Xun Can was born in the influential Xun family as a son of Xun Yu, a prominent statesman of the late Eastern Han dynasty and an adviser to the warlord Cao Cao.
11 Facts About Xun Can
1.
2.
Xun Can was markedly different from the rest of his brothers; he enjoyed studying and discussing Taoism as opposed to his brothers' preference for Confucianism.
3.
Xun Can believed that when Zigong talked about how sages came to understand human nature and divine order, he was referring to a particular higher state of mind that these sages had attained, and that state of mind cannot be expressed in any way.
4.
Xun Can had another debate with his brothers about their father Xun Yu and their third cousin Xun You.
5.
Xun Can's brothers were angry with him for describing Xun You in more favourable terms, but they could not refute him.
6.
Fu Gu focused on concrete details while Xun Can focused on abstract things, hence they could not understand each other and ended up in a heated quarrel.
7.
Xun Can assessed women in terms of their beauty and appearance rather than their talent and intelligence.
8.
Xun Can married the general Cao Hong's daughter, who was known for her pretty looks.
9.
Xun Can treated his wife with special care and devotion.
10.
Xun Can's friends were all great talents of their time.
11.
Xun Can adopted the courtesy name "Jingqian", which was the courtesy name of Xun Can's brother Xun Yi.