Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and Statesman

Yuan Can 袁粲

Attested AD 453 - AD 483

Passages: 57
Chapters: 9
Histories: 3

Overview

The translated histories identify Yuan Can as an aristocrat, family member, general, and official. This record brings together 57 passages from 9 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Yuan Can	袁粲	Yuan Can
Given	Can	粲	Càn
Given name	Can	粲	Càn
Given	Can	粲
Changed name	Can	粲	Càn
Title	Defender General	衞將軍
Courtesy name	Jingqian	景倩	Jǐngqiàn
Childhood name	Min Sun	愍孫	Mǐn Sūn
Title	Minister of Education	司徒
Title	Minister Over the Masses Can	司徒粲
Epithet	Mr. Wonderful Virtue	妙德先生
Title	Secretariat Yuan Can
Surname	Yuan	袁
Surname	Yuan	袁	Yuan
Surname	Yuan	袁	Yuán
Personal name	Yuan Can	袁粲	Yuán Càn
Personal name	Yuan Can	袁粲	Yuan Can
Personal	Yuan Can	袁粲	Yuán Càn
Personal	Yuan Can	袁粲

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · liangshu:015:s0013, nanqishu:053:s0049, songshu:086:s0138, songshu:089:s0002
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · liangshu:052:s0112, nanqishu:036:s0004, nanqishu:048:s0013, nanqishu:056:s0051

Roles

Aristocrat
Family Member
General
Official
Rebel
Statesman
Writer

Life and dates

Death

Manner: killed · Place: Stone Fortress / 石頭 · Killer Person Id: Dai Sengjing (戴僧靜)
Explicit · songshu:089:s0075, songshu:089:s0076
Manner: executed
Explicit · nanqishu:036:s0027

Age

Age: 58 · Reckoning: sui
Explicit · songshu:089:s0076

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: AD 465-477 · Western Interval: Start: AD 465 · End: AD 477
Explicit event contextual date · nanqishu:048:s0013
Source Date: Text: 七年 · Western Year: AD 463
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0095
Source Date: Text: 七年 · Western Year: AD 471
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0042
Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: AD 459
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0091
Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: AD 467
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0038
Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: AD 475
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0052
Source Date: Text: 二年 · Western Year: AD 455
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0015
Source Date: Text: 二年 · Western Year: AD 466
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0036
Source Date: Text: 二年 · Western Year: AD 474
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0045
Source Date: Text: 五年 · Western Year: AD 461
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0094
Source Date: Text: 五年 · Western Year: AD 469
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0039
Source Date: Text: 元徽中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 473 · End: AD 477
Explicit · liangshu:031:s0009
Source Date: Text: 元徽元年 · Western Year: AD 473
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0109
Source Date: Text: 六年 · Western Year: AD 470
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0040
Source Date: Text: 其年 · Western Year: AD 463
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0096
Source Date: Text: 初為揚州從事 · Western Year: AD 453
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0010
Source Date: Text: 前年改葬 · Western Year: AD 482
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0125
Source Date: Text: 前廢帝即位 · Western Year: AD 464
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0097
Source Date: Text: 四年 · Western Year: AD 460
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0093
Source Date: Text: 大明元年 · Western Year: AD 457
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0090
Source Date: Text: 太宗泰始元年 · Western Year: AD 465
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0101
Source Date: Text: 太宗臨崩 · Western Year: AD 472
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0103
Source Date: Text: 孝建元年 · Western Year: AD 454
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0013
Source Date: Text: 宋明帝在位 · Western Interval: Start: AD 465 · End: AD 472
Explicit · nanqishu:053:s0049
Source Date: Text: 後廢帝即位 · Western Year: AD 472
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0104
Source Date: Text: 昇明元年 · Western Year: AD 477
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0060
Source Date: Text: 昇明前後 · Western Interval: Start: AD 477 · End: AD 479
Explicit · nanqishu:056:s0051
Source Date: Text: 景和元年 · Western Year: AD 465
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0100
Source Date: Text: 永光元年 · Western Year: AD 465
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0099
Source Date: Text: 泰始五年 · Western Year: AD 469
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:086:s0136, songshu:086:s0138
Source Date: Text: 粲死時 · Western Year: AD 477
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0076
Source Date: Text: 粲誅前後 · Western Interval: Start: AD 477 · End: AD 479
Explicit · nanqishu:036:s0025, nanqishu:036:s0027
Source Date: Text: 衛將軍袁粲 · Western Interval: Start: AD 470 · End: AD 477
Explicit event contextual date · liangshu:015:s0013
Source Date: Text: 袁粲…齊高帝 · Western Interval: Start: AD 477 · End: AD 479
Explicit · liangshu:052:s0112
Source Date: Text: 順帝即位 · Western Year: AD 477
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0111
Source Date: Text: 齊永明元年 · Western Year: AD 483
Explicit event contextual date · songshu:089:s0121

