The number nine 九 was a symbolic number in imperial China. It matches the same phonetic character 久 with the meaning „eternal.“ Nine also plays an important role for the People’s Republic and its founder Mao Zedong. His new biography, commissioned by the Communist Party, is a nine-kilo mammoth chronicle stretching nine volumes. „毛泽东年谱 1893-1976.“ Volume 1 begins with Mao’s birth on December 23, 1893, and the astonishingly casual description of his father, who „knew how to do business“ (善于经营) and made it from „poor, wealthy to rich farmer.“ Volume 9 concludes succinctly: „September 9, 1976: Ten minutes past midnight. Mao passes away in Beijing at the age of 83.“