Liu Can (Tang dynasty) facts for kids
Liu Can (柳璨; died January 27, 906) was an important official in China during the Tang dynasty. He served as a top advisor, called a chancellor, for two emperors, Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Ai. This was near the end of the Tang dynasty.
Liu Can worked closely with a powerful military leader named Zhu Quanzhong. Zhu Wen was a warlord who controlled a large area around modern Kaifeng, Henan. Liu Can helped Zhu Wen plan to take over the Tang throne from the Li family, who were the emperors. However, Zhu Wen became impatient with how slowly Liu Can and his friends were working. He also suspected they might be working against him. Because of this, Zhu Wen had Liu Can and his associates executed.
Early Life and Studies
We don't know exactly when Liu Can was born. His family believed they were related to an old royal family from the Spring and Autumn period in China. His grandfather was a cousin of the famous official and artist Liu Gongquan.
Liu Can lost his father when he was young. He grew up poor but loved to study. For some time, he lived in a forest. During the day, he gathered wood. At night, he used the light from burning wood and leaves to read his books. People said he was very honest. However, some of his more famous relatives, who were important officials, didn't think highly of him. They didn't even want to call him family.
Starting His Career
Around 898 to 901, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong, Liu Can passed the difficult imperial examinations. These exams were how people got important jobs in the government. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the Han dynasty. An official named Yan Rao was very impressed by him.
Yan Rao invited Liu Can to work as a scholar. Liu Can believed that an earlier historian, Liu Zhiji, was too critical of old Confucian classics and history books. So, Liu Can wrote a 10-volume book called Liu's Commentary on History. Other scholars praised his work a lot. Because he was so good at writing, other officials often asked him to write official requests for them. This earned him the nickname "Liu the File Folder."
Emperor Zhaozong liked people who wrote well. He heard about Liu Can's talent and asked to meet him. Liu Can impressed the emperor by writing poems on the spot. Soon after, the emperor made Liu Can an imperial scholar, which was a high position for a writer and advisor.
Becoming a Chancellor
In the spring of 904, a powerful warlord named Zhu Quanzhong controlled the capital city, Chang'an. Zhu Wen demanded that the main chancellor, Cui Yin, be put to death. The very next day, Emperor Zhaozong made Liu Can a chancellor. This was a very quick promotion for Liu Can, as he had only worked in the government for less than four years. This speed was unusual.
Because of his quick rise, other senior chancellors like Pei Shu, Dugu Sun, and Cui Yuan didn't respect him much. Soon after, Zhu Wen forced Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital city to Luoyang. In Luoyang, Zhu Wen had even more control over the emperor. All the emperor's helpers and guards were Zhu Wen's people.
Liu Can became friends with Zhu Wen's close associates, especially Jiang Xuanhui and Zhang Tingfan. Through them, he also became very close to Zhu Wen. This made Liu Can the most powerful chancellor at court. He was given more important roles and was made the Baron of Hedong.
Later that year, Zhu Wen had Emperor Zhaozong killed and replaced him with his son, Emperor Ai. Liu Can continued to serve as chancellor. In 905, Zhu Wen became unhappy with Chancellor Pei Shu. Liu Can used this chance to make false accusations against Pei Shu, Dugu Sun, and Cui Yuan, because he resented them. As a result, all three were removed from their chancellor positions.
At this time, Zhu Wen was planning to take the throne for himself. Liu Can and Zhu Wen's friend Li Zhen suggested getting rid of Tang officials who might oppose Zhu Wen. Because of their advice, Zhu Wen had Pei Shu, Dugu Sun, Cui Yuan, and about 30 other important Tang officials removed from their positions. Their bodies were later thrown into the Yellow River. Liu Can still had a list of many more officials he wanted to remove, but another chancellor, Zhang Wenwei, convinced him to stop.
Downfall and Death
Liu Can, Jiang Xuanhui, and Zhang Tingfan met daily to plan how Zhu Wen would take over the Tang dynasty. They thought it should happen slowly, with Zhu Wen getting more and more honors until he became emperor. First, they had Emperor Ai issue an order making Zhu Wen the top general over all regions.
However, Zhu Wen wanted to become emperor much faster. He was very angry. Some of Jiang Xuanhui's assistants, who were jealous of Jiang, falsely accused Jiang and Liu Can of trying to make the Tang dynasty last longer. They claimed Jiang, Liu, and Zhang were meeting with Emperor Ai's mother, Empress Dowager He, to plan to bring the Tang dynasty back to power.
Zhu Wen was also getting tired of Liu Can constantly removing Tang officials. So, Zhu Wen had Jiang, Liu, and Zhang arrested. Jiang was executed right away, and Empress Dowager He was also killed. Liu Can was first sent away to be a local official in Deng Prefecture. But soon after, Liu Can and Zhang were also executed. It is said that Liu Can regretted working with Zhu Wen. As he was about to be executed, he shouted, "The disloyal Liu Can should die!" His younger brothers, Liu Yu and Liu Jian, were also killed.
