後ご夜や

noun

late night to early morning; the small hours

Historical term for the period from midnight until early morning, roughly corresponding to the modern 'small hours'. Not used in everyday modern timekeeping.

• 後ご夜やは、昔むかしの時じ刻こくでいうと丑うしの刻こくから寅とらの刻こくあたりまでを指さす。

  後夜 refers to the period from about the hour of the Ox to the hour of the Tiger in the old time system.

noun

around 4am

More specifically, the time around 4am, corresponding to the hour of the Tiger (寅の刻) in the traditional Japanese clock. This is a narrower interpretation of 後夜.

See also: 寅の刻

• 古こ典てんでは、後ご夜やは寅とらの刻こく、すなわち午ご前ぜん四よ時じごろとされる。

  In classical texts, 後夜 is equated with the hour of the Tiger, i.e., around 4 a.m.