noun
main stream; main course
Refers to the primary channel or flow of a river, as opposed to tributaries or branches.
この川の本流は、山の奥深くまで続いている。
The main stream of this river continues deep into the mountains.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Used figuratively for the dominant trend, school of thought, or movement in a field. Often appears as 本流の～ or ～の本流.
彼の考え方は、現代哲学の本流から外れている。
His way of thinking deviates from the mainstream of modern philosophy.
この作家は日本文学の本流を代表する一人だ。
This writer is one of the representatives of the mainstream of Japanese literature.