end of a period; end of the world
Archaic literary term for the end of an era or the world. In modern Japanese, 末 (すえ) or 終わり (おわり) are used instead.
In classical literature, 末つ方 can refer to the end of the world.
An old compound of 末 “end,” the archaic genitive or connective particle つ, and 方 “side, direction,” hence “the latter part” or “the end.”