Wenshou

These traditional decorative elements are most commonly featured on roofs of imperial structures, the most prominent example being the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City in what is today the Dongcheng District in Beijing, China.

[1] Archaeological findings suggest that the tradition of placing animal figures on roof-ridges has been a practiced custom for a minimum of 2,100 years.

Though wenshou serve an aesthetic purpose, they were also used to fight superstitious beliefs through the symbolism of what each figure represents.

[1] Today, wenshou serve as cultural artifacts of China, as they are existing physical representations of the traditions, values, and beliefs of the era in which they were erected.

Different animal figurines represent different symbols, each having a unique purpose so as to show status or fight superstitious beliefs.