noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
the oldest; the earliest
Refers to the single oldest or earliest known example of something, often used in historical, archaeological, or record contexts.
これは現存する最古の写本です。
This is the oldest surviving manuscript.
This is the oldest shrine in Japan.
その寺院は日本最古の木造建築と言われている。
That temple is said to be the oldest wooden building in Japan.
This bridge is the oldest surviving wooden structure.
He is known as the oldest champion in history.
最古 (さいこ, 'the oldest') and 最高 (さいこう, 'the best/highest') sound almost identical but differ in one vowel and meaning entirely different things.
最古 describes the oldest object, record, or thing, while 最年長 specifically means the oldest person in a group.
Compound of 最 (most) and 古 (old). The reading is on'yomi, following standard Sino-Japanese word formation.