HAOXIAN A reckless and adventurous dragon whose image can be found decorating the eaves of palaces. YAZI Valiant and bellicose; his image is seen on sword-hilts and knife hilts. CHIWEN Chiwen likes to gaze into the distance and his appearance is often carved on pinnacles. Swallows ridges. BAXIA Baxia is a good swimmer and his image decorates many bridge piers and archways. PULAO Pulao is fond of roaring and his figure is carved on bells. BIXI Bixi is an excellent pack-animal whose image appears on panniers. QIUNIU Qiuniu loves music and his figure is a common decoration on the bridge of stringed musical instruments. SUANMI Suanmi is fond of smoke and fire; his likeness can be seen on the legs of incense-burners. JIAOTU Jiaotu is as tight-lipped as a mussel or a snail. His image is carved on doors. -------------------------------- GONGFU "makara" at end of piers KYLIN "antlers" -------------------------------- Lined in order from below upwards they are the dragon, phoenix, lion, heavenly steed, sea horse, Suanni, Yayu, Xiezhi, Douniu, and Hangshi with the "immortal" on phoenix back taking the lead. The "immortal" as said in a popular saying, was the image of the cruel King Min of the Kingdom of Qi, who, having nowhere to go, was finally made to suffer under the scorching sun. Legend has it that in ancient China, all these chimeras signified something of importance. The dragon and phoenix represented supreme dignity. The heavenly steed and sea horse meant that the influence of the imperial authority could be exerted up into the heaven and down to the deep sea, in a word, anywhere in all directions without hindrance. Douniu and Yayu were mythical sea animals, able to gather clouds and produce rain to prevent fire. The lion, an animal from an exotic land, was the king of all beasts, able to safeguard hills and mountains. Suanni, a legendary and ferocious beast, able to devour tigers and leopards, signified that all mountains around were under unified governance and all beasts at his command. Xiezhi, a chimera, able to tell right from wrong, showed that the imperial court was "Open and Aboveboard", "just and honest". The last monkey - like animal, called "Hangshi," was numbered the tenth to wind up the rear. -------------------------------------- The maximum number of beasts is nine, including evil-dispelling bull, courageous goat-bull (??), wind- and storm-summoning fish (??), mythical lion (??), auspicious seahorse, heavenly horse, lion, and chiwen (??, a son of dragon). The maximum number is seen in the lower image, taken at the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Note the addition of an immortal guardian (??, xingshe) in front of the dragon holding to a sword like a cane.