also: じんだい
age of the gods; mythological age; ancient time
Refers to the era when gods ruled the world in Japanese mythology; often used in literary or historical contexts.
time before Emperor Jimmu's ascension
Only with reading じんだい
Specifically the mythological period before the legendary first emperor Jimmu; often read じんだい in this sense.
In the age of the gods, Amaterasu is said to have hidden in the rock cave.
The transition from the age of the gods to the age of men is marked by Emperor Jimmu's ascension.
seven generations of celestial gods
Standard kanji form; also read じんだい in historical contexts.
Reading used specifically for the mythological age before Emperor Jimmu.
Rarely used kanji form; 神代 is preferred.
Compound of 神 (kami, 'god') and 代 (yo, 'age, era'). The reading じんだい is the on'yomi version used in historical contexts.