Chinese imperial roof decorations or roof charms or roof-figures (Chinese: 檐獸/檐兽; pinyin: yán shòu) or "walking beasts" (Chinese: 走獸/走兽; pinyin: zǒu shòu) or "crouching beasts" (Chinese: 蹲獸/蹲兽; pinyin: Dūn shòu) were statuettes placed along the ridge line of official buildings of the Chinese empire. Only official buildings (palaces, government buildings, and some temples) were permitted to use such roof decorations.
Highest possible status imperial roof decoration - man riding bird, nine beasts, immortal figure, and dragon
Overviewedit
Chinese roofs are typically of the hip roof type, with small gables, so decorations along the ridge line were highly visible to observers. Variant versions are still widespread in Chinese temples and has spread to the rest of East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia.
Imperial roof decoration of a minor building at the Forbidden CityMultiple gables with decorations
Along the ridges (unions between the roof panels), near the corner, a row of small figures is placed. These are often made of glazed ceramic and form an outward marching procession. Here we see the imperial yellow glaze 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 minion of the emperor who grew greedy for power and was hanged from the roof gable for treason. Another version of this figurine is an immortal riding a fenghuang-bird or qilin. Yet another interpretation is that this is a person serving the emperor, being watched by the following beasts. 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.
In the illustration at the top there is only one beast; 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 (獬豸), wind- and storm-summoning fish (狎魚), mythical lion (狻猊), auspicious seahorse, heavenly horse, lion, and chiwen (鴟吻, a son of dragon). The maximum number is seen in the lower image, taken at the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Note the addition of an immortal guardian (行什, hangshi, "ranked tenth") in front of the dragon holding to a sword like a cane. During imperial times, this figure was unique to this single building, being the throne hall and therefore the building with the highest status in the entire empire.
These examples are found within the Forbidden City, Beijing, China. Other examples can be found on functional structures such as gates and barracks of the Great Wall of China, as well as the roofs of the Summer Palace outside of Beijing.
With the fall of the empire (in 1911 C.E.) such decorations are now seen on commercial structures and tourist boats.
Media related to Imperial roof decoration at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
imperial, roof, decoration, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Imperial roof decoration news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Chinese imperial roof decorations or roof charms or roof figures Chinese 檐獸 檐兽 pinyin yan shou or walking beasts Chinese 走獸 走兽 pinyin zǒu shou or crouching beasts Chinese 蹲獸 蹲兽 pinyin Dun shou were statuettes placed along the ridge line of official buildings of the Chinese empire Only official buildings palaces government buildings and some temples were permitted to use such roof decorations Highest possible status imperial roof decoration man riding bird nine beasts immortal figure and dragonOverview editChinese roofs are typically of the hip roof type with small gables so decorations along the ridge line were highly visible to observers Variant versions are still widespread in Chinese temples and has spread to the rest of East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia nbsp Imperial roof decoration of a minor building at the Forbidden City nbsp Multiple gables with decorations Along the ridges unions between the roof panels near the corner a row of small figures is placed These are often made of glazed ceramic and form an outward marching procession Here we see the imperial yellow glaze 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 minion of the emperor who grew greedy for power and was hanged from the roof gable for treason Another version of this figurine is an immortal riding a fenghuang bird or qilin Yet another interpretation is that this is a person serving the emperor being watched by the following beasts 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 In the illustration at the top there is only one beast 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 獬豸 wind and storm summoning fish 狎魚 mythical lion 狻猊 auspicious seahorse heavenly horse lion and chiwen 鴟吻 a son of dragon The maximum number is seen in the lower image taken at the Hall of Supreme Harmony Note the addition of an immortal guardian 行什 hangshi ranked tenth in front of the dragon holding to a sword like a cane During imperial times this figure was unique to this single building being the throne hall and therefore the building with the highest status in the entire empire These examples are found within the Forbidden City Beijing China Other examples can be found on functional structures such as gates and barracks of the Great Wall of China as well as the roofs of the Summer Palace outside of Beijing With the fall of the empire in 1911 C E such decorations are now seen on commercial structures and tourist boats See also editChiwen Gargoyle Grotesque architecture Onigawara Imperial guardian lion ShachihokoExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Imperial roof decoration at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Imperial roof decoration amp oldid 1153658212, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
