monsters

Fantastic creatures of Chinese roof tiles

Roofs in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roofs in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Hanging Temple, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Hanging Temple, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Shanhua Temple roof tiles, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Shanhua Temple roof tiles, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Shanhua Temple roof tiles, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Shanhua Temple roof tiles, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Hanging Temple, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Hanging Temple, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Tiles from the Nine Dragon Screen, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Tiles from the Nine Dragon Screen, Datong. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roofs in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roofs in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roof tiles at the Great Mosque, Xi’an. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roofs in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Roofs in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.