Search Photos

This line of creatures along the gable of a Chinese Imperial building inside the Forbidden City, Beijing, China, denotes a building of minor importance among the family apartments. The man riding a chicken and the dragon-like mythological creature at the ends are not counted for precedence, only the animals in the middle, here 3, are counted and the count varies from 0 to 10 animals. Only the Imperial Palace has 10.
A practical need for these is as part of a lightning strike prevention system. Modern society has added a metal bar along the roof crests to augment this function.

One of dozens of incense burners, which adorn the front stairs leading to the imperial palace. These are about the size of a 55-gallon drum and were constantly lit while the emperor was in residence at the Forbidden City, Beijing, China.
Believe the purpose was a blatant display of ostentation in combination with the practical keeping bugs away and suppressing the massive odor of so many people in a confined space.