Read, reflect, pray

Homage to the house kami

拝屋船神詞やふねのかみををがむことば

A prayer honoring Yafune and asking for the well-being of the dwelling, including its posts and beams.

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.

In particular, I offer these words.

Before Yafune no Mikoto, kami of the dwelling, I bow in reverence.

This dwelling,

please bless as a sacred home.

Its firm, securely planted posts,

guard and purify as sacred pillars,

so that we may live with a tranquil heart.

Let there be no calamities associated with blood dripping from heaven or with flying birds.

天之血垂飛鳥 is difficult. Rather than asserting one interpretation such as a blood-dripping bird, it is rendered narrowly as an ancient ominous expression the prayer seeks to avoid.

Let beams, crossbeams, doors and windows neither shift nor move nor make uncanny sounds.

Let there be no noises or terrifying disturbances at night.

夜目, 伊須々伎, and 伊豆都志伎 permit multiple interpretations. The rendering is limited to a wish to avoid nighttime disturbance and terror.

Grant your protection and blessing:

with reverence, I offer this 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）

辞別（ことわ）けて。

kotowakete.

宅神（いへのかみ）屋船命（やふねのみこと）の御前（みまへ）を慎（つつし）み敬（ゐやま）ひ。

ihenokami yafunenomikotono mimahewo tsutsushimi wiyamahi.

此（これ）の家居（いへゐ）を、

koreno ihewiwo,

伊豆（いづ）の真屋（まや）と幸（さきは）へ給（たま）ひ、

izuno mayato sakihahe tamahi,

突立（つきたつ）る堅（かため）の柱（はしら）を、

tsukitatsuru katameno hashirawo,

斎柱（いみばしら）と幸坐（ちはへまし）て、

imibashirato chihahemashite,

心静（こころしづ）けく。

kokoroshizukeku.

天之血垂（あめのちだり）飛鳥（とぶとり）の禍無（わざはひな）く、

amenochidari tobutorino wazahahinaku,

桁梁（けたうつばり）戸牖（とまど）の錯（きかひ）動鳴事無（うごきなることな）く。

ketautsubari tomadono kikahi ugokinarukotonaku.

夜目（よめ）の伊須々伎（いすすき）伊豆都志伎事無（いづつしきことな）く、

yomeno isusuki izutsushikikotonaku,

守（まも）り給（たま）ひ幸（さきは）へ給（たま）へと。

mamori tamahi sakihahe tamaheto.

畏（かしこ）み畏（かしこ）みも拝（をが）み奉（たてまつ）る。

kashikomi kashikomimo wogami tatematsuru.

Sources and edition (1)

国立国会図書館／内田芳兵衛 — 毎朝神拝詞記（平田篤胤編・平田鉄胤訂、1881年）・拝屋船神詞

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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