Letter to Song Qingling
(January 26, 1956)

Source: Shuxin, p. 508.
See text Oct. 10, 1952, vol. I, source note.

My dear elder sister:!

I have long received your New Year postcard. I am very happy and deeply
grateful [for your best wishes]. Jiang Qing’ has gone abroad for treatment [of her
illness] and has not yet returned. How are you? You are sleeping well, I hope? I
am still very much the same. I have an excellent appetite for food, and as for
sleeping, I can sleep fairly well; so so. I guess for the next few years [at least] I
won't have to go to see God. Still, one must recognize the symptoms that one is on
the downward side of things. I hope that you will take good care of your health.

Mao Zedong
January 26, 1956

Notes

1. Here Mao is employing this form of address out of veneration for Song as well as a
certain intimacy of affection. He was, of course, not related to Song.
2. See text May 12, 1950(1), vol. I, note 2.