Liu Can

Liu Can (柳璨; died January 27, 906), courtesy name Zhaozhi (炤之 or 昭之), formally the Baron of Hedong (河東男), nicknamed Liu Qiezi (柳篋子, "Liu the File Folder"), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, near the end of the dynasty. He was an associate of warlord Zhu Quanzhong, the military governor (jiedushi) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan). He assisted Zhu in the process of usurping the Li family to seize the Tang throne. However, eventually, Zhu became impatient of the pace that Liu and his other associates Jiang Xuanhui (蔣玄暉) and Zhang Tingfan (張廷範) were taking in that process and became suspicious that they had turned against him. Zhu then executed Liu Can and all his associates. Background It is not known when Liu Can was born. His family claimed ancestry from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn period state Lu — specifically, from the nobleman Liu Xiahui. The traceable ancestry of Liu Can's included officials of Northern Wei, the Sui dynasty, and the Tang dynasty. Liu Can's grandfather Liu Qi (柳器) was a cousin of the famed official and calligraphy Liu Gongquan, and his father was named Liu Zhongzun (柳仲遵); neither Liu Qi nor Liu Zhongzun were listed with any official titles. (Liu Can's biography in the Old Book of Tang gave alternative names of Liu Gongqi (柳公器) and Liu Zun (柳遵) for Liu Can's grandfather and father, respectively.) Liu Can had at least two younger brothers, Liu Yu (柳瑀) and Liu Jian (柳瑊). Liu Can lost his father early, and, in his youth, was said to be poor but studious. For some time, he lived in a forest; during the day, he collected wood, while he studied at night using light from burning wood and leaves. It was said that he was straightforward in his personality, but this was looked down by his clansmen Liu Bi (柳璧) and Liu Ci (柳玼) (the grandsons of Liu Gongquan's brother Liu Gongchuo (柳公綽), himself a renowned official and general), who were prominent officials at the imperial court, and Liu Bi and Liu Ci did not even refer to him as a clansman.