An Jung-geun
An was born on 2 September 1879, in Haeju, Hwanghae-do, the first son of An Tae-hun (안태훈; 安泰勳) and Jo Maria (Jo Seong-nyeo 조성녀; 趙姓女), of the family of the Sunheung-An (순흥안씨; 順興安氏) lineage. His childhood name was (안응칠; 安應七; ). The name originated from seven dots on the chest and stomach, meaning that it was born in accordance with the energy of the Big Dipper. As a boy, he learned Chinese literature and Western sciences, but was more interested in martial arts and marksmanship. Kim Gu (김구; 金九), the future leader of the Korean independence movement who had taken refuge in An Tae-hun's house at the time, wrote that young An Jung-geun was an excellent marksman, liked to read books, and had strong charisma.