Read, reflect, pray
Prayer to the Boundary-Guarding Kami — 1869 edition
障神祭(1869年刊本)
A historical village prayer naming Yachimatahiko, Yachimatahime and Kunado. It asks the kami to guard the crossroads and keep disease and misfortune from the village.
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 kami who guard the great crossroads like firm sacred rocks, we humbly speak.
We name Yachimatahiko, Yachimatahime and Kunado. May you neither accompany nor exchange words with things approaching from the distant nether lands.
Guard below against what passes below and above against what passes above. Protect us through night and day.
Please receive the ritual gifts set out in abundance upon the offering table. Guard the boundary firmly, so that disease and misfortune do not enter this village. We humbly offer these words.
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.
大八衢に湯津磐村の如く塞坐皇神等の大前に、恐み恐みも白さく。
ohoyachimatani yutsuihamurano gotoku sayarimasu sumegamitachino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.
八衢比古神・八衢比売神・久那斗神と御名は白して、称辞竟奉らくは、根国底国より麁び疎び来む物に、相率相口会給事なくて、
yachimatahikonokami yachimatahimenokami kunadonokamito minaha mawoshite, tatahegotowohematsurakuha, nenokunisokonokuniyori arabi utobi komu mononi, ahimajikori ahikuchiahe tamafu kotonakute,
下行者下を守り、上往者上を守り、夜の守・日の守に守給ひ幸給へと、
shitayukaba shitawo mamori, uheyukaba uhewo mamori, yono mori hino morini mori tamahi sakihahe tamaheto,
礼代の幣を八取の几に置たらはして進る宇豆の幣を、平けく聞食して、大八衢に湯津磐村の如く塞坐、此の某村には諸の病及種々の枉事なく、神随守幸給へと、恐み恐みも称辞竟奉らくと白す。
wiyajirono mitegurawo yatorino tsukuweni okitarahashite tatematsuru uzuno mitegurawo, tahirakeku kikoshimeshite, ohoyachimatani yutsuihamurano gotoku sayarimashite, kono sorenomuraniha moromorono yamahi mata kusagusano magakotonaku, kamunagara mori sakihahe tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurakuto 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.