Roofline Ornaments in the Forbidden City

Roofline Ornaments - 3

Originally the roofs were made mostly of wood, and to prevent the tiles from sliding off, wooden nails were used. However, without lightning rods, the palace roof would easily catch fire. Therefore, some alchemists suggested that symbols of the fishtail star could be installed on the roof to prevent fire. Later, these symbols were replaced by glazed tiles, which were shaped like lucky animals, some of them mythical.