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Kin of Yuan Shu (袁淑)
Kinship Term: brother's son / nephew / 兄子 · Subject Role: paternal-uncle · Object Role: nephew · Line: paternal · Generation Distance: 1
Kin of Yuan Xun (袁洵)
Kinship Term: paternal uncle / 伯父 · Subject Role: paternal-uncle · Object Role: nephew · Line: paternal · Generation Distance: 1
Kin of Yuan Tuan (袁彖)
Kinship Term: collateral paternal uncle / 從叔 · Line: paternal · Subject Role: collateral-uncle · Object Role: nephew
Kin of Yuan Ang (袁昂)
Kinship Term: collateral uncle / 從叔 · Subject Role: uncle · Object Role: nephew · Line: paternal
Kin of Yuan Tuan (袁彖)
Kinship Term: collateral uncle / 從叔 · Line: paternal
Kin of Yuan Yi (袁顗)
Kinship Term: elder paternal cousin / 從兄 · Subject Role: elder-cousin · Object Role: younger-cousin · Line: paternal · Subject Relative Age: elder
Child of Yuan Zhuo (袁濯)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of Mother of Yuan Can (袁粲母)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Parent of Yuan Zui (袁最)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son

Kinship Role: uncles · Count: 2
Explicit · songshu:089:s0005

Origins and identity

Lineage: Yuan clan / 袁氏
Explicit · songshu:089:s0002

Career and standing

Label: Commander-in-Chief / 領軍將軍 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0036
Label: Governor of Hailing / 海陵太守 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0096
Label: Minister of Justice / 廷尉 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0015
Label: Palace Attendant / 侍中 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0012
Label: Secretariat Director of the Ministry of Personnel / 尚書吏部郎 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0012
Label: Secretariat Director / 尚書令 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0043
Label: Supervisor of the Secretariat / 中書監 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0051
Label: Yang Province attendant / 揚州從事 · Action: appointed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0010
Label: Minister of Education (Situ) / 司徒 · Action: headed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0051
Label: Minister of Education / 司徒 · Action: held
Explicit · liangshu:031:s0009
Label: Vice Director of the Secretariat / 尚書僕射 · Action: held
Explicit · songshu:086:s0138
Label: Imperial Censor / 御史中丞 · Action: refused
Explicit · songshu:089:s0097
Title: Viscount of Xingping / 興平縣子 · Action: enfeoffed · Households: 500
Explicit · songshu:089:s0090
Label: Commissioner with ceremonial staff equal to the Three Dukes / 開府儀同三司 · Action: granted
Explicit · songshu:089:s0051
Status: mourning · Action: entered · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元徽元年 · Western Year: AD 473
Explicit · songshu:089:s0109
Status: one-of-Four-Esteemed · Label: the Four Esteemed / 四貴
Explicit · songshu:089:s0054
Label: reduced to acting Secretariat Director / 降為守尚書令 · Action: demoted
Explicit · songshu:089:s0044
Label: dismissed from office / 免官 · Action: dismissed · Authority Person Id: Emperor Xiaowu (孝武帝)
Explicit · songshu:089:s0014
Label: dismissed for accepting bribe goods / 免官 · Action: dismissed
Explicit · songshu:089:s0091
Status: executed · Action: suffered
Explicit · liangshu:052:s0114

Places and affiliations

Polity Id: liu-song · Relation: served
Explicit · songshu:089:s0010, songshu:089:s0103
Place: Yangxia in Chen Commandery / 陳郡陽夏
Explicit · songshu:089:s0002
Place: Stone Fortress / 石頭 · Relation: posted-to · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 順帝即位 · Western Year: AD 477
Explicit · songshu:089:s0112, songshu:089:s0114
Place: reburial / grave precinct / 塋兆 · Relation: burial-place · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 齊永明元年 · Western Year: AD 483
Explicit · songshu:089:s0125
Place: southern outer wall residence / 南郭 · Relation: residence
Explicit · songshu:089:s0058

