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Prayer for Sake Brewing — 1869 edition

祈造酒（さけつくるをいのる）（1869年刊本（ねんかんぽん））

A historical prayer for careful sake brewing, a sustained livelihood and the well-being of those who work. It leaves the worshipped kami and the brewer’s name to be supplied in context.

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 great kami whom we worship, we humbly speak.

Grant your sacred favor to the sake brewing of a named person. Let the work be diligent morning and evening, without error, so that good and pleasant sake may be made.

May daily needs be met, prosperity grow month by month, and succeeding generations establish and extend the household’s livelihood.

May the family and all who work refrain from acting selfishly and labor diligently, without harmful intentions or impure conduct. We present ritual gifts as a sign of respect and 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.

掛（かけ）まくも畏（かしこ）き吾大神（わがおほかみ）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 wagaohokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

何某（なにがし）が酒醸む（さけかむ）業（わざ）に、吾大神（わがおほかみ）神長柄（かむながら）高（たか）き貴（たふと）き恩頼（みたまのふゆ）を幸（さきは）へ坐（ま）して、朝夕（あさゆふ）に緩事（たゆむこと）なく怠事（おこたること）なく、弥勤（いやつとめ）に勤弥結（つとめいやにり）に結（にり）て、方（のり）の任（まにま）違事（たがふこと）なく過事（あやまつこと）なく、好酒（よきさけ）の美酒（うまさけ）を醸成（かみなさ）しめ給（たま）ひ、

nanigashiga sakekamu wazani, wagaohokami kamunagara takaki tafutoki mitamanofuyuwo sakihahe mashite, asayufuni tayumukotonaku okotarukotonaku, iyatsutomeni tsutomeiyanirini nirite, norino manima tagafukotonaku ayamatsukotonaku, yokisakeno umasakewo kaminasashime tamahi,

日々（ひび）に給足（つぎたら）ひ、月々（つきづき）に富栄（とみさかえ）て、子孫（うみのこ）の弥継々（いやつぎつぎ）に家門（いへかど）を起（おこ）さしめ給（たま）ひ、広（ひろ）めしめ賜（たま）ひ、

hibini tsugitarahi, tsukizukini tomisakaete, uminokono iyatsugitsugini ihekadowo okosashime tamahi, hiromeshime tamahi,

妻子奴（めこやつこ）を始（はじ）めて、手人丁等（てびとよほろら）に至（いた）るまで、己我（おのれが）むきむきあらしめず、邪心（あしきこころ）穢行（きたなきわざ）なく、日（ひ）に異（け）に伊蘇之美勤米（いそしみつとめ）しめ賜（たま）へと、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）らくと白（まを）す。

mekoyatsukowo hajimete, tebitoyohororani itarumade, onoregamukimukiarashimezu, ashikikokoro kitanakiwazanaku, hini keni isoshimitsutomeshime tamaheto, wiyajirono mitegurawo sasagemochite, kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurakuto mawosu.

Sources and edition (1)

名古屋大学附属図書館／国文学研究資料館 — 草鹿砥宣隆『祭典略・祭文例』（1869年）・祈造酒

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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