Banister design image of ‘Nghe’ during the Ly dynasty 12th – 13th century.

Banister design image of ‘Sau’, a fictional creature of Vietnamese people during the Ly dynasty 11th – 12th century. The sacred object was widespread in Vietnam during Ly, Tran and Ho dynasties.

Banister design image of ‘Sau’ from the Ly dynasty 12th century at Huong Lang Pagoda, Hung Yen province.

Banister design image of ‘Sau’ and Phoenix from the Ly dynasty 11th – 12th century at Ba Tam Pagoda, Hanoi.

Banister design image of ‘Sau’ at Pho Minh Pagoda, Nam Dinh from the Tran dynasty 13th century.

Banister design image of ‘Sau’ from 14th century at Ho Dynasty Citadel in Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province.

With development of communal houses, the image of ‘Nghe’, which is also a fictional creature, with lion-like head, long tail and dog-like body, became a popular image in architecture.

This image of ‘Nghe’ is on an inscribed wood pillar at Gie Ha commune village from the 17th century, Phu Xuyen, Hanoi.

Images of ‘Nghe’ family inscribed on wood pillar at Co Che commune village from 17th century.

Images of ‘Nghe’ inscribed on wood pillar at Hoang Xa commune village, Van Dinh town, Ung Hoa, Hanoi in 1694.

Images of ‘Nghe’ and Rong (Dragon) inscribed on wood pillar at Chu Quyen commune village, Ba Vi, Hanoi in 17th century.

Image of ‘Nghe’ exhibited at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

Image of ‘Nghe’ ifrom17th century exhibited at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

Image of ‘Nghe’ from 17th century, Quang Huc commune village, Ba Vi, Hanoi.

Image of ‘Nghe’ from 17th century, Thay Pagoda, Quoc Oai, Hanoi.

 Image of ‘Nghe’ from 18h century, Dinh Bang commune village, Tu Son, Bac Ninh province.

Image of ‘Nghe’ from 19th -20th century, Phuong Bang commune village, Hoai Duc, Hanoi.

Banister design image of ‘Nghe’ from 19th century at Chuong My, Hanoi.