Learning and skills

Skill: chanting / 吟諷 · Level: skilled
Explicit · songshu:089:s0057

Works and attributed material

Work: Biography of Mr. Wonderful Virtue / 妙德先生傳 · Relation: author
Explicit · songshu:089:s0018
Kind: biography · Role: author · Quoted: true
Explicit · songshu:089:s0018, songshu:089:s0020, songshu:089:s0021, songshu:089:s0102, songshu:089:s0024, songshu:089:s0025
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Yuan Tuan (袁彖)
Explicit · liangshu:031:s0009
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true
Explicit · songshu:089:s0026, songshu:089:s0027, songshu:089:s0028, songshu:089:s0029, songshu:089:s0030, songshu:089:s0031, songshu:089:s0032, songshu:089:s0033, songshu:089:s0047, songshu:089:s0048, songshu:089:s0061, songshu:089:s0062

Events and relationships

Kind: legal · Role: suppressor · Action: buried-bribery-case · Other Person Id: Xie Fei (謝朏)
Explicit · liangshu:015:s0017
Kind: political · Role: offender · Action: humiliated · Other Person Id: Yan Shibo (顏師伯) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大明七年 · Western Year: AD 463
Explicit · songshu:089:s0096
Kind: political · Role: conspirator · Action: plotted-against · Other Person Id: Prince of Qi (齊王) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昇明元年 · Western Year: AD 477
Explicit · songshu:089:s0118, songshu:089:s0064
Kind: military · Role: loyalist-leader · Action: rallied-generals · Other Person Id: Chen Xianda (陳顯達)
Explicit · songshu:089:s0047, songshu:089:s0048, songshu:089:s0050
Kind: political · Role: recipient · Action: received-dying-command · Other Person Ids: Chu Yuan (褚淵), Liu Mian (劉勔) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 太宗臨崩 · Western Year: AD 472
Explicit · songshu:089:s0103
Kind: witness · Action: turned pale on hearing Yu Yuan's remonstrance
Explicit · nanqishu:053:s0049
Relation: admirer-of · Person Id: Xun Fengqian (荀粲)
Explicit · songshu:089:s0034

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: austere; compared to Li Ying · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report
Explicit · liangshu:015:s0014
Assessment: extremely filial · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · songshu:089:s0110
Assessment: pure mark simple and noble; righteousness heavier than life; did not penetrate Heaven mandate but Way worth cherishing · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · songshu:089:s0086, songshu:089:s0087, songshu:089:s0088
Kind: habit · Statement: loved wine; solitary drinking in garden
Explicit · songshu:089:s0057

Source notes

From: Min Sun / 愍孫 · To: Can / 粲 · Courtesy Name: Jingqian / 景倩
Explicit · songshu:089:s0004, songshu:089:s0034, songshu:089:s0035

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Liang, Chapter 15Volume 15: Xie Fei; Xie Lan · 4 passages

服闋，復爲舍人，歷中書郎，衛將軍袁粲長史。 When mourning ended he was again attendant, then palace secretariat gentleman and chief of staff to guard general Yuan Can.

粲性簡峻，罕通賓客，時人方之李膺。 Can was austere and rarely received guests; contemporaries likened him to Li Ying.

朏謁旣退，粲曰：「謝令不死。」 When Fei's visit ended, Can said, "Commander Xie is not dead."

出爲臨川內史，以賄見劾，案經袁粲，粲寢之。 He went out as Linchuan interior magistrate; bribery charges reached Yuan Can, who buried the case.

Book of Liang, Chapter 31Volume 31: Yuan Ang; Yuan Junzheng · 1 passage

後與彖同見從叔司徒粲，粲謂彖曰：「其幼孤而能至此，故知名器自有所在。」 Later he and Tuan went together to see their collateral uncle, Minister of Education Yuan Can. Can told Tuan, "Orphaned so young, yet he has come to this — renown and high office will surely be his."

Book of Liang, Chapter 52Volume 52: The Self-Sufficient · 2 passages

時劉秉、袁粲以齊高帝權勢日盛，將圖之，秉素重季直，欲與之定策。 At the time Liu Bing and Yuan Can, because Qi Gaozu's power grew daily, were about to plot against him; Bing had always esteemed Jizhi and wished to settle strategy with him.

