The Mystic Nine (老九门), also known as Old Nine Clans or Old Nine Gates, was a group composed of nine legendary grave robbers based in Changsha, China. It consisted of three upper clans, three middle clans, and three lower clans. Anyone can become a member as long as they defeat one of the families.[1]
As of the end of the main Daomu Biji series, all of the members of the old Mystic Nine are deceased.
Organization[]
Upper Three Clans[]
The upper three clans consisted of Zhang Qishan's Zhang Family, the Hong Family, and the Li Family. These were well-established, honest old families.[2] They had official statuses and operated legitimate business, so they relied on underlings for grave robbing.[2] Their power resembled that of some of the small warlords at the time.[2] The upper three clans included:
- Zhang Qishan–Head of the mystic nine & Changsha branch of the Zhang Family
- Eryue Hong–Head of the Hong Family
- Banjie Li–Head of the Li Family
Middle Three Clans[]
- The middle three clans were the grave-robbers and consisted of the Chen Family, the Wu Family, and the Hei Family.[2] They were courageous heroes who worked in the mountains all day.[2] They were young, greedy and were willing to steal and commit murder.[2] These families had a reputation from killing people, so they had nothing to fear.[2] The middle three clans included:
- Chen Pi Ah Si–Head of the Chen Family
- Wu Laogou–Head of the Wu Family & Wu Xie's grandfather
- Heibei Laoliu–Head of the Hei Family
Lower Three Clans[]
The lower three clans were antique dealers who rarely went grave robbing.[2] The lower three clans included:
- Huo Xiangu–Head of the Huo Family
- Qi Tiezui–Head of the Qi Family
- Xie Jiuye–Head of the Xie Family
History[]
Origins[]
The mystic nine clans or families were extremely powerful in Changsha. Almost all of the goods from grave robbing that came out of Changsha had to pass through one of the families.[2] The name "old nine gates" came from the similarities between the nine families and the nine gates of ancient Beijing. Merchants who entered or left the city had to go through one of the nine gates.[2] Similarly, anyone who wanted to do business in Changsha had to go through one of the families.[2] The nine families each have their own territory in Changsha which hadn't changed for decades.[3]
References[]