Read, reflect, pray
Homage to Izumo Taisha
拝出雲大社詞
A prayer honoring Ōkuninushi and Suseribime at the sanctuary named Kitsuki in this historical text.
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.
In Izumo Province, praised for its many rising clouds,
dwelling at the sanctuary praised as ‘Yaho-gome Kitsuki-no-Miya,’
Ōkuninushi Ōkami, governor of the unseen world,
and his consort Suseribime no Mikoto:
before these two kami,
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
八雲立出雲國、
yakumotatsu izumonokuni,
八穗米杵築宮に鎭座坐て、
yahoyone kizukinomiyani shizumarimashite,
幽冥事知看す大國主大神、
kakurigoto shiroshimesu ohokuninushinoohokami,
后神須勢理毘賣命、
kisakigami suseribimenomikoto,
二柱の御前を、
futahashirano mimahewo,
愼み敬ひ畏み畏みも遙に拜み奉る。
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.