季直以袁、劉儒者，必致顛殞，固辭不赴。 Jizhi held that Yuan and Liu were Confucians and would surely come to ruin, and firmly declined to go.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies 17: Xie Chaozong, Liu Xiang · 3 passages

衞將軍袁粲聞之，謂太祖曰：「超宗開亮迥悟，善可與語。」 Defender General Yuan Can heard and told the founding emperor: "Chaozong is open, bright, and penetrating — good to talk with."

粲旣誅，太祖以超宗爲義興太守， After Can was executed the founding emperor made Chaozong governor of Yixing.

祥曰：「不能殺袁、劉，安得免寒士？」 Xiang said: "You could not kill Yuan Can and Liu — how are you not a cold scholar?"

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 29: Yuan Tuan, Kong Zhigui, Liu Hui · 1 passage

從叔司徒粲、外舅征西將軍蔡興宗竝器之。 His collateral paternal uncle, Minister Over the Masses Can, and his maternal uncle, General Who Campaigns West Cai Xingzong, both valued him highly.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 53Volume 53 Biographies 34: Virtuous Officials · 1 passage

尚書令袁粲在坐，爲之失色。 Minister-in-Chief Yuan Can, who was present, turned pale at this.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 56Volume 56 Biographies 37: Trusted Officials · 2 passages

上將廢立，謀之袁粲、褚淵，僧真啓上曰：「今朝廷猖狂，人不自保，天下之望，不在袁、褚。 As the emperor prepared to depose the ruler and set another on the throne, he took counsel with Yuan Can and Chu Yuan. Sengzhen urged him, saying, "The court is now running wild and no one can feel safe. The hopes of the realm do not rest on Yuan and Chu.

上曰：「諸將勸我誅袁、劉，我意不欲便爾。」 The emperor said, "My generals urge me to execute Yuan and Liu, but I am not inclined to act so hastily."

Book of Song, Chapter 86Volume 86 Biographies 46: Yin Xiaozu, Liu Mian · 1 passage

上以勔啟遍示朝臣，自尚書僕射袁粲以下，莫不稱讚，咸謂宜許。 The emperor showed Mian's memorial to all court officials. From vice director of the Secretariat Yuan Can downward, none failed to praise it; all said it should be granted.

Book of Song, Chapter 89Volume 89 Biographies 49: Yuan Can · 42 passages

列傳第四十九袁粲 Biography Number Forty-Nine: Yuan Can

袁粲，字景倩，陳郡陽夏人，太尉淑兄子也。 Yuan Can, styled Jingqian, was a native of Yangxia in Chen Commandery and a nephew of Grand Marshal Shu.

祖母哀其幼孤，名之曰愍孫。 His grandmother pitied him as a young orphan and named him Min Sun.

伯叔並當世榮顯，而愍孫饑寒不足。 His uncles were all illustrious in the age, yet Min Sun lacked food and clothing.

愍孫少好學，有清才，有欲與從兄顗婚者，伯父洵即顗父，曰：「顗不堪，政可與愍孫婚耳。」 Min Sun from youth loved learning and had pure talent; someone wished to marry him to his cousin Yi; his uncle Xun, who was also Yi's father, said: "Yi is not fit; he should marry Min Sun instead."

時愍孫在坐，流涕起出。 Min Sun was present; weeping, he rose and left the room.

及即位，除尚書吏部郎，太子右衛率，侍中。 When he took the throne, Min Sun was made Secretariat Director of the Ministry of Personnel, Right Guard of the Heir, and Palace Attendant.

孝建元年，世祖率群臣並於中興寺八關齋，中食竟，愍孫別與黃門郎張淹更進魚肉食。 In the first year of Xiaojian, the emperor led the hundred officials in the eight precepts fast at Zhongxing Temple; when the midday meal was finished, Min Sun separately with Cavalier Attendant Zhang Yan further took fish and meat.

愍孫清整有風操，自遇甚厚，常著《妙德先生傳》以續嵇康《高士傳》以自況，曰： Min Sun was pure, orderly, and possessed integrity; he thought highly of himself and often wrote "Biography of Mr. Wonderful Virtue" to continue Ji Kang's "Biographies of Lofty Men" as self-portrait, saying:

其年，皇太子冠，上臨宴東宮，愍孫勸顏師伯酒，師伯不飲，愍孫因相裁辱，師伯見寵於上，上常嫌愍孫以寒素凌之，因此發怒，出為海陵太守。 That year, when the Heir Apparent received the capping ceremony, the emperor attended a feast at the Eastern Palace; Min Sun urged Yan Shibo to drink wine, but Shibo refused; Min Sun therefore abused and humiliated him; Shibo was favored by the emperor, who had often resented Min Sun for lording over him on account of his humble origins; for this the emperor became angry and sent Min Sun out as Governor of Hailing.

