Dragon depictions on the roofs can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), when a talisman was often placed on the ridge of a large-scale architecture to dispel the ghosts and guarantee the peace of a family. Many house owners, regardless of the size of their houses, chose dragon-patterned carvings to decorate their ridges, hoping to ward off evil spirits while also using these ornaments to show their (the house owners') power and official rank.

Ancient people also believed dragon-shaped zoomorphic ornaments fixed on the ridges of palaces and temples could prevent fires and dispel man-eating spirits. In the very beginning, these ornaments were not dragon-shaped, but were instead shaped like a bird or fish-dragon. Gradually, the bird-shaped ornaments adopted the shape of an owl tail, and became known as chiwei (a legendary sea animal that was said to be capable of putting out a fire).

By the middle or later part of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), chiwen (placed at either end of the main ridge) appeared. After the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the use of dragon-shaped zoomorphic ornaments became more commonly seen; such ornaments were prevalent during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The common people used pottery or tile "dragon talismans," while golden-glazed zoomorphic ornaments could only be found on temples, official residences, and palaces, featuring beautiful and magnificent design patterns.

It was not until the Qing Dynasty that rules were set for the use of dragon talismans, providing that only odd numbers (11 at most) of zoomorphic ornaments could be used after the phoenix-riding god. For example, the Taihe Palace (also known as the Hall of Supreme Harmony) of the Imperial Palace, the highest-ranking building in ancient China, has 11 zoomorphic ornaments on its roof. For the local buildings, the arrangement of dragon talismans differed, usually not complying with the official provisions.

Be it dragon talismans or zoomorphic ornaments, as a kind of architectural decorations, they represented people's wishes for a peaceful and happy life as well as the Chinese culture. Today, Chinese dragon culture is still exhibited in imitations of traditional Chinese architecture. Instead of purely serving the purpose of warding off evil spirits, the dragon-related ornaments have become a symbol of the whole Chinese nation. For example, one can be sure that the house with dragon-patterned ornament belongs to a Chinese person, whether at home or abroad.

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