I've often joked with our Chinese friends about how the Chinese discovered or invented about everything. At least most of the cool stuff. Gunpowder, fireworks, kites, silk, tea, and Chinese handcuffs to name a few. To be quite honest it mostly comes from a place of envy that the US can't claim so many sweet inventions. But one thing they didn't tell me. Apparently the Chinese were also the first to decorate their buildings with Santa around Christmas. I was sure this was Santa in his sleigh at a distance. Turns out it isn't (it is meant to scare away nasty things like lightning) but you can see the idea developing.
This is on many many ancient structures we've seen. This particular one comes from a building near the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest in the Temple of Heaven area.
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