Liu Can (Tang Dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Liu Can (d. 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
dynasty 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 the powerful warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
), who assisted Zhu in the process of seizing 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. He therefore had all of them executed.
— specifically, from the nobleman Liu Xiahui. The traceable ancestry of Liu Can's included officials of Northern Wei
, Sui Dynasty
, and 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 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.
-901
) of Emperor Zhaozong
, Liu passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class. He was considered an expert on the history of Han Dynasty
and particularly impressed the imperial official Yan Rao (顏蕘). When Yan was put in charge of the imperial history institute, then, he invite Liu to serve as a scholar under him. Believing that the earlier Tang historian Liu Zhiji
was overly critical of ancient Confucian classics and history texts, Liu Can wrote a 10-volume work criticism Liu Zhiji's work and entitled it, Liu's Commentary on History (柳氏釋史), and this work was much praised by scholars. The imperial officials, impressed with his writing style, often asked him to draft petitions for them, causing him to gain the nickname of "Liu the File Folder" (柳篋子).
Emperor Zhaozong favored those who wrote well, and he initially treated Li Xi
well, eventually making Li a chancellor in 895
; however, the warlords Li Maozhen
, Wang Xingyu
, and Han Jian
attacked the imperial capital Chang'an
later in the year, killing Li Xi and another chancellor, Wei Zhaodu
. Emperor Zhaozong was much saddened by Li Xi's death, and often wanted to seek another scholar of similar talent to Li Xi. Someone recommended Liu for his literary talent; Emperor Zhaozong thus summoned Liu to his presence, and was impressed when Liu was able to write poems to his request. He soon thereafter made Liu an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi).
, at the demand of the powerful warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit, whose troops then controlled Chang'an, the leading chancellor Cui Yin
was put to death. The next day, Emperor Zhaozong, citing Liu's talent, made Liu a chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), even though Liu still, even after the chancellor commission, carried the relatively low position of You Jianyi Daifu (右諫議大夫), an advisor at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), reflecting his lack of seniority. It was said that Liu's promotion to chancellorship after just less than four years of service in the imperial administration and was unprecedented in its quickness. He was therefore viewed lowly by his chancellor colleagues Pei Shu
, Dugu Sun
, and Cui Yuan
, all of whom were senior officials.
Shortly thereafter, Zhu forced Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang
. After the imperial court relocated to Luoyang, Zhu had even tighter control of the emperor, as all of the emperor's attendants and guards were Zhu's subordinates. Liu cultivated relationships with them, particularly with Jiang Xuanhui, whom Zhu made the director of palace communications, and Zhang Tingfan, whom Zhu put in charge of the imperial guards. Through them, he also established a close relationship with Zhu, and therefore became the most powerful chancellor at court. He was there made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, the acting director of taxation (Pan Hubu, 判戶部), and created the Baron of Hedong.
Later in the year, Zhu had Emperor Zhaozong assassinated and replaced with his son Emperor Ai
. Liu continued to serve as chancellor. In 905
, Zhu became unhappy with Pei, whom he had previously had a good relationship with, when Pei refused to approve a commission of Zhang as the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing). Liu took this opportunity to falsely accuse Pei, as well as Dugu and Cui, all of whom he resented for disrespecting him. As a result, all three were removed from their chancellorships.
At that time, Zhu was preparing to seize the throne himself, and there happened to be astrological signs that appeared to call for a slaughter. Both Liu and Zhu's close associate Li Zhen advocated slaughtering Tang officials who might oppose him. At their instigation, Zhu had Pei, Dugu, Cui, and some 30 other prominent Tang officials gathered at Baima Station (白馬驛, in modern Anyang
, Henan
) and ordered them to commit suicide. Their bodies were thrown into the Yellow River
. It was said that Liu Can still had tens of officials on his list of executions, but fellow chancellor Zhang Wenwei
persuaded him not to carry out those executions.
to plan for Tang's revival, and also Jiang of having an affair with Empress Dowager He. Zhu himself was also becoming tired of Liu's incessant executions of Tang officials. Zhu therefore had Jiang, Liu, and Zhang arrested. Jiang was executed immediately, with his body burned on the street; Empress Dowager He was also killed. Liu was initially demoted to be the prefect of Deng Prefecture (登州, in modern Yantai
, Shandong
). Soon thereafter, Liu and Zhang were also executed — Liu by decapitation, and Zhang by drawing and quartering. It was said that Liu, regretting his association with Zhu, yelled, as he was to be executed, "The treasonous Liu Can should die!" His brothers Liu Yu and Liu Jian were also killed.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Tang
Emperor Ai of Tang , also known as Emperor Zhaoxuan , born Li Zuo, later Li Zhu , was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 904 to 907. The Ai Emperor was the son of Emperor Zhaozong....
