Miniature Statues on Roofs
I'm not sure this story is accurate, but this is what a Korean ahjushi at one of the palaces told me. You will often see these statues on top of historical Korean buildings. They represent the travels made by Confucius and the demons that tried to block his way. Each statue represents a different demon. As Confucius passed, he overcame and essentially converted each demon. They are metaphors for life and life's obstacles. An alternate story I've read is that they represent some of the animals of the zodiac, but I prefer the former explanation.