五ご夜や

noun

five-period night division

Archaic system dividing the night (roughly 7pm–5am) into five equal two-hour periods. Used in historical contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、夜よるを五ご夜やに分わけて時じ刻こくを知しらせた。

  In the Edo period, the night was divided into five periods to tell the time.

noun

fifth night period (approx. 3am–5am)

Specifically the last of the five periods, corresponding to the pre-dawn hours. Also archaic.

• 五ご夜やは夜よ明あけ前まえの最もっとも暗くらい時じ間かん帯たいとされた。

  The fifth night period was considered the darkest time before dawn.