Erecting Taishan shi-gan-dang nearby the houses, villages, bridges and roads has a long history in China. The word of “shi-gan-dang” first appeared in Han Dynasty. During Tang Dynasty, these three characters have been carved on stones and were used to protect houses from evil things. Until Song Dynasty “Taishan shi-gan-dang” came out. It had been widely popular throughout the country to set up “shi-gan-dang” or “Taishan shi-gan-dang” nearby the villages and houses. What’s more, this custom has also been spread to Han cultural circle overseas. No other Chinese folk-beliefs can compare with it considering its wideness. However, shi-gan-dang’s function has been diversified that it not only prevents people from evil things, but also from wind, water and disasters. Taishan shi-gan-dang has been listed among the first batch of national nonmaterial cultural heritage in 2006. Now this thousand-year-old belief has been protected as an important nonmaterial cultural heritage.
