Yuan Cheng

Yuan Cheng (袁成, ? – ?) was a Chinese politician of late Eastern Han. His courtesy name was Wenkai (文開), and he was a native of Yangxian County (汝陽縣) in Runan Commandery, Yuzhou. He came from the prestigious Yuan family and gained renown, and he was also the adoptive father of Yuan Shao.

Life

Beginning with his great-grandfather Yuan An, the family produced four generations of Three Excellencies ([four generations of Three Excellencies, 四世三公]). Born the second son of Yuan Tang (袁湯) into this prestigious family, he was highly renowned.¹ He was also the adoptive father of Yuan Shao, who built a power base in Hebei. Originally, Yuan Shao was an illegitimate son of Yuan Cheng's younger brother Yuan Feng.² At court he served as Left Captain of the Central Guards (左中郞將),³ and because he was upright in character and disciplined himself well, he associated smoothly with the Grand General Liang Ji and other imperial relatives, eunuch-linked officials, and powerful families. No one failed to heed his words, and in the capital Luoyang a saying spread: "If affairs do not go smoothly, seek Wenkai (文開, Yuan Cheng's courtesy name)."⁴ He died young, so his father's heir was his younger brother Yuan Feng.⁵

Family

• Siblings: , ,