Symbols of heaven
Magnificently decorated roof ridges. Looking closely, you discern seven ceramic statuettes at the tail ends. Virtually every building in the Forbidden City is embellished with these figures. The (odd) number of figures represent the status of the building. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, as the only and most important building in the country, has eleven, not counting the dragon-owl beast that always closes ranks. The statues always occur in a fixed pattern, elimination starts at the back. In order of appearance: a celestial being riding a phoenix, dragon, phoenix, lion, heavenly (winged) steed, sea horse, suanni (legendary beast of prey), yayu (monster with a dragon body and a fish tail), xiezhi (legendary horned animal), douniu (legendary reptile), xingshi (mythical beast that walks upright).