13 Facts About Wu Can

Wu Can, courtesy name Kongxiu, was an official of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Wu Can was from Wucheng County, Wu Commandery, which is part of present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang.

Wu Can was born sometime in the late Eastern Han dynasty from a poor family, and his father died when Wu Can was young.

Around the 190s, Wu Can served as a minor officer under Sun He, the Chief of Qu'e County and a relative of the warlord Sun Ce, who controlled Wu Commandery and many territories in the Jiangdong region.

Wu Can caught the eye of Gu Shao, a noted judge of character, and became his friend and the celebrated expert on physiognomy, Zheng Yu.

Wu Can was later given greater responsibilities, serving as the Prefect of Shanyin County and as Colonel Who Advises the Army.

In 222, Wu Can participated in the Battle of Dongkou against Eastern Wu's rival state, Cao Wei.

Wu Can accompanied the Wu generals Lu Fan, Wu Can Qi and others to resist the Wei forces led by Cao Xiu.

Wu Can wanted to recruit a reclusive hermit, Xie Tan, to serve in the Wu government but Tan refused, claiming that he was ill.

Wu Can sided with and spoke up for Sun He, whom he regarded as the legitimate heir apparent.

Wu Can attempted to persuade Sun Quan to have Sun Ba relocated away from the imperial capital Jianye to Xiakou and have Yang Zhu, an official who supported Sun Ba, reassigned to another position outside Jianye.

Wu Can maintained close contact with the senior general Lu Xun, who was stationed in Wuchang, keeping Lu Xun informed on events.

Sun Ba and Yang Zhu responded to this threat to their positions, attacked Wu Can who was arrested for his correspondence with Lu Xun, imprisoned and eventually executed.