Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayers Concerning Illness, Chapter 5 — 1869 edition

祈癒病五章・第五章(きゆびょうごしょう・だいごしょう)(1869年刊本(ねんかんぽん))

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

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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 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(かけまく)も畏(かしこ)き吾皇神(わがすめがみ)の大前(おほまへ)に、畏(かしこ)み畏(かしこ)みも白(まを)さく。

kakemakumo kashikoki wagasumegamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

某国(それのくに)某郡(それのこほり)某里人(それのさとびと)何某(なにがし)い、某病(それのやまひ)有(あり)て、月日(つきひ)佐麻祢(さまね)く病臥(やみこや)せり。故是(かれここ)を以(もち)て、祭主名(さいしゅめい)に事議(ことはかり)て、雖畏(かしこけれども)吾皇神(わがすめがみ)の大前(おほまへ)を斎奉(いはひまつり)て、蒼生(あをひとぐさ)を恵(めぐみ)給(たま)ふ恩頼(みたまのふゆ)を乞祈奉(こひのみまつら)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(し)て今日(けふ)の吉日(よきひ)の吉時(よきとき)に、某(なにがし)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)らしむ。掛(かけ)まくも畏(かしこ)き皇神(すめがみ)、此(こ)の状(ありさま)を平(たひら)けく安(やすら)けく聞召(きこしめ)して、

shite kefuno yokihino yokitokini, nanigashini wiyajirono mitegurawo sasagemochite, kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurashimu. kakemakumo kashikoki sumegami, kono arisamawo tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite,

何某(なにがし)が悩(なや)む病(やまひ)を速(すみやか)に直(なほし)給(たま)ひ癒(いやし)給(たま)ひ、堅磐(かきは)に常磐(ときは)に命長(いのちなが)く、夜守(よのもり)日守(ひのもり)に守(もり)給(たま)ひ幸(さきはへ)給(たま)へと、畏(かしこ)み畏(かしこ)みも白(まを)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.

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