Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayers Concerning Illness, Chapter 1 — 1869 edition

祈癒病五章・第一章(きゆびょうごしょう・だいいっしょう)(1869年刊本(ねんかんぽん))

A historical village prayer giving thanks for continued peace while illness affects nearby villages, and asking for continued protection.

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 the great kami whom we worship, we humbly speak.

Illness has recently arisen in the surrounding villages, and many have suffered and died. We give thanks that this village, under your care and sacred blessing, has continued in peace.

Continue to protect this village ever more fully. May illness be absent here, and may the community live with peaceful and joyful hearts.

On this auspicious day we present ritual gifts as a token of respect and offer these words humbly. Please hear them peacefully.

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(かけまく)も畏(かしこ)き吾大神(わがおほかみ)の大前(おほまへ)に、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)さく。

kakemakumo kashikoki wagaohokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

此頃(このごろ)四方(よも)の里々(さとさと)に病起(やまひおこり)て、人多(ひとさは)に悩(なやみ)て失(うせ)ぬるも数多(あまた)有(あ)るを、此(こ)の村(むら)はしも吾皇神(わがすめがみ)の敷坐里(しきますさと)と、神随(かむながら)恩頼(みたまのふゆ)を幸(ちは)へ給(たま)ふ里(さと)にし有(あ)れば、平(たひら)けく安(やすら)けく有経事(ありふること)を尊(たふと)び喜(よろこ)びて、

konogoro yomono satosatoni yamahiokorite, hitosahani nayamite usenurumo amata aruwo, kono murahashimo wagasumegamino shikimasusatoto, kamunagara mitamanofuyuwo chihahe tamafu satonishi areba, tahirakeku yasurakeku arifurukotowo tafutobi yorokobite,

今(いま)も今(いま)も弥益々(いやますます)に守(まもり)給(たま)ひ幸(さきはへ)給(たま)ひて、村(むら)の内(うち)には諸(もろもろ)の病(やまひ)有(あ)らせず、氏子等(うぢこら)が心(こころ)も安(やす)く、転楽(うただぬし)く守(まもり)給(たま)ひ幸(さきはへ)給(たま)へと、

imamo imamo iyamasumasuni mamori tamahi sakihahe tamahite, murano uchiniha moromorono yamahi arasezu, ujikoraga kokoromo yasuku, utadanushiku mamori tamahi sakihahe tamaheto,

今日(けふ)の生日(いくひ)の足日(たるひ)に、礼代(ゐやじろ)の幣(みてぐら)を捧持(ささげもち)て、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも称辞竟奉(たたへごとをへまつ)らくを、平(たひら)けく安(やすら)けく聞食(きこしめせ)と白(まを)す。

kefuno ikuhino taruhini, wiyajirono mitegurawo sasagemochite, kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurakuwo, tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeseto 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.

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