, near the end of the dynasty. He was an associate of the powerful warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), who assisted Zhu in the process of seizing 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. He therefore had all of them executed.
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 LuLu (state)
The State of Lu, was a Zhou Dynasty ducal vassal state before and during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Founded in the 10th century BC, its dukes used Ji as their family name. The first duke was Boqin |Qi]] and to the south by the powerful state of Chu...
— specifically, from the nobleman Liu Xiahui. The traceable ancestry of Liu Can's included officials of Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
, Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
, and Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. Liu Can's grandfather Liu Qi (柳器) was a cousin of the famed official and calligraphy Liu Gongquan
Liu Gongquan
Liu Gongquan , courtesy name Chengxuan , was a Chinese calligrapher who stood with Yan Zhenqing as the two great masters of late Tang calligraphy....
, 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 Book of Tang
Book of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
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.
Early career
During the Guanghua era (898898
Year 898 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* A Magyar army headed by Álmos besieges Kiev.* Magyar tribes found the state of Szekesfehervar in Hungary....
-901
901
Year 901 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* Abu 'Abdullah al-Shi'i leads the rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Aghlabid emirate in Ifriqiya ....
) of Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
, Liu passed the imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s in the Jinshi class. He was considered an expert on the history of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and particularly impressed the imperial official Yan Rao (顏蕘). When Yan was put in charge of the imperial history institute, then, he invite Liu to serve as a scholar under him. Believing that the earlier Tang historian Liu Zhiji
Liu Zhiji
Liu Zhiji , courtesy name Zixuan , was a Chinese historian and author of the Shitong born in present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu during the Tang Dynasty. Liu's father Liu Zangqi and elder brother Liu Zhirou were officials, famous for their literary compositions...
was overly critical of ancient Confucian classics and history texts, Liu Can wrote a 10-volume work criticism Liu Zhiji's work and entitled it, Liu's Commentary on History (柳氏釋史), and this work was much praised by scholars. The imperial officials, impressed with his writing style, often asked him to draft petitions for them, causing him to gain the nickname of "Liu the File Folder" (柳篋子).
Emperor Zhaozong favored those who wrote well, and he initially treated Li Xi
Li Xi
Li Xi or Li Qi , courtesy name Jingwang , nicknamed Li Shulou , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
well, eventually making Li a chancellor in 895
895
Year 895 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The seven tribes of the Magyars settle in the Carpathian Basin under the leadership of Árpád...
; however, the warlords Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
, Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
, and Han Jian
Han Jian (Tang Dynasty)
Han Jian , courtesy name Zuoshi , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who eventually became a subject of the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty...
attacked the imperial capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
later in the year, killing Li Xi and another chancellor, Wei Zhaodu
Wei Zhaodu
Wei Zhaodu , courtesy name Zhengji , formally the Duke of Qi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
. Emperor Zhaozong was much saddened by Li Xi's death, and often wanted to seek another scholar of similar talent to Li Xi. Someone recommended Liu for his literary talent; Emperor Zhaozong thus summoned Liu to his presence, and was impressed when Liu was able to write poems to his request. He soon thereafter made Liu an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi).
As chancellor
In spring 904904
Year 904 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Byzantines under Andronikos Doukas defeat the Arabs near Germanikeia...
, at the demand of the powerful warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit, whose troops then controlled Chang'an, the leading chancellor Cui Yin
Cui Yin
Cui Yin , courtesy name Chuixiu , nickname Zilang , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
was put to death. The next day, Emperor Zhaozong, citing Liu's talent, made Liu a chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), even though Liu still, even after the chancellor commission, carried the relatively low position of You Jianyi Daifu (右諫議大夫), an advisor at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), reflecting his lack of seniority. It was said that Liu's promotion to chancellorship after just less than four years of service in the imperial administration and was unprecedented in its quickness. He was therefore viewed lowly by his chancellor colleagues Pei Shu
Pei Shu
Pei Shu , courtesy name Jisheng or Huasheng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, near the end of the dynasty...
