太和殿檐獸 Imperial Roof Decoration, Hall of Supreme Harmony / 中國北京故宫 Forbidden City, Beijing, China / SML.20140430.7D.51965.P1
Chinese imperial roof decoration (檐獸 yán shòu) was only allowed on official buildings of the empire. Along the ridges, near the corner, a row of small figures is placed. The imperial yellow glaze is reserved for the emperor.
At the tail of the procession will be an imperial dragon, representing the authority of the state. At the head of the procession will be a man riding a Phoenix, one legend suggests that this represents a minon of the emperor who grew greedy for power and was hanged from the roof gable for treason.
In between will be mythical beasts, usually an odd number of them. The mythical beasts are set to pounce upon the man and devour him should he stray from performing his duties with faithfulness and rectitude.
Pictured is the imperial roof decoration seen at the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), featuring the maximum nine mythical beasts. The order of the beasts are: 1. evil-dispelling bull, 2. courageous goat-bull (獬豸), 3. wind-summoning fish (狎魚), 4. storm-summoning fish (狎魚), 5. mythical lion (狻猊), 6. auspicious seahorse, 7. heavenly horse, 8. lion, and 9. chiwen (鴟吻, a son of dragon). Additionally, an immortal guardian (行什, hangshi) is in front of the dragon holding to a sword like a cane.
Photographed with the Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM.
# More Information
+ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_roof_decoration
太和殿檐獸 Imperial Roof Decoration, Hall of Supreme Harmony / 中國北京故宫 Forbidden City, Beijing, China / SML.20140430.7D.51965.P1
太和殿檐獸 Imperial Roof Decoration, Hall of Supreme Harmony / 中國北京故宫 Forbidden City, Beijing, China / SML.20140430.7D.51965.P1
Chinese imperial roof decoration (檐獸 yán shòu) was only allowed on official buildings of the empire. Along the ridges, near the corner, a row of small figures is placed. The imperial yellow glaze is reserved for the emperor.
At the tail of the procession will be an imperial dragon, representing the authority of the state. At the head of the procession will be a man riding a Phoenix, one legend suggests that this represents a minon of the emperor who grew greedy for power and was hanged from the roof gable for treason.
In between will be mythical beasts, usually an odd number of them. The mythical beasts are set to pounce upon the man and devour him should he stray from performing his duties with faithfulness and rectitude.
Pictured is the imperial roof decoration seen at the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), featuring the maximum nine mythical beasts. The order of the beasts are: 1. evil-dispelling bull, 2. courageous goat-bull (獬豸), 3. wind-summoning fish (狎魚), 4. storm-summoning fish (狎魚), 5. mythical lion (狻猊), 6. auspicious seahorse, 7. heavenly horse, 8. lion, and 9. chiwen (鴟吻, a son of dragon). Additionally, an immortal guardian (行什, hangshi) is in front of the dragon holding to a sword like a cane.
Photographed with the Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM.
# More Information
+ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_roof_decoration
太和殿檐獸 Imperial Roof Decoration, Hall of Supreme Harmony / 中國北京故宫 Forbidden City, Beijing, China / SML.20140430.7D.51965.P1