Nguyen An

Who was Nguyen An?

Nguyễn An, also known in Chinese as Ruan An or Juan An, was a Ming Dynasty eunuch, architect, and hydraulic specialist between the first and fifth decades of the 15th century. Born in Vietnam, he was taken as tribute from Vietnam to China and later became a eunuch and architect in service to the Chinese emperors. He, along with numerous architects, such as master designers and planners Cai Xin, Chen Gui, and Wu Zhong, master carpenter Kuai Xiang, and master mason Lu Xiang, was an important principal designer and a chief builder of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Under the reign of Zhengtong Emperor, Nguyen An had a major role in the reconstruction of the wall of Beijing. He was also a hydraulic specialist, who was involved in at least three hydraulic projects and had a flawless record. He died in 1453.