, Dugu Sun
Dugu Sun
Dugu Sun , courtesy name Yousun , was an official of the Chinese dynasty 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...
, and Cui Yuan
Cui Yuan (Late Tang)
Cui Yuan , courtesy name Changzhi , formally the Baron of Boling , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai...
, all of whom were senior officials.
Shortly thereafter, Zhu forced Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
. After the imperial court relocated to Luoyang, Zhu had even tighter control of the emperor, as all of the emperor's attendants and guards were Zhu's subordinates. Liu cultivated relationships with them, particularly with Jiang Xuanhui, whom Zhu made the director of palace communications, and Zhang Tingfan, whom Zhu put in charge of the imperial guards. Through them, he also established a close relationship with Zhu, and therefore became the most powerful chancellor at court. He was there made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, the acting director of taxation (Pan Hubu, 判戶部), and created the Baron of Hedong.
Later in the year, Zhu had Emperor Zhaozong assassinated and replaced with his son Emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Tang
Emperor Ai of Tang , also known as Emperor Zhaoxuan , born Li Zuo, later Li Zhu , was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 904 to 907. The Ai Emperor was the son of Emperor Zhaozong....
. Liu continued to serve as chancellor. In 905
905
Year 905 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* The Abbasid Caliphate re-establishes control of Egypt from the Tulunids.- Asia :...
, Zhu became unhappy with Pei, whom he had previously had a good relationship with, when Pei refused to approve a commission of Zhang as the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing). Liu took this opportunity to falsely accuse Pei, as well as Dugu and Cui, all of whom he resented for disrespecting him. As a result, all three were removed from their chancellorships.
At that time, Zhu was preparing to seize the throne himself, and there happened to be astrological signs that appeared to call for a slaughter. Both Liu and Zhu's close associate Li Zhen advocated slaughtering Tang officials who might oppose him. At their instigation, Zhu had Pei, Dugu, Cui, and some 30 other prominent Tang officials gathered at Baima Station (白馬驛, in modern Anyang
Anyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) and ordered them to commit suicide. Their bodies were thrown into the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
. It was said that Liu Can still had tens of officials on his list of executions, but fellow chancellor Zhang Wenwei
Zhang Wenwei
Zhang Wenwei , courtesy name Youhua , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Tang's succeeding dynasty Later Liang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Tang's final emperor Emperor Ai and Later Liang's founding emperor Emperor Taizu .- Background :It is not known...
persuaded him not to carry out those executions.
Removal and death
Meanwhile, Liu Can, along with Jiang Xuanhui and Zhang Tingfan, were meeting daily, preparing for plans to transition from Tang to Zhu Quanzhong's new dynasty. Believing that historical traditions called for the gradual promotion of Zhu to greater and greater honors, until eventually he receives the imperial throne, they first had Emperor Ai issue an edict making Zhu the generalissimo over all circuits. Zhu, who wanted the transition to proceed even quicker, was incensed. Jiang's deputies Wang Yin (王殷) and Zhao Yinheng, who were jealous of Zhu's trust (up to that point) of Jiang, then falsely accused Jiang and Liu of planning to extend Tang Dynasty's life. In particular, they accused Jiang, Liu, and Zhang of meeting with Emperor Ai's mother (Emperor Zhaozong's wife) Empress Dowager HeEmpress He (Zhaozong)
Empress He , semi-formally known as Empress Jishan , was the wife of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang near the end of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, and the mother of two of his sons, Li You/Li Yu and Emperor Ai of Tang...
to plan for Tang's revival, and also Jiang of having an affair with Empress Dowager He. Zhu himself was also becoming tired of Liu's incessant executions of Tang officials. Zhu therefore had Jiang, Liu, and Zhang arrested. Jiang was executed immediately, with his body burned on the street; Empress Dowager He was also killed. Liu was initially demoted to be the prefect of Deng Prefecture (登州, in modern Yantai
Yantai
Yantai is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Located on the southern coast of the Bohai Sea and the eastern coast of the Laizhou Bay, Yantai borders the cities of Qingdao and Weihai to the southwest and east respectively.The largest fishing...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). Soon thereafter, Liu and Zhang were also executed — Liu by decapitation, and Zhang by drawing and quartering. It was said that Liu, regretting his association with Zhu, yelled, as he was to be executed, "The treasonous Liu Can should die!" His brothers Liu Yu and Liu Jian were also killed.