also: ひゃくせい · はくたい · ももよ
noun
a hundred generations; eternity; long ages
Literary term for a very long span of time, often used in poetic or philosophical contexts to express permanence or the distant future.
この石碑は百代の後までも残るだろう。
This stone monument will remain even after a hundred generations.
百代の昔から伝わる物語。
A tale passed down from ages long past.
Archaic or poetic reading of 百代, using native Japanese numerals.
Alternate kanji spelling with the reading ひゃくせい; less common than 百代.
Compound of 百 (hundred) and 代 (generation, era). The reading ももよ uses native Japanese numerals and is archaic.