noun
beginning of the world; creation
Literary or mythological term for the creation or dawn of the world. Often used in historical or philosophical contexts. The reading かいひゃく is obsolete.
天地開闢の神話は多くの文化に存在する。
Myths of the creation of heaven and earth exist in many cultures.
開闢以来、人類は進歩を
Since the beginning of the world, humanity has continued to progress.
Kana spelling, useful for learners or when the kanji are obscure.
From Chinese 開闢 (kāipì), meaning 'to open up, to create (the world)'. The kanji 開 means 'open' and 闢 means 'open up, break through', together conveying the idea of the world being opened or created.