imperial roof decoration

Chinese imperial roof decorations or roof charms or roof-figures (檐獸 / 檐兽; Pinyin: yán shòu) or "walking beasts" (走獸 / 走兽; Pinyin: zǒu shòu) or "crouching beasts" (蹲獸 / 蹲兽; Pinyin: Dūn shòu) were statuettes placed along the ridge line of official buildings of the Chinese empire. Only official buildings (palaces, government buildings, and some temples) were permitted to use such roof decorations. Chinese roofs are typically of the hip roof type, with small gables, so decorations along the ridge line were highly visible to observers. Variant versions are still widespread in Chinese temples and has spread to the rest of East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia.