Cao Can
Succeeded Xiao He as chancellor and followed Xiao He's old laws in everything, which became known as "Cao follows Xiao's rules."
Life
Jailer of Pei County
Cao Can was originally a prison official in Pei County and a county clerk alongside Xiao He. After rising in arms with Liu Bang he fought in sieges and field battles, suffering 70 wounds, and his military merits ranked among the highest of all the generals.
Governed Qi by Huang-Lao
After the founding of the Han dynasty he served for nine years as chancellor of the State of Qi, governing it with the Huang-Lao arts taught by Master Gai; through quietude and non-action, Qi was stable.
Cao follows Xiao's rules
When Xiao He died in 193 BCE, Cao Can succeeded him as chancellor. He followed the laws Xiao He had established in everything, drank wine all day and made no hasty changes. When Emperor Hui reproached him, he replied that His Majesty was not the equal of Emperor Gao and he was not the equal of Xiao He, so keeping the old laws was enough. People of the time praised it: "Xiao He made the laws, clear as a drawn line; Cao Can succeeded him, kept them and lost nothing." He died in 190 BCE.
Legacy
Cao Can's "Governing by Non-Action" let early Han society recover, and "Cao follows Xiao's rules" became a byword for keeping to established policy.
Major works & achievements
- Governed Qi by Huang-Lao principles
- Carried on Xiao He's laws
Did you know? As chancellor he drank all day long; whoever came to urge reforms on him was simply invited to drink, and went home drunk.
Key dates
- 209 BCERose in arms with Liu Bang
- 201 BCEBecame chancellor of the State of Qi
- 193 BCESucceeded Xiao He as chancellor of Han
- 190 BCEDied