expression, godan verb (-ru)
leave government service; retire from public office
Literary expression for retiring from a government post or leaving official service, often with a nuance of returning to private life.
長年仕えた大臣が野に下る決意を固めた。
The minister who served for many years resolved to leave government service.
辞職 is a general term for resignation from any job, while 野に下る specifically refers to leaving a government or public position, often with a literary or historical tone.
The expression combines 野 (field, countryside) with 下る (to go down, descend), metaphorically meaning to step down from an official position and return to ordinary life. The exact historical origin is uncertain.