai Loo to kill his son Shang-Chi, who had turned against him. Kwai refused and fought his way through the Si-Fan to escape Fu Manchu's Honan fortress. The Si-Fan were dispatched to kill Kwai Loo.

[ DHOKF #5. This story is told in flashback. ]

1972

When gambler Demmy Marston attempted to kill Shang-Chi to collect Fu Manchu's bounty, Fu Manchu had the Si-Fan bring down Demmy's men and Fu Manchu killed Marston himself.

[ MOKF #21 ]

Some Si-Fan disguised as waiters attacked Shang-Chi in a Chinese restaurant. They were defeated. Later, the Si-Fan captured Smith and Black Jack Tarr when they raided Fu Manchu's New York base. They journeyed to Mount Rushmore with Fu Manchu as he planned to destroy the mountain and kill Smith and Tarr in the explosion. Shang-Chi came to his friends' rescue, bested the Si-Fan and saved the mountain.

[ MOKF #22 ]

On Shang-Chi's birthday, Fu Manchu employed Seven Elite Assassins of the Si-Fan to kill his son. Each member failed at their task.

[ MOKF GS #1 ]

1973

Fu Manchu employed his Si-Fan, and men hired to dress in Si-Fan robes, to kidnap members of the Chinese and US delegations to the United Nations. His plan to pit the two nations against each other was foiled by the individual efforts of Iron Fist, the Sons of the Tiger, and Shang-Chi. Fu Manchu slew his Si-Fan operatives as he escaped.

[ DHOKF SAE #1 ]

Si-Fan assassin Chow Loo was sent to kill Shang-Chi, but failed in his mission. When he lied about his failure, Fu Manchu transformed him into a gorilla-like creature and sent him to oppose Shang-Chi in Los Angeles. He was killed in battle.

[ DHOKF #4 ]

The Si-Fan finally caught up to Kwai Loo, who had become a martial arts performer in films. Disguised as stuntmen, they killed him during filming.

[ DHOKF #5 ]

Fu Manchu attempted to destroy Shang-Chiwith the remnants of the Past Assassins. Shang-Chitricked them into a fight with local criminals in San Francisco.

[ DHOKF #7 ]

1974

A number of Si-Fan assassins attacked Shang-Chi and Sandra Ling in New York's Central Park. Later, when Shang-Chi went to Peking, China, to defend Sandra's father from Fu Manchu, several assassins attacked him aboard his plane, disguised as the crew and passengers. He defeated them and released the real flight crew. In Peking, Shang-Chi fought dozens of Si-Fan at his father's base alongside Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr. Fu Manchu escaped.

[ MOKF GS #2 ]

Fu Manchu sought an alliance with Wilhelm Bucher, who had a leftover Nazi missile at his compound in South America. Bucher attempted to double-cross Fu Manchu. The Si-Fan fought Bucher's men, with Shang-Chi secretly disguising himself as Si-Fan member Chai Phen. The Si-Fan were killed. Fu Manchu was saved by Shang-Chi, who thwarted Bucher from using the missile.

[ MOKF #23-24 ]

One of the Si-Fan on the mission was captured by local Jivaros in the jungle and held in their village. Shang-Chi was able to set him free when he passed through the village. The Si-Fan still sought to take his life per Fu Manchu's orders. Shang-Chi hurled him off a cliff, killing him.

[ MOKF #25 ]

Si-Fan agent Shadow-Stalker was dispatched to kidnap Nayland Smith for Fu Manchu. He succeeded, but was eventually tracked by Shang-Chi, who bested him in combat and freed Smith.

[ MOKF GS #3 ]

The Si-Fan aided Fu Manchu in El-Kharga as he clashed with Fah Lo Suee in the hunt for the Golden Beetle. The Si-Fan sent to oppose Fah Lo Suee at the tomb of Seth-Amon all perished when Fu Manchu detonated a bomb to destroy the tomb.

[ MOKF #26 ]

One of the Si-Fan made an attempt on Shang's life, but killed a street corner religious enthusiast instead. Shang-Chi went to Fu Manchu's New York base and interrupted a meeting of Seven Elite Assassins of the Si-Fan, in which Fu Manchu related the news that Fah Lo Suee had fragmented the Si-Fan into rival factions. The Council were bested by Shang. When Fu Manchu offered him a chance to kill him, Shang-Chi declined.

[ MOKF #27 ]

As the civil war between the Si-Fan factions continued, Shadow-Stalker seemingly defected to Fah Lo Suee. Then aided Shang-Chi against her. He suggested that he and Shang-Chi make their own bid for power. Shang-Chi declined.

[ MOKF #28 ]

1975

Fu Manchu learned that Tiger-Claw was robbing a number of banks, believing that in the struggle between Fu Manchu and Fah Lo Suee, he should strike out to build his own power base. Fu Manchu dispatched Si-Fan to deal with him. They were all beaten by Tiger-Claw and Shang-Chi. Shang-Chi defeated Tiger-Claw, halting his plans.

