申さるの刻こく

expression, noun

hour of the Monkey; around 4pm

Archaic term for the time period corresponding to the Monkey (申) in the traditional Chinese zodiac-based time system. The exact span varies by historical period, roughly 3–5pm or 4–6pm. Not used in modern timekeeping.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、申さるの刻こくは午ご後ご四よ時じ頃ごろを指さした。

  In the Edo period, the hour of the Monkey referred to around 4 p.m.