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Temple of Heaven, BeijingOften when I'm sky-gazing, I also enjoy the 'frame' for the sky - tree branches, roof-lines, windows. Never more so than in China, where architecture old and new is constructed with imagination and creativity. The newest buildings often have fascinating design elements at their crown, and the oldest, well, they are a treasure to behold. I fell in love with the ancient guardians on the imperial rooftops, they are different on each building, with more figures on the buildings where more important functions took place.
Forbidden City, Beijing
I couldn't quite figure out the little man riding on a bird at the front of the roof, my brother and I speculated that this was perhaps a chicken-horse, hmm, highly suspect! Turns out it represents a man riding on a phoenix, some say he was a minion who overstepped his authority and was hanged for treason from the eaves of a building, others that he is a faithful servant of the emperor. I have no clue, but there he is riding his phoenix on the roof :)
Guard Post, Great Wall of China
In addition to the creatures I fully expect to see on an Imperial roof, such as dragons, lions, and dogs, there were others I couldn't fathom out, but a little research tells me these were wind-and-storm-summoning fish, auspicious seahorse, and heavenly horse. The Chinese use of lyrical language really enchanted me, I'm left with a desire to read Chinese poetry and literature just to experience their beautiful use of language, but that will have to be translated versions, because unlike my brother Richard I don't speak, read or write Chinese (except for ni hao - hello, and xie xie, thank you). My brother Jamie had a good go at speaking Chinese when we were there, and he did pretty well!
Forbidden City, Beijing I couldn't quite figure out the little man riding on a bird at the front of the roof, my brother and I speculated that this was perhaps a chicken-horse, hmm, highly suspect! Turns out it represents a man riding on a phoenix, some say he was a minion who overstepped his authority and was hanged for treason from the eaves of a building, others that he is a faithful servant of the emperor. I have no clue, but there he is riding his phoenix on the roof :)
Guard Post, Great Wall of ChinaIn addition to the creatures I fully expect to see on an Imperial roof, such as dragons, lions, and dogs, there were others I couldn't fathom out, but a little research tells me these were wind-and-storm-summoning fish, auspicious seahorse, and heavenly horse. The Chinese use of lyrical language really enchanted me, I'm left with a desire to read Chinese poetry and literature just to experience their beautiful use of language, but that will have to be translated versions, because unlike my brother Richard I don't speak, read or write Chinese (except for ni hao - hello, and xie xie, thank you). My brother Jamie had a good go at speaking Chinese when we were there, and he did pretty well!
At the Yu-Yuan gardens in Shanghai there was an officers pavillion that had little warriors on the roof, and a pair of large dragons encircling the wall of the officer's garden, not to entered lightly!
To see what the rest of the world is looking at when they look up and out, visit Skywatch. Thanks for visiting, wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Wonderful carvings n the roof of the temple.
ReplyDeleteFabulous pictures here! TFS!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting sky shots. You have a wonderful weekend too.
ReplyDeleteA chicken-horse! That's hysterical. I love it. And I would LOVE taking pictures there ... so much beauty. Good for you, that you had the presence of mind to capture it!
ReplyDelete