Yuan Can - Commentaries About Yuan Can

Commentaries About Yuan Can

Yuan was largely praised in history for his faithfulness—that even the son of his enemy Xiao Daocheng recognized. However, historians were also critical for his failing to rule the imperial government well, allowing Xiao's meteroric 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. He favored drinking and liked writing and reading poems. He bore great responsibilities, but was unwilling to be concerned with mundane matters. When the agencies requested his rulings on important matters, he would even at times read poems as responses. 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. He bore great responsibilities, but his abilities were insufficient to wipe out evil, and his wisdom was insufficient to handle changing situations. The imperial administration became fallow and disorganized, and as the state faced dangers, he was unable to bear the weight. As the Lius' nine heavy dings 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. This was only the faithfulness of one man, and not the kind of abilities expected of the support of the state.