Read, reflect, pray
Prayer to Daikokujin on Kinoe-ne
大国神甲子祝文
A text in the 1911 Shintō Ōharai Zenshū anthology. It is presented as a historical reading, not the current ritual of every shrine or temple.
English meaning, sound explanations and source text
English meaning and sound explanations
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.
We address Ōnamuchi, governor of the earth. This passage interprets Kinoe-ne as ‘the root where vital energy flourishes,’ and Ne-machi as widely worshiping the earth. Likening earth to a wife, it reverently associates marital union and the gift of descendants with Daikokujin’s virtue.
The meaning and syntax of ‘寝交血’ and ‘授老て’ are uncertain. This source’s play on sounds such as komachi and nemachi is not treated as the general etymology of kinoe-ne.
Long ago, when this land was unformed and even rocks, trees and grass were unruly, Ōnamuchi, the land-making kami, planned, ordered and governed it.
For his mighty valor he is called Ashihara-no-Shikoo. Wielding the broad heavenly spear, he pacified evil spirits and stilled speaking trees and grass, and is called Yachihoko. Pacifying unwilling kami and governing the land, he is called Ōkuninushi.
His dwelling is built with many long cords of mulberry fiber, high thick pillars and broad thick boards, with high, floating and timber bridges, a bird boat and white shields sewn across many joins. Presiding over worship and possessing its many functions, he is called Ōmononushi.
His divine light illuminated the sea and he enshrined Sakitama and Kushitama on Mount Mimoro, so he is called Ōkunitama. Entrusting visible government to the heavenly descendant, overseeing sacred rites, bearing the precious Yasakani jewel and withdrawing quietly for ages, he is called Utsushikunitama.
For the people and their livestock, he established ways of treating illness, and for averting harm from birds, beasts and crawling creatures, he established protective charms.
Therefore the people receive his blessings to this day: praising this, we present fine food, sake and cloth before him as the morning sun rises brightly.
Hear us peacefully. May the imperial line endure with heaven and earth, the people be at peace, and [name]’s household be free from calamity and receive every blessing. Protect us night and day and show still greater grace to those who fall short. If anything is omitted from our respectful words, reconsider it favorably in the spirit of Kamunaobi and Ōnaobi, and hear peacefully as a stag raises its ears.
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for 5 of 8 lines. Readings not fully supplied in the source are left without Roman letters.
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.
地津主大己貴神、夫甲子とは気の栄ゆる根を云ふ。根待は普く地を祭る事ぞ。地は則妻なれば、是を祭る事を寝交血と云ふ。然り心善子孫を授老て大国神の徳に叶ふ。謹美謹美惶美惶美申す。
古、此国荒芒の世、磐根木の立草の片葉も能強暴の時、天下を経修治給ふは、国作り大己貴神と申す。
inishihe, konokuni arabitaruno yo, ihanekono tachikusano katahamo yokuashikaruno toki, amegashitawo tsukuri wosame tamafuha, kuni tsukuri ohoanamuchinokamito mausu.
武く強き勢に在ませば、葦原の醜男と申し、天の広戈を振て、邪鬼を撥ひ平け、語問ひし木草の類を摧伏給へば、八千戈の神と申す。諸の不和順神等を和順国を持給へば大国主神と申す。
takeku tsuyoki ikihohini mashimaseba, ashiharano shikowoto maushi, amano hirohokowo furitatete, ashikimonowo harahi muke, kototohishi kikusano taguhiwo kudakifuse tamaheba, yachihokono kamito mausu. moromorono matsurohanukamitachiwo matsurohe kuniwo mochitamaheba ohokuninushinokamito mausu.
此神の住せ給へる宮は、千尋の栲縄を以て結て百余八十結、木柱は高久、太久、板は広久、厚久、高橋浮橋打橋鳥船、百余八十縫の白楯有、又祭祝の主、諸の司にして備れば、大物主神と申す。
konokamino sumase tamaheru miyaha, chihirono takunahawo motsute yuhite momoamariyasomusubi, hashiraha takaku, futoku, itaha hiroku, atsuku, takahashiukihashiuchibashitorifune, momoamariyasonuhino shiratate ari, matamatsurino tsukasa, moromorono tsukasanishite sonahareba, ohomononushinokamito mausu.
神光海原に照し、幸魂奇魂を三諸山に鎮給へば、大国玉神と申し、治世顕露の事を皇孫尊に依之奉り、神事を治給ふ、御身に瑞の八坂瓊を被き、寂然長隠給へば、顕国玉神と申す。
ayashikihikari unaharani terashi, sakimitamakushimitamawo mimoroyamani shizume tamaheba, ohokunitamanokamito maushi, yowowosamuruarahano kotowo sumemima mikotoni yosashi tatematsuri, kangotowo wosametamafu, onmini mizuno yasakaniwo kazuki, shizukani nagakukakuretamaheba, utsushikunitamanokamito mausu.
顕見蒼生及畜の為に其病を療る方を定め、鳥獣昆虫の災を払はむ為に其禁厭とる法を定め給ふ。
utsushimi awohitokusaoyobikemonono tameni sonoyamahiwo osamuru samawo sadame, torikedamonