also: ばつよう
end of an era; close of a century
Formal or literary term used to refer to the final years or closing period of a historical era or century.
He was born at the end of the Edo period.
Formal or literary term for a descendant; often used in genealogical or historical contexts. See also 末孫.
See also: 末孫
He is said to be a descendant of a famous warlord.
Standard kanji form; reading まつよう is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered archaic or literary.
The kanji 末 means 'end' or 'tip', and 葉 means 'leaf'. The compound originally referred to the tip of a leaf, metaphorically extended to mean the end of a period or a descendant (as the 'tip' of a family line).