Nguyễn An
Nguyễn An, known in Chinese as Ruan An or Juan An, was a Ming dynasty eunuch, architect, and hydraulics specialist between the first and fifth decades of the 15th century. Born in Sơn Tây, 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 builder of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Under the reign of the Zhengtong Emperor, Nguyen An 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.
