Yuan Can (c. 420 – 12 January 478[1]), originally named Yuan Minsun, courtesy name Jingqian, was a high-level official of the Liu Song dynasty who, near the end of the dynasty, made a futile attempt to prevent the general Xiao Daocheng from gaining sufficient power to take imperial the throne.
His father Yuan Zhuo (袁濯) died early before becoming an official, and his grandmother, in mourning, named her grandson Minsun, meaning "a child born into disaster."
In 477, Emperor Houfei, by now aged 14, was growing increasingly impulsive and violent, often wandering outside the palace with his guards and killing all people or animals they encountered.
In response, the general Shen Youzhi arose with the troops of his Jing Province (荊州, modern central and western Hubei), accusing Xiao of wanting to usurp the throne.
On 26 April 483,[2] Xiao Daocheng's son and successor Emperor Wu of Southern Qi, recognizing Yuan's faithfulness, reburied him with honors.
However, historians were also critical for his failing to rule the imperial government well, allowing Xiao's meteoric rise in absence of effective leadership.
The historian Sima Guang, the author of the Zizhi Tongjian, wrote: Yuan was a simple man who lived a plain life, lacking the abilities to lead the government and rule the state.
When he was free, he slept, and he only associated with nobles, lacking the ability to establish relationships with others, and so he was defeated.Sima further cited the criticism from another historian, Pei Ziye (裴子野), who wrote: Yuan was one of the most admired men in the state.
As the Lius' nine heavy dings[4] floated from the depths to the surface, and the talented Xiaos took over, Yuan trapped himself in a small fortress, facing ten thousand deaths and not willing to flee from them.