Stone Cat Archway

Stone Cat Archway

The Stone Cat Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing.

The Stone Cat Archway, also known as the Hundred Cats Archway or Imperial Cats Archway, is located on present-day Caixia Street. It was once the site of a luxurious mansion, and the two tall, parallel stone memorial archways standing in front of the gate were particularly eye-catching. Even more astonishing were the 100 exquisitely carved stone cats in various lifelike poses on the archways.

To the south of the Hundred Cats Archway is the Qinhuai River, and to the north were the mansions of Yu Tongyuan and Yu Tongyuan, brothers of Yu Tonghai, a founding hero of the Ming Dynasty. After founding the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang was deeply concerned that these immensely accomplished ministers might rebel. He summoned a feng shui master to inspect various parts of the city. The master said that the reason the Qin Dynasty had fallen after only two generations was that Emperor Qin Shi Huang failed to eliminate the “royal aura” during his southern inspection tours, and that the shimmering reflections on the Qinhuai River in Nanjing were a sign of lingering imperial energy. Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang grew furious and called out, “Chief Strategist Liu!” He ordered him to investigate which minister lived by the Qinhuai River. Realizing the danger, Liu Bowen reported back that he could build an archway for the Yu brothers, but suggested carving 100 cats on it to guard the Yu family’s gate — a strategy called “a hundred cats catching fish.” Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly, instantly turning his anger into joy. The completed stone archway was covered with cats in a variety of vivid poses.