先生幼夙多疾，性疏懶，無所營尚，然九流百氏之言，雕龍談天之藝，皆泛識其大歸，而不以成名。 The gentleman from youth had many illnesses; his nature was loose and lazy and he pursued nothing in particular; yet the words of the nine streams and hundred schools, and the arts of rhetoric and cosmology, he broadly knew in outline, yet did not make a name thereby.

愍孫幼慕荀奉倩之為人，白世祖，求改名為粲，不許。 Min Sun from youth admired Xun Fengqian's conduct; he told the Shizu and asked to change his name to Can; permission was refused.

至是言於太宗，乃改為粲，字景倩焉。 At this time he spoke to Emperor Ming, and was then changed to Can, with style name Jingqian.

六年，上於華林園茅堂講《周易》，粲為執經。 In the sixth year, the emperor at the thatched hall of Hualin Garden lectured on the Book of Changes; Can held the classic.

坐前選武衛將軍江柳為江州刺史，柳有罪，降為守尚書令。 He was punished because in a prior selection he had appointed Jiang Liu as General of the Martial Guard and Governor of Jiang Province; Liu was guilty, and Can was reduced to acting Secretariat Director.

太宗臨崩，粲與褚淵、劉勔並受顧命，加班劍二十人，給鼓吹一部。 When Emperor Ming was on his deathbed, Can together with Chu Yuan and Liu Mian all received the dying imperial command; he was given twenty ceremonial halberds and one set of trumpets and drums.

元徽元年，丁母憂，葬竟，攝令親職，加衞將軍，不受，敦逼備至，中使相望，粲終不受。 In the first year of Yuanhui, he entered mourning for his mother; when the burial was completed, he was ordered to resume personal duty and was additionally made Guards General; he did not accept; urgings were pressed to the utmost and palace envoys followed one after another, but Can in the end did not accept.

二年，桂陽王休範為逆，粲扶曳入殿，詔加兵自隨，府置佐史。 In the second year, the Prince of Guiyang Xiufan rebelled; Can, supporting himself, dragged into the hall; an edict added armed guards at his side and his headquarters was given aides and clerks.

粲慷慨謂諸將帥曰：「寇賊已逼，而眾情離沮。 Can passionately told the generals: "Bandits and thieves have already pressed close, yet the troops' spirits are divided and dejected.

時粲與齊王、褚淵、劉秉入直，平決萬機，時謂之「四貴」。 At the time Can, with the Prince of Qi, Chu Yuan, and Liu Bing, entered duty and jointly decided state affairs; the age called them "the Four Esteemed."

粲閑默寡言，不肯當事，主書每往諮決，或高詠對之，時立一意，則眾莫能改。 Can was quiet and taciturn, unwilling to take charge of affairs; when chief clerks came to consult and decide, he sometimes answered with lofty chanting; when he once set his mind, none could change it.

時齊王居東府，故使粲鎮石頭。 At the time the Prince of Qi resided at the Eastern Headquarters, so Can was sent to garrison Stone Fortress.

粲素靜退，每有朝命，多不即從，逼切不得已，然後方就。 Can was by nature quiet and retiring; whenever there was a court command he often did not immediately comply; only when pressed urgently and with no alternative would he finally go.

有周旋人解望氣，謂粲曰：「石頭氣甚乖，往必有禍。」 A companion skilled in reading qi omens said to Can: "The qi at Stone Fortress is very adverse; if you go there will surely be calamity."

粲不答。 Can did not answer.

時齊王功高德重，天命有歸，粲自以身受顧託，不欲事二姓，密有異圖。 At the time the Prince of Qi's merit was high and his virtue weighty, and Heaven's mandate was tending toward him; Can, considering that he himself had received the dying imperial entrustment, did not wish to serve two dynasties and secretly harbored a separate plan.