[ MOKF GS #4 ]

Rogue Si-Fan, who followed Tiger-Claw assisted him in his hunt for a vial of Fu Manchu's Elixir Vitae, clash with Shang-Chi and Rufus T. Hackstabber. The supposed hiding place, an elephant statuette,  proved to be empty.

[ MOKF #52 ]

The Si-Fan aided Fu Manchu in his scheme to shift the moon from its orbit. They helped retrieve the remains of Shaka Kharn so that he could be revived to serve Fu Manchu. They wiped out many of the Oriental Expediters, recruiting the survivors into their ranks. Fu Manchu's plot was thwarted by the efforts of MI-6, including Shang-Chi, Clive Reston, and Fu Manchu himself seemed to perish in space.

[ MOKF #45-50 ]

The Si-Fan aboard Fu Manchu's space vessel attempted to kill Reston and Shang-Chi after Fu Manchu's seeming death. Reston and Shang-Chi bested them and returned to Earth.

[ MOKF #51 This story is told in flashback. ]

1978

Fu Manchu's shuttle crashed in South America, where he was found by a tribe who had made no contact with the outside world before. He became their master. Then summoned the Si-Fan to help him set up a new power base in the jungles, training his new followers into the Leopard Cult.

[ MOKF #82 This story is told in flashback. ]

Fu Manchu brought the Si-Fan, Phansigars, Thugees, Hashishin, Templars, Leopard Cult, Light-Seekers, Followers of the Left-Hand Path, Three-Cornered Sight, Twenty-Third Sect to his South American base, and combined their ranks into the Order of the Golden Dawn. He had representatives of the U.N. brought to him and given mind control devices so that they could initiate acts of destruction in their home countries, starting World War III. He also employed "UFOs" with genetically-engineered "aliens" to sow chaos. Fah Lo Suee seemingly returned to serve her father. However, she proved to be disloyal yet again, providing aid to Shang-Chi, Nayland Smith and their allies. Shang-Chi confronted Fu Manchu in New York as he was preparing to detonate a nuclear bomb. He fought his father aboard a "UFO," savagely beating Fu Manchu and then smashing the ship's controls, sending it to crash in the ocean, seemingly killing Fu Manchu.

[ MOKF #83-86, 88-89 ]

A Si-Fan who had been left behind when Fu Manchu abandoned New York years earlier became the "Dweller in Darkness," using a trained gorilla to attack locals while awaiting his master's return. He was discovered by Shang-Chi and Leiko Wu. He died when his own gorilla turned on him.

[ MOKF #92 ]

1979

Some of the Si-Fan loyal to Leiko Wu fought Shang-Chi as he was searching for the Mad Slayer, attempting to preserve the Mad Slayer so that Fah Lo Suee could have him to herself.

[ MOKF #100 ]

1981

The Si-Fan who had pursued Li and Mara Ling for decades, using the Elixir Vitae to remain in peak form, finally killed Li. He was killed fighting Shang-Chi when he fell upon Li's arrows.

[ MOKF #114 ]

1982

The Si-Fan defended Fu Manchu's Honan fortress when Shang-Chi and his allies raided it. They were unable to prevent the fortress' near-total destruction and the apparent death of Fu Manchu.

[ MOKF #118 ]

1983

The Si-Fan defended Shang-Chi's mother as she confronted her son, shaming him for allowing his father to die.

[ MOKF #123 ]

The Si-Fan waited for Fu Manchu's return upon an island off the coast of China. Shadow-Hand attempted to claim leadership, offering to lead the Si-Fan to a supply of the Elixir Vitae. He was opposed by Shang-Chi. Shang-Chi took temporary command of the Si-Fan. He ordered them to forget his father and give up the way of assassins. They agreed to obey until Fu Manchu's return.

[ MOKF BB ]

Clarifications:

Although it could be assumed that any of Fu Manchu's agents are members of the Si-Fan, he has often employed agents who had no idea of his true identity, some have served Si-Fan interests without even being aware of the organization's name or purpose, and the many other groups Fu Manchu has controlled, including Dacoits, Hashishin, Phansigars, have been treated as either the same or separate entities from the Si-Fan, varying from source to source. For that reason, this entry restricts membership to those specifically identified as one of the Si-Fan.

In the comics, Si-Fan are usually martial artists, assassins, and often dress as ninja.

Si [ Chinese: 死, Pinyin: Sǐ, English: death or dead ]

Fan [ Chinese: 番, Pinyin: Fān, English: foreign ]

Si Fan [ Chinese: 死 番, Pinyin: Sǐ Fān, English: foreign death or dead foreiner ]

Sifan [ Chinese: 死番, Pinyin: Sǐfān, English: foreign death or dead foreiner ]