Ask Anything

Q: Why are there statues of strange animals lining the rooftops of certain buildings and temples?

- Jill, Harbin

A; The menageries you might see crowded along the curved rooftops of major buildings are more than just imaginative ornamentation. The ancient Chinese were very concerned with warding off evil spirits and fire, which destroyed many of ancient China's largely wooden structures. Thus guardian animals such as lions, phoenixes, Chinese unicorns qilins, and other legendary creatures were placed along the ridges of palace and temple roofs. A god figure riding a rooster or phoenix headed the bestial procession. Possessing extraordinary senses, the god could detect the approach of evil spirits and launch the guardians into battle. A small dragon called a chi often adorns the tip of each roof corner. This chi was believed to be the son of the Dragon King and could use its power over water to prevent fires.

A building's importance determined the number of guardians needed to protect it. For this reason, the Forbidden City in Beijing is one of the best places to view this remarkable architectural detail. Most rooftops in the Forbidden City display between one and nine guardians on each corner. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, the most important building in the palace complex, features twelve.