Temple of heaven - Southern entrance

Note that the flower arrangement showcases a yellow dragon with five claws. 5 claws dragons are symbols of the emperor (Chinese dragons usually have 3 or 4 claws), which is here reinforced by the color yellow, which is reserved for emperors and empresses.
A Chinese dragon is comprised of 9 animal parts (see also the "forbidden city") : the head of camel, the ears of ox, the horns of deer, the eyes of hare, the slender form of snake, the belly of mollusc, the scales of carp, paws of tiger, and claws of eagle.
Rm : 9 is a symbol of longevity in China.
The dragon also often bears, either in its mouth or in its leg, a ball from which it derives its power. Here it does not seem to be represented ...
The public was not allowed in the temple until 1949...