Read, reflect, pray
Homage to Emperor Jinmu
拝神武天皇詞
A historical prayer honoring Jinmu and successive emperors and empresses, from a collection transmitted into the Meiji period.
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.
Beginning with Kamuyamato Iwarebiko no Mikoto,
before the successive emperors
and the successive empresses,
with deep respect I offer distant homage.
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.
本文
神倭磐余毘古尊を始め奉り、
kamuyamatoiharebikonomikotowo hajime tatematsuri,
御代代の天皇命、
miyomiyono sumeramikoto,
及御世世の大皇后等の大御前を、
mata miyoyono ohogisakitachino ohomimahewo,
愼み敬ひ畏み畏みも遙に拜み奉る。
tsutsushimi wiyahi kashikomi kashikomimo harukani wogami tatematsuru.
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.