Shikoku: A Journey in 88 Temples
The number 88 is attractive and inviting. A piano has 88 keys, providing for an infinity of musical combinations. In the periodic table there are 88 naturally occurring elements, from hydrogen to radium. Modern astronomy recognises 88 constellations, while in Chinese numerology the number 8 means wealth and fortune, so 88 equals double prosperity. In Back to the Future, when the Delorean hits 88 mph, serious stuff starts to happen. 88 is a number with major street cred. It tends to show up where there is a complete system, or a symbolic sense of luck, especially in Asian cultures. At…