The approach to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is lined with stone torii gates

There were stone torii gates along the gently curving path. This is the approach to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, which was founded in 947 and, along with Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, is the center of Tenjin worship and is one of the oldest Tenmangu shrines in Japan. It is also one of the three major Tenmangu shrines. Although there is no clear definition of the three major Tenmangu shrines, they are generally referred to as Kitano Tenmangu, Dazaifu Tenmangu, and Hofu Tenmangu.

I thought it was only a Japanese tendency to use a generic term like "the three major Tenmangu shrines", but it seems to be a common trend all over the world. Even outside of Japan, the three major religions are Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism, and the three major inventions are typography, gunpowder, and the compass. Apparently, humans are made to feel a sense of stability when three things are placed together. That's why the concept of the Trinity, which seems to be a logical fallacy to non-Christians, is still believed in after more than 1600 years.

Because of the combination of sounds, it is also said that 3 and 8 are two of the most common numbers used to tell lies in Japan. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out if there is such a concept outside of Japan, just as there is a general term for three things.

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