Shigandang (Ishigandou in Japanese) are stone tablets in ancient Chinese folk tradition generally found in various locations, for example, at the end of a road, on the wall of a house, or at the entrance of a bridge, to ward off evil or misfortune. There are two types of Shigandang: the standard type inscribed with three characters “ 石敢當,” and the other type additionally featuring the name Mount Tai “ 泰山石敢當.” The precise date and location of the beginning of these stone tablets are not known, but it is believed that Shigandang originated in what is now the southern part of Fujian Province towards the end of the Tang dynasty. Mount Tai Shigandang on the other hand developed in the Mount Tai area of Shandong Province in the northern part of the country during the Song and Yuan dynasties. 　Shigandang are frequently mentioned in the historical records of ancient China. Other than descriptions about the practice of erecting the stone tablets, the records mainly discuss the origins of Shigandang. Interestingly, the ancient texts provide descriptions of Mount Tai Shigandang and the reasons for their installation, but none explain their origins. 　Much of the literature on Ishigandou produced in Japan from the 1970s onwards mentions Chinese Shigandang; however, this research is largely limited to the southern parts of China. It is fair to say that studies focusing exclusively on Mount Tai Shigandang have not been conducted in Japan. Meanwhile, Shigandang research in China during the same period has centered on Mount Tai Shigandang. Today, whether research done in Japan or in China, studies rarely distinguish and compare the two types of stone tablets. 　This paper aims to identify the differences and similarities between Shigandang found in northern and southern China through fieldwork in both parts of the country, and presents a review of previous studies. The research will investigate the conditions of Shigandang in various regions, the ratio of the two types of Shigandang, and local residents’ views of them. 　Chinese geography textbooks use the Qinling-Huai River line as the boundary separating North and South China. The terms northern China and southern China in this paper, however, refer to more loosely defined regions that do not necessarily correspond to strictly defined geographical areas. It should be noted that this paper does not cover regions populated by minority groups, as Shigandang found in such areas are different from those in areas inhabited by the Han ethnic group, such as Shandong, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces. The areas selected for research include the Mount Tai area of Shandong Province in northern China and the central and southern parts of Fujian Province in southern China.