Monday, May 5, 2008Beijing
The rooftops of the various gates and palaces throughout China are adorned with creatures—similar to those on the rooftops of the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The more creatures, the more significant the building, with a max of nine (there’s that number again), flanked by two important figures—an immortal riding a phoenix at the front of the line, symbolizing the Empress; a dragon at the end symbolizing the Emperor.
This is the lineup on top of the Gate of Supreme Harmony. There aren’t a lot of buildings that get more creature-heavy than this.
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