The cornice roofs of ancient buildings in China are often decorated with many small animals. These beautiful decorations are a major feature of architectural decoration in China. These small animals are generally called animals on the roof, animals on the eaves, animals on the gods, kisses on the spine and so on. It is also called trotting or "turning" inside the ancient construction bank. They have "walked" to the front of the cornice, and if they take one step further, they will fall down. They are really desperate. Most of the ancient buildings in China are civil structures with wooden roofs. Because the tile at the front end of the cornice is at the forefront, it has to bear a "thrust" from the tile at the upper end of the whole vertical ridge; At the same time, if there are no protective measures, it is easy to be blown down by strong winds. Therefore, people use tile nails to fix the tile at the front end of the cornice, and gradually form various animal images in the process of beautifying the nail cap, which is further endowed with the functions of decoration and marking grades in addition to practical functions. There was only one animal head in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Later, a number of squatting animals were gradually added, and by the Qing Dynasty, a common queue of small animals headed by "immortal riding a phoenix" was formed. A legend says that he is Jiang Ziya's brother-in-law, and he wants to use Jiang Ziya's relationship to climb up. Jiang Ziya saw his brother-in-law's intention, but he knew that his talents were limited, so he said to him, "Your official has reached the top. Climb up again and you will fall. " According to this legend, ancient architects put him at the front of the cornice, and if they climbed one more step, they would fall and break into pieces. Another legend says that he is the king of Qi Min. During his reign, he was idle and ignorant, so he was hated by the masses. Rare birds and animals chased him to the wall. If he takes one more step, he will fall and break into pieces. After the fairy, a group of small animals are arranged in their seats, and the number varies according to the scale and grade of the building, mostly in odd numbers such as one, three, five, seven and nine. The use of the Ten Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City in Beijing not only symbolizes the supremacy of imperial power, but also probably means that only emperors deserve "perfect" treatment. There are different numbers of small animals in different buildings. Take nine as an example. They are: kiss (one of the nine sons of the dragon), phoenix, lion, Tianma, hippocampus, sister-in-law, gambling on fish, sister-in-law and bullfighting. The Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City added a line at the end. The higher the number, the higher the level. Take the Forbidden City as an example. There are ten halls of supreme harmony, which are unparalleled in the world. Gan Qing Palace is the place where the emperor lived and handled daily affairs, with nine palaces, second only to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The Palace of Kunning was originally the queen's bedroom, with seven rooms; Concubines live in six hospitals and have five hospitals; Some halls are equipped with three or even one. The meaning of these small animals is: 1. Dear, I like to look around, so they are in front of the cornice. 2. Phoenix, a symbol of nobility and virtue. According to Historical Records Biography of Japan: "Phoenix is not a flock of birds." Phoenix is the symbol of Jirui and the name of the Queen. Lions represent courage and majesty. "The Record of Lights on" records: "The lion roared:' I am the only one in the world'. Lions roar and all animals are frightened. " Tianma and Haima symbolize that Wade has reached the sea and reached all directions. Sister-in-law, recorded in ancient books, is a beast of the same kind as the lion, and is said to be one of the nine sons of the dragon. Legend has it that you can eat tigers and leopards, which means you are obedient to all animals. 6. Fish eggs are exotic animals in the ocean. Legend has it that eldest sister-in-law is the god who makes rain, puts out fire and prevents disasters. 7. Avenger, a beast in ancient legend, is similar to a lion. "Foreign Records" said that "there are wild animals in the wilderness of Northeast China, which are called arrogance". Legend has it that it can distinguish right from wrong and is a symbol of courage and justice. 8. Bullfighting is a kind of legendary dragon. According to "Introduction to Chen Yuan", "There are bullfights in Haizi in the west ... When it rains, it often meanders along and above Yudong in Jin Ao." Legend is the mascot for making clouds and rain, suppressing fire and preventing disasters. 9. Shi Hang, a portrait of a monkey face with wings. Ancient palaces were mostly made of wood and flammable, so small animals that were said to be able to avoid fire were used on the eaves. These beautiful and practical animals sitting on the eaves add beauty to the ancient buildings, making them more magnificent and full of artistic charm. Liang Sicheng commented: "The actual part, which was originally extremely boring and clumsy, has become the crown of the beauty of the whole building."