Read, reflect, pray
Purification of the Three Clouds
三雲祓
A complete historical text from Ine-ri no Hiden. It uses wordplay on kumo and describes movement and breath through the image of divine breath. It is not a set of breathing instructions.
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.
An independent rendering of the displayed historical text, not a prescription of present-day shrine ritual or a guarantee of the effects of prayer.
It names a plant called kumo, the spider kumo, and a person called Kumo, bringing together things sharing the same sound.
A bird’s flight, human movement, seeing the moon and sun, and crossing the clouds are all called kumo-iki, “cloud breath.”
Revering it as divine breath, the text names the breath that thrusts, blows and flows.
Hear and receive this as the purification of the three clouds.
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.
三雲の祓の詞
雲と云ふ艸有、蜘と云ふ虫有、雲と云ふ人有。
kumoto ifu kusaari, kumoto ifu mushiari, kumoto ifu hitoari.
鳥の飛ぶも雲息、人の運びも雲息、月日を見るも雲息、雲を渡るも雲息。
torino tobumo kumoiki, hitono hakobimo kumoiki, tsukihiwo mirumo kumoiki, kumowo watarumo kumoiki.
神の御息と恐るれば、突く息、吹く息、流す息。
kamino on'ikito osorureba, tsuku iki, fuku iki, nagasu iki.
三雲の祓ひと所聞食せ。
mikumono harahito kikoshimese.
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
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.