Spirit screen

A spirit screen, also called spirit wall or screen wall, (Chinese:影壁; pinyin:Yǐngbì; literally: "shadow wall" or Chinese:照壁; pinyin:Zhàobì) is used to shield an entrance gate in traditional Chinese architecture. Spirit screens can be positioned either on the outside or the inside of the gate they are protecting. The Chinese term "yingbi" is used to refer to screens on the outside as well as on the inside, whereas the term "zhaobi" is used only to refer to screens positioned on the outside. Spirit screens can be either solitary structures or could be attached to a neighboring wall. They can be constructed from a variety of materials such as brick, wood, stone, or glazed tile. Outer spirit screens were often status symbols and could be richly decorated. Common decorations include symbols of good luck, such as the character for good fortune (Chinese:福; pinyin:fú). Particularly ornate spirit screens featuring a dragon motif are the Nine-Dragon Walls that can be found in imperial palaces and gardens.