An Guo
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An Guo (simplified Chinese: 安国; traditional Chinese: 安國; pinyin: Ān Guó; 1481–1534 AD), was a Chinese scholar, inventor, printer, and antique collector from Wuxi, Jiangsu Province during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). He was considered one of the wealthiest persons throughout the Ming Dynasty.[1] An Guo is best known for improving the techniques of bronze movable type, and his broad collection of antiques and art pieces. Due to the large amount of money and land in his possession, he was nicknamed "Millionaire An" (安百万).[2]
After An Guo became extremely wealthy, he started helping the locals with preventing attacks and burglaries from Wokou (倭寇), by providing financial support to the military of the Ming dynasty, as well as sponsoring the construction of defensive walls. Also, he rebuilt and maintained a shrine by establishing a joint estate using some of his own land, and constructed a huge pleasure garden, which was later named Xi Lin (西林, West Garden), to provide work opportunities to those who were in poverty because of a severe famine.[3]