Read, reflect, pray
Prayers Concerning Illness, Chapter 2 — 1869 edition
祈癒病五章・第二章(1869年刊本)
A historical prayer offered during illness within a village, presenting ritual gifts and asking that illness stop spreading and those suffering recover.
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.
This has been a peaceful and joyful village where you dwell and bestow sacred blessings, and its people have lived without bereavement or misfortune. Recently, however, illness has arisen within the village and many have died.
We humbly pray that your revered power, which protects the community, may bring the illness to an end. On this auspicious day we present ritual gifts and offer these words. Please hear them peacefully.
Through this service, may illness cease to spread in the village and may those suffering soon recover. Protect them night and day, so that their lives remain long and firm as rock. We humbly speak.
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.
掛も畏き吾大神の大前に、恐み恐みも白さく。
kakemakumo kashikoki wagaohokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.
此の里はしも吾大神の鎮坐て、神随霊幸へ坐す里にし有れば、浦安き楽き里と、、氏子の諸人等、喪なく事なく有経しを、頃日村内に病起て、人多に失ぬ。此を思ふに、
kono satohashimo wagaohokamino shizumarimashite, kamunagara tamachihahe masu satonishi areba, urayasuki tanoshiki satoto, , ujikono morobitora, monaku kotonaku ariheshiwo, konogoro murauchini yamahiokorite, hitosahani usenu. kowo omofuni,
吾大神の氏子等を守給ひ幸給ふ高き貴き恩頼を被りてし、此の病は止しと、恐じ物思議て、今日の生日の足日に、礼代の幣を捧持て、広く厚く称辞竟奉状を、大神の御心に平けく安けく聞召と白す。
wagaohokamino ujikorawo mamori tamahi sakihahe tamafu takaki tafutoki mitamanofuyuwo kagafuriteshi, kono yamahiha yamubeshito, kashikoji monoomohakarite, kefuno ikuhino taruhini, wiyajirono mitegurawo sasagemochite, hiroku atsuku tatahegotowohematsuruarisamawo, ohokamino mikokoroni tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeseto mawosu.
如此仕奉るに依て、従今後は村中に此の病保毘許る事なく、悩む物をば速く癒給ひ直給ひて、堅石に常石に命長く、夜守日守に守幸給へと、恐み恐みも白す。
kaku tsukahematsuruni yorite, imayorinochiha murauchini kono yamahi hobikoru kotonaku, nayamu monowoba sumuyakeku iyashi tamahi nahoshi tamahite, kakihani tokihani inochinagaku, yonomori hinomorini mori sakihahe tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo 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.