Humanoid Roof Guardians from the Hoeamsa Temple Site

Japsang are ornamental figurines typically placed on the descending ridge (naerimmaru) or corner ridge (chuneomaru) of traditional Korean buildings. These figures most commonly depict animals or human-like characters. The number of japsang installed on a building depends on its prestige, but by architectural convention, they must always be placed in odd numbers, typically in sequences of 3, 5, 7, or 11 per side.

Most of the japsang known today were installed on late Joseon Dynasty palace buildings. These figures are often modeled after characters from the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West or based on local folk deities. The typical order of placement from the front includes:

Tang Sanzang (Samjang Beopsa), Sun Wukong (Son Haengja), Zhu Bajie (Jeo Palgye), Sha Wujing (Sahwa-sang), White Dragon Horse (Mahwa-sang), Three-Killer Bodhisattva (Samsal Bosal), Two-Headed Dragon (Iguryong), Pangolin (Cheonsangap), Two-Faced Demon (Igwibak), and Beast-Headed Ogre (Natodu).

However, the japsang excavated from the Hoeamsa Temple Site in Yangju differ significantly in form and variety from those of the late Joseon period. These differences reflect the unique characteristics of the site and its historical value. We warmly encourage you to visit the Hoeamsa Temple Site Museum with your family and children to create meaningful and memorable cultural experiences.

Compared to the japsang still found on palace rooftops today, the figures from Hoeamsa are more realistic in appearance and display exceptionally refined carving techniques. To date, six distinct types have been identified:

1 humanoid japsang resembling a warrior in armor
2 hybrid japsang with human faces and the bodies of birds or fish
3 animal-shaped japsang representing birds, fish, or beasts

Interestingly, these japsang more closely resemble roof guardian figures from China’s Ming and Qing Dynasties (known as zhushu) than those from Korea’s late Joseon period. However, key differences remain: for example, no figures of immortals riding phoenixes, which are common in Chinese roof ornamentation, have been found at Hoeamsa. Instead, uniquely Korean figures such as military officials and merchant-rider hybrids—which do not appear in Chinese traditions—were unearthed in notable numbers.

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