Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Homage to the three eastern shrines

拝吾妻三社詞あづまのみつのやしろをおがむことば

A prayer praising the kami enshrined at Kashima, Katori and Ikisu.

English meaning and source text

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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 those praised as the three eastern shrines:

Takemikazuchi Ōkami at Kashima sanctuary, Kashima District, Hitachi Province;

Futsunushi Ōkami at Katori sanctuary, Katori District, Shimōsa Province;

and the boundary kami at Ikisu Shrine in Hitachi Province—

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（ほんぶん）

吾妻國（あづまのくに）の三社（みつのやしろ）と稱辞竟奉（たたへごとをへまつ）る。

azumanokunino mitsunoyashiroto tatahegotowohematsuru.

常陸國（ひたちのくに）鹿島郡（かづしまのこほり）鹿島宮（かづしまのみや）に鎭座坐（しづまりま）す武甕槌大神（たけみかづちのおほかみ）、

hitachinokuni kazushimanokohori kazushimanomiyani shizumarimasu takemikazuchinoohokami,

下總國（しもつふさのくに）香取郡（かとりのこほり）香取宮（かとりのみや）に鎭座坐（しづまりま）す經津主大神（ふつぬしのおほかみ）、

shimotsufusanokuni katorinokohori katorinomiyani shizumarimasu futsunushinoohokami,

常陸國（ひたちのくに）息栖社（いきすのやしろ）に鎭座坐（しづまりま）す岐神（ふなどのかみ）の御前（みまへ）を、

hitachinokuni ikisunoyashironi shizumarimasu funadonokamino mimahewo,

愼（つつし）み敬（ゐやま）ひ畏（かしこ）み畏（かしこ）みも遙（はるか）に拜（をが）み奉（たてまつ）る。

tsutsushimi wiyamahi kashikomi kashikomimo harukani wogami tatematsuru.

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.

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