also: じんだい
noun
age of the gods; mythological age; ancient time
Refers to the era when gods ruled the world in Japanese mythology; often used in literary or historical contexts.
神代の昔、天照大神が岩戸に隠れたという。
In the age of the gods, Amaterasu is said to have hidden in the rock cave.
noun
time before Emperor Jimmu's ascension
Only with reading じんだい
Specifically the mythological period before the legendary first emperor Jimmu; often read じんだい in this sense.
神代から人代へ移るのが神武天皇の即位とされる。
The transition from the age of the gods to the age of men is marked by Emperor Jimmu's ascension.
Rarely used kanji form; 神代 is preferred.
Compound of 神 (kami, 'god') and 代 (yo, 'age, era'). The reading じんだい is the on'yomi version used in historical contexts.