Read, reflect, pray
Homage to the province’s first shrine
拝当国一宮詞
A historical form with placeholders for the province, district and name of its principal shrine.
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.
Dwelling in [district] of [province],
before [name of great shrine], the province’s first shrine, 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
某國某郡に鎭座坐て、
sorenokuni sorenokohorini shizumarimashite,
國の一宮と坐す某大神社の御前を愼み敬ひ、
kunino ichinomiyato masu sorenoohokaminoyashirono mimahewo tsutsushimi wiyamahi,
畏み畏みも遙に拜み奉る。
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.