also: ふるみち
old road; ancient road
Refers to a road or path from ancient times, often with historical or cultural significance. Can be read as こどう or ふるみち.
This old road has been used since the Kamakura period.
ancient methods; ancient moral teachings; the way of learning
Only with reading こどう
Abstract sense referring to traditional ways, teachings, or principles from the past. Only read as こどう.
He trained his disciples according to the ancient methods.
Walking along the ancient road, you can feel like a traveler of old.
Studying the ancient teachings is to gain wisdom that still applies today.
Standard kanji spelling for both senses; reading こどう is the most common.
Alternate reading for the 'old road' sense, less common than こどう.
Compound of 古 (old, ancient) and 道 (road, way). The abstract sense 'ancient methods/teachings' is a metaphorical extension of 'way' as a path or doctrine.