also: きゅうえん
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
A formal or literary term for an endless span of time, often used in religious or philosophical contexts. Can modify nouns with の, as in 久遠の昔 (the distant past).
Buddhism teaches truths that have continued since eternity.
After an eternity of time, the ruins were discovered.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading くおん is the most common.
Alternate on'yomi reading; less common and may be encountered in older or formal texts.
From Middle Chinese 久遠 (kjuwX hjwonH, literally 'long-lasting far'). The kanji 久 means 'long time' and 遠 means 'distant', together conveying an immeasurable span of time.