Dragons, lions, and mythological creatures fulfill decorative functions, but the author also shows why they are placed as they are and how they can be read to reveal details of the lives and status of people who designed and lived in these buildings. The publication also looks at construction techniques, relating them to the different regions and the various needs of the local populations, as well as to the skills and materials available at any particular time. The photographs, taken as part of a survey of historical Chinese architecture conducted to raise awareness of the cultural heritage and for conservation purposes, are in joy in their own right, but also elegantly reinforce the information given in the text.