three main Kumano shrines
Refers collectively to Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha. Used in historical, religious, and travel contexts.
The three main Kumano shrines are registered as a World Heritage site.
The name 熊野三山 (Kumano Sanzan) literally means 'the three mountains of Kumano', referring to the three grand shrines in the Kumano region. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used since the medieval period to denote these major pilgrimage sites.