Read, reflect, pray
Prayers Concerning Illness, Chapter 5 — 1869 edition
祈癒病五章・第五章(1869年刊本)
A historical prayer offered by a ritual officiant on behalf of one ill person. Place names, personal names and the illness are left as placeholders from the source.
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 revered kami whom we worship, we humbly speak.
A named resident of a given country, district and village has an illness and has been bedridden for many days. The person has consulted the ritual officiant, seeking to honor the kami and ask for the sacred blessing bestowed upon humankind.
At this auspicious time we have the person named here hold the ritual gifts and humbly offer these words. Revered kami, please hear these circumstances peacefully.
May the illness afflicting the named person soon be healed. Protect and bless the person night and day, so that life remains 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.
掛も畏き吾皇神の大前に、畏み畏みも白さく。
kakemakumo kashikoki wagasumegamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.
某国某郡某里人何某い、某病有て、月日佐麻祢く病臥せり。故是を以て、祭主名に事議て、雖畏吾皇神の大前を斎奉て、蒼生を恵給ふ恩頼を乞祈奉むと、
sorenokuni sorenokohori sorenosatobito nanigashii, sorenoyamahi arite, tsukihi samaneku yamikoyaseri. karekokowo mochite, saishumeini kotohakarite, kashikokeredomo wagasumegamino ohomahewo ihahimatsurite, awohitogusawo megumi tamafu mitamanofuyuwo kohinomimatsuramuto,
為て今日の吉日の吉時に、某に礼代の幣を捧持て、恐み恐みも称辞竟奉らしむ。掛まくも畏き皇神、此の状を平けく安けく聞召して、
shite kefuno yokihino yokitokini, nanigashini wiyajirono mitegurawo sasagemochite, kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurashimu. kakemakumo kashikoki sumegami, kono arisamawo tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite,
何某が悩む病を速に直給ひ癒給ひ、堅磐に常磐に命長く、夜守日守に守給ひ幸給へと、畏み畏みも白す。
nanigashiga nayamu yamahiwo sumiyakani nahoshi tamahi iyashi tamahi, kakihani tokihani inochinagaku, yonomori hinomorini mori tamahi 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.