also: ばっそん
Formal or literary term for one's descendants or future generations. Often used in historical or ceremonial contexts.
We will protect this land for our descendants.
I pray for the prosperity of posterity.
Standard kanji spelling. The reading まっそん is more common than ばっそん.
Alternate reading; less common than まっそん.
Compound of 末 (matsu, 'end, future') and 孫 (son, 'grandchild'), literally meaning 'last grandchild' or 'distant descendant'. The reading まっそん is a regular sound change from まつそん.