Small figurines sit in a row at the ends of the roofs at Gyeongbokgung. A foreign friend asked, "Cute decorations, aren't they?" Many people think so. But these figurines weren't put up just to look pretty. ## Why They Look Like Decorations It's because they're small and have a funny shape. They look a bit like monkeys, and a bit like monks. The roof is high, so it's hard to see them up close, too. So it's only natural that they look like toys. ## They're actually dolls that guard the roof These dolls are called 'japsang.' They're commonly described as guardians that ward off evil energy and fire. The old palaces were built of wood, so fire was what they feared most. So they placed guardian figures on the high roofs and prayed for the buildings to stay safe. And they weren't put on just any building. You can mostly see them on important buildings like palaces. ## The story connected to "eocheogu" When something is absurd, we say "eocheoguneopda." Japsang are also called "eocheoguni," and there's a story that links them to this word. The idea is that it means being dumbfounded, as if one of the eocheoguni on the roof had gone missing. However, many people think the origin of the word isn't certain. If you visit a royal palace, look up at the corners of the roof. It's fun to count how many japsang there are. It's because it differs from building to building. Check the opening hours and closing days on the palace website before you go.