Roof tiles, or wa in Chinese, appeared as early as in the Xia Dynasty (2100-1600BC), serving to protect inhabitants from weather hazards and intruders. Its calligraphic style of xiaozhuan (lesser seal script) ( ) vividly portrays the tiles: laid one over another and joined together by lime in alternating and curved rows, concave and convex, on the roof.

The first tile in each row of the roof tiles is called a wadang, since dang in archaic Chinese means the "end." The first tiles are usually placed underneath each row and all the way along the eaves of the sloping roof, hence the English name of tile-ends or eaves tiles. The wadang is an important component and ornament of traditional Chinese architecture , with both protective and decorative functions.

Wadangs adorned with molded designs can be cast back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771BC), but the use of stylized characters as architectural ornaments appeared in the State of Yan during the Warring States Period (475-221BC). The tradition flourished during the Qin (221-206BC) and Han (206BC-220AD) dynasties, and is therefore known as "Qin brick and Han tile."

Wadangs of the Qin Dynasty were commonly decorated with patterns of animals, most particularly the deer. The Chinese word for deer is lu, which is similar in pronunciation to that for wealth. The deer was hence a common decorative motif during the Qin Period. In the Han Dynasty , the technique of making wadangs reached its peak. The designs were elaborate and wadangs decorated with zhuan (seal script), especially xiaozhuan (lesser seal script), came into being.

In the old days, roof tiles were black tiles. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the technique and materials of "Tang tricolor-glazed pottery" were adopted into roof tiling and wadang making, producing glazed tiles and wadangs known today as the world-famous "liu-l."

Distinctions between rich and poor people are apparent in the details. The color of the glazed wadangs, like the art of traditional roofs, represented the social status. There were many colorful figurine ornaments that were made in the image of animals and which were placed on ridges and roof edges of great houses, serving as guardians and protectors. However, common people could only use simple black tiles.

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