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Nguyen An

1381 – 1453

Designer and builder of the Forbidden City

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About Nguyen An

Lived 1381 – 1453 (aged 71–72). Nguyen An was a Chinese architect.

Nguyễn An (Chinese 阮安; 1381 - 1453), known in Chinese as Ruan An (pinyin) or Juan An (Wade-Giles), was a Ming dynasty architect and hydraulics specialist between the first and fifth decades of the 15th century. According to some sources, Born in Vietnam, he was taken as tribute to China and later became a eunuch and architect in service to the Chinese emperors. He, along with other architects, such as master designers and planners Cai Xin (蔡信), Kuai Xiang (蒯祥), Chen Gui (陳珪), and Wu Zhong (吳中), was a builder of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

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

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Important facts

Born
1381
Birth century
Died
1453
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
Ruan An

People in Nguyen An's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Nguyen An's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Nguyen An?

designer and builder of the Forbidden City

When was Nguyen An born?

Nguyen An was born in 1381.

When did Nguyen An die?

Nguyen An died in 1453.

What was Nguyen An's occupation?

Nguyen An was an architect.

What nationality was Nguyen An?

Nguyen An was Chinese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Nguyen An

· Wikidata: Q713236

· DBpedia: Nguyễn An

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nguyen An. https://biography.guide/nguyen-an/

MLA: "Nguyen An." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nguyen-an/.

Chicago: "Nguyen An." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nguyen-an/.

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