Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer at the Raising of the Ridgepole — 1869 edition

棟祭(むねまつり)(1869年刊本(ねんかんぽん))

A historical prayer of thanks for the completion of sanctuary construction, asking that the building remain firm and secure.

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 Taokihooi no Mikoto and Hikosashiri no Mikoto, we humbly speak.

When the named carpenter began this sanctuary, he prayed that the kami would protect and assist this difficult work and bring it peacefully to completion in accordance with the proper rules. We rejoice and give thanks that the prayer was answered and the work completed without error.

On this auspicious day, we fill the offering table with sake and food in gratitude. Please hear these words of thanks.

Now and in the future, may this sanctuary remain a peaceful dwelling. By your sacred power, may its pillars, ridgepole, crossbeams and beams neither shift nor shake, its nails remain firm and its roof remain secure. Protect and bless it for generations. 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)き手置帆負命(たおきほおひのみこと)・彦狭知命(ひこさしりのみこと)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 taokihoohinomikoto hikosashirinomikotono ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

先(さき)に木工(こだくみ)何某(なにがし)が、此(こ)の大宮(おほみや)を造始(つくりはじむ)る時(とき)に祈申(のみまを)し之(し)く、如此(かく)不容易事(たやすからぬこと)をば、吾皇神等(わがすめがみたち)守(もり)給(たま)ひ助(たすけ)給(たま)ひて、法(のり)の任(まにま)平(たひら)けく安(やすら)けく事成竟(ことなしをへ)しめ給(たま)へと祈白(のみまを)しき。然(さる)を祈白(のみまを)ししも験(しる)く、違事(たがふこと)なく過事(あやまつこと)なく造竟(つくりをへ)しめ給(たまへ)る事(こと)を、貴(たふと)み喜(うれし)み、

sakini kodakumi nanigashiga, kono ohomiyawo tsukurihajimuru tokini nomimawoshi shiku, kaku tayasukaranukotowoba, wagasumegamitachi mori tamahi tasuke tamahite, norino manima tahirakeku yasurakeku kotonashiwoheshime tamaheto nomimawoshiki. saruwo nomimawoshishimo shiruku, tagafukotonaku ayamatsukotonaku tsukuriwoheshime tamaheru kotowo, tafutomi ureshimi,

今日(けふ)の生日(いくひ)の足日(たるひ)に、謝(よろこび)の礼代(ゐやじろ)と、大御酒(おほみき)・大御饌(おほみけ)を几物(つくゑもの)に置足(おきたらは)して、恐々(かしこみかしこみ)くも称辞竟奉状(たたへごとをへまつるさま)を神随(かむながら)聞召(きこしめ)して、

kefuno ikuhino taruhini, yorokobino wiyajiroto, ohomiki ohomikewo tsukuwemononi okitarahashite, kashikomikashikomikumo tatahegotowohematsurusamawo kamunagara kikoshimeshite,

今(いま)も今(いま)も、此(こ)の大宮(おほみや)を安宮(やすみや)と、吾皇神(わがすめがみ)の御霊(みたま)給(たま)ひて築立(つきたて)たる柱(はしら)の取挙(とりあげ)たる棟桁梁(むなぎけたうつばり)の錯(きか)ひ動鳴事(とよみなること)なく、打堅(うちかため)たる釘(くぎ)の緩(ゆる)び取葺(とりふけ)る甍(いらか)の噪(そそ)ぎなく、千代常(ちよとこ)とばに守(もり)給(たま)ひ幸(さきはへ)給(たま)へと、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)す。

imamo imamo, kono ohomiyawo yasumiyato, wagasumegamino mitama tamahite tsukitatetaru hashirano toriagetaru munagiketautsubarino kikahi toyominarukotonaku, uchikatametaru kugino yurubi torifukeru irakano sosoginaku, chiyotokotobani 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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