Roofline Ornaments in the Forbidden City

Roofline Ornaments - 11

In the illustration at the top there are five beasts; the number of beasts indicating the importance of the duties performed within the building or within the courtyard protected by a gate. The maximum number of beasts is nine, including evil-dispelling bull, courageous goat-bull, wind- and storm-summoning fish mythical lion, auspicious seahorse, heavenly horse, lion, and chiwen, (a son of dragon).