Rain Spouts, Platform of the Outer Court

Forbidden City, Beijing (map)

The makara, a creature of water, is seen here in its typical function of channeling rainwater. A large makara decorates the corner, while many smaller ones are lined up on the balustrades. A similar example, from the Ming Dynasty, can be found in the Imperial Gardens (photo).

A small bit of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, under wraps when this photo was taken (2006), is glimpsed in the upper right corner.