Read, reflect, pray
New Year’s Day Prayer — 1869 edition
元日(1869年刊本)
A historical New Year prayer offering food and sake and asking for peace for the realm and its people. The language about the imperial reign belongs to this nineteenth-century 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.
Before the great kami whom we worship, we humbly speak.
At sunrise on the new day, new month and new year, we bow and offer food and sake. Please receive them peacefully and fully.
Through this service, may the imperial reign endure firmly now and in the future. May the imperial family, nobles and officials who pray for a flourishing, fulfilled reign and serve it flourish like abundant branches.
May the world be peaceful, and may the people be protected and blessed. We humbly offer these words.
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.
掛まくも恐き吾大神の大前に、恐み恐みも白さく。
kakemakumo kashikoki wagaohokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.
新しき年の新しき月の新しき日の、朝日の豊栄登に拝みて仕奉る大御饌・大御酒を、皇神の御心に平けく安けく赤丹の穂に聞食と白す。
aratashiki toshino aratashiki tsukino aratashiki hino, asahino toyosakanoborini worogamite tsukahematsuru ohomike ohomikiwo, sumegamino mikokoroni tahirakeku yasurakeku akanino honi kikoshimeseto mawosu.
如此仕奉るに依て、今も往前も皇御孫命の御世を手長の大御世と、湯津石村の如く伊波比依佐期奉り、茂御世の足御世に福奉り仕奉る、親王・諸王・諸臣・百官人等を、弥高に弥広に伊加射八桑枝の如く令立栄給ひ、
kaku tsukahematsuruni yorite, imamo yukusakimo sumemimanomikotono miyowo tanagano ohomiyoto, yutsuihamurano gotoku ihahiyosashimatsuri, ikashimiyono tarashimiyoni sakihahematsuri tsukahematsuru, mikotachi ohokimitachi mahetsugimitachi momonotsukasanohitotachiwo, iyatakani iyahironi ikashiyaguhaeno gotoku tachisakaeshimetamahi,
天下泰平に、公民等を守給ひ恵給へと、恐み恐みも称辞竟奉らくと白す。
amenoshitatahirakani, ohomitakarawo mamori tamahi megumi tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurakuto mawosu.
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.