Chinese Imperial roof decorations at the Emperor's Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City (fig.). It has the highest possible level of nine Chinese Imperial roof deco-rations, which are preceded and followed by some additional figures.

The preceding statuette is of an immortal riding a fenghuang, i.e. a mythical bird similar to a phoenix, a symbol of virtue. The row of nine is then followed by an additional rooftop figure known as a Hangshi, i.e. a sword-wielding, monkey-faced immortal guardian that wards off demons and whose name literally means ‘ranks tenth’, whereas this Hangshi is in turn is followed by an imperial dragon, a symbol of imperial authority. Their function is evil-dispelling and all-but-two are squatted, quadrupeds, the odd ones out being a fish and a mythical bird-like creature which are situated fourthly and secondly, respectively in the row of nine.