丹陽尹劉秉，宋代宗室，前湘州刺史王蘊，太后兄子，素好武事，並慮不見容於齊王，皆與粲相結。 Liu Bing, Governor of Danyang, a member of the Song imperial clan, and Wang Yun, former Inspector of Xiang Province, the Empress Dowager's elder brother's son, who had always loved military affairs—all feared they would not be tolerated by the Prince of Qi—and all joined with Can in conspiracy.

將帥黃回、任候伯、孫曇瓘、王宜興、彭文之、卜伯興等，並與粲合。 The generals Huang Hui, Ren Houbo, Sun Tanjuan, Wang Yixing, Peng Wenzhi, Bu Boxing, and others all allied with Can.

昇明元年，荊州刺史沈攸之舉兵，齊王自詣粲，粲稱疾不見。 In the first year of Shengming, Jing Province Inspector Shen Youzhi raised troops; the Prince of Qi personally went to Can; Can claimed illness and did not see him.

粲宗人通直郎袁達以為不宜示異同，粲曰：「彼若以主幼時艱，與桂陽時不異，劫我入臺，便無辭以拒。 Can's clansman the Imperial Courier Yuan Da thought one should not display difference of view; Can said: "If he, because the sovereign is young and the times hard, treats this as no different from the Guiyang affair, and forces me into the terrace, I will have no words to refuse.

粲謀克日矯太后令，使韞、伯興率宿衛兵攻齊王於朝堂，回率軍來應。 Can plotted on a set day to forge the Empress Dowager's order, making Yun and Boxing lead palace guards to attack the Prince of Qi in the court hall; Hui would lead the army to respond.

其日秉恇擾不知所為，晡後便束裝，未闇，載婦女席捲就粲，由此事泄。 That day Bing was fearful and disturbed and did not know what to do; after mid-afternoon he at once packed; before dark he loaded women and bedding and went to Can; thereby the affair was leaked.

先是，齊王遣將薛淵、蘇烈、王天生等領兵戍石頭，云以助粲，實禦之也。 Earlier, the Prince of Qi had sent generals Xue Yuan, Su Lie, Wang Tiansheng, and others to lead troops to garrison Stone Fortress, saying to assist Can but in truth to guard against him.

本期開南門，時已闇夜，薛淵等據門射之，蘊謂粲已敗，即便散走。 The original plan was to open the southern gate; it was already dark night; Xue Yuan and others held the gate and shot at them; Yun thought Can had already been defeated and at once scattered and fled.

時粲與秉等列兵登東門，僧靜分兵攻府西門。 At the time Can and Bing and others arrayed troops and ascended the eastern gate; Sengjing divided troops to attack the headquarters' western gate.

粲與秉欲還赴府，既下城，列燭自照，僧靜挺身闇往，粲子最覺有異人，以身衛粲，僧靜直前斬之，父子俱殞，左右各分散。 Can and Bing wished to return to the headquarters; having descended the wall, they set out candles to illuminate themselves; Sengjing advanced straight through the dark; Can's son Zui felt there was an unusual man and used his body to protect Can; Sengjing went straight forward and cut him down; father and son both perished; attendants each scattered.

粲死時，年五十八。 When Can died, he was fifty-eight.

任候伯等其夜並乘輕舸，自新亭赴石頭，聞粲敗，乃馳還； Ren Houbo and others that night all rode light boats from Xinting toward Stone Fortress; hearing Can was defeated, they galloped back;

袁粲、劉秉，並與先朝同奬宋室，沈攸之於景和之世，特有乃心，雖末節不終，而始誠可錄。 Yuan Can and Liu Bing both together with the former court supported the Song house; Shen Youzhi in the Jinghe era had a special loyal heart; although their final conduct did not run its course, their original sincerity is worth recording.

歲月彌往，宜沾優隆，粲、秉前年改葬，塋兆未修，材官可為經略，粗合周禮。 As years pass ever further, they should receive honored elevation; Can and Bing were reburied in the year before last, but their grave precincts are not yet repaired—the Works Office may plan the work, roughly in accord with the Zhou Rites.

袁粲清標簡貴，任屬負圖，朝野之望雖隆，然未以大節許也。 Yuan Can's pure mark was simple and noble; his commission bore the burden of the state; though court and countryside hope was lofty, yet he was not yet approved in great integrity.

昔王經被旌於晉世，粲等亦改葬於聖朝，盛代同符，美矣！ Formerly Wang Jing was honored in the Jin age; Can and others were also reburied in the sagely dynasty—flourishing ages share the seal, beautiful indeed!