However, three is also the number of the alchemical principles: salt, sulphur, and mercury. These represent the processes of stasis, change, and dynamic equilibrium. A similar, more modernistic set of three processes is that of stasis, dynamism, and entropy.

The three alchemical principles, when multiplied by the four traditional elements, yield the twelve signs of the zodiac.

SAN ZOU mi (three)

ASCII Art Representation:

 
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Character Etymology:

A pictograph of three extended fingers, as if counted on one hand.

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: SAN ZOU
kun-yomi: mi mi(tsu) mi(tsu)

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: ka sa sai sae sabu za zae zabu sou zo tada mitsu min mo ya

English Definitions:

1. SAN: three.
2. mi(tsu), mi(ttsu): three.

Unicode Encoded Version:

三

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

三月 (sangatsu): March.
三日 (mikka): third day (of the month).
三角 (sankaku): triangle.

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Three (?), a. [OE. þre, þreo, þri, AS. þri, masc., þreo, fem. and neut.; akin to OFries. thre, OS. thria, threa, D. drie, G. drei, OHG. dri, Icel. þrir, Dan. & Sw. tre, Goth. þreis, Lith. trys, Ir., Gael. & W. tri, Russ. tri, L. tres, Gr. trei^s, Skr. tri. 301. Cf. 3d Drilling, Tern, a., Third, Thirteen, Thirty, Tierce, Trey, Tri-, Triad, Trinity, Tripod.]

One more than two; two and one.

2 Sam. xxiv. 12.

Three solemn aisles approach the shrine. Keble.

Three is often joined with other words, forming compounds signifying divided into, composed of, or containing, three parts, portions, organs, or the like; as, three-branched, three-capsuled, three-celled, three-cleft, three-edged, three-foot, three-footed, three-forked, three-grained, three-headed, three-legged, three-mouthed, three-nooked, three-petaled, three-pronged, three-ribbed, three-seeded, three-stringed, three-toed, and the like.

© Webster 1913.

Three, n.

1.

The number greater by a unit than two; three units or objects.

2.

A symbol representing three units, as 3 or iii.

Rule of three. Arith. See under Rule, n.

© Webster 1913.