Read, reflect, pray
Ebisu festival prayer
恵美須神祭
An 1897 prayer identifying the addressed Ebisu as Kotoshironushi. This specific identification is not applied to every Ebisu tradition.
English meaning and source text
English meaning
About this English rendering
This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.
Before Tsumihayae Kotoshironushi no Mikoto, whose very name inspires awe,
I respectfully speak.
By the command of the ancestral male and female deities called Kamurogi and Kamuromi,
the august grandchild was entrusted with the land of abundant reeds and ripening rice ears,
to govern it peacefully and tranquilly.
When he descended from heaven,
you, great deity, were at Miho Cape in Izumo,
enjoying the pursuit of birds and the catching of fish.
Yet you promptly yielded the Central Land of Reed Plains to the august grandchild.
With your father, the great deity, you withdrew from governing the land.
This was deeply honored as showing the path of loyalty to ruler and parent in this prayer.
Revering your broad and abundant virtue, people of high and low station
worship you at the sacred shelves of their respective households.
In particular, the twentieth day of the tenth month is called Ebisu Festival.
Please gently receive this festival
served by those engaged in trade.
Protect the conduct of commerce,
and let us govern ourselves and our households well with a pure, unclouded, sincere heart.
Like a long-enduring tree, through successive generations without interruption,
may we prosper abundantly without decline and continue to serve you.
Now, as today’s morning sun rises bright and strong,
with words of praise,
I respectfully speak.
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.
How to use the Roman letters
Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.
You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.
掛巻も畏き都味歯八重事代主命の大前に
kakemakumo kashikoki tsumiha yahekotoshironushinomikotono ohomaheni
恐み恐みも白さく
kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku
皇睦神漏岐神漏美の命を以て
sumemutsu kamurogi kamuromino mikotowo mochite
皇御孫命は豊葦原の水穂の国を
sumemimanomikotoha toyoashiharano mizuhono kuniwo
安国と平けく所知食と事依して
yasukunito tahirakeku shiroshimeseto koto yosashite
天降し賜ふ時に
amoshi tamafu tokini
大神は出雲国三穂の崎に
ohokamiha izumonokuni mihono sakini
鳥遊魚取遊楽み坐しを
toriasobi uwotori tanoshimi mashiwo
立処に葦原の中国を皇御孫命に奉り坐して
tachidokoroni ashiharano nakatsukuniwo sumemimanomikotoni matsuri mashite
父大神と共に事避り坐しは
chichiohokamito tomoni kotosari mashiha
最も畏く君親に忠誠なる道を顕し坐しし
itomo kashikoku kimioyani makotonaru michiwo arahashi mashishi
広き厚き神徳を仰ぎ尊み貴も賤も
hiroki atsuki miitsuwo afugi tafutomi takakimo hikukimo
家々の神棚に斎き奉れるを
iheiheno kamidanani itsuki matsureruwo
十月廿日はしも恵美須祭と称へ奉りて
kamunazuki hatsukanohihashimo ebisumatsurito tatahe matsurite
市人等の御祭仕奉らくを
ichibitorano mimatsuri tsukahe matsurakuwo
平に安に聞食して
tahirani yasurani kikoshimeshite
商の業を守り給ひ
akinahino wazawo mamori tamahi
清き明き真心に家をも身をも令治賜ひて
kiyoki akaki makokoroni ihewomo miwomo wosameshime tamahite
樛の木の弥嗣々に絶る事無く
tsugano kino iyatsugitsugini tayuru koto naku
堕る事无く富栄仕奉らしめ給へと
otsuru koto naku tomisakae tsukahe matsurashime tamaheto
今日の朝日の豊栄登りに
kefuno asahino toyosakanoborini
称辞竟奉らくと
tatahegoto wohe matsurakuto
恐み恐みも白す
kashikomi kashikomimo mawosu
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
Sources and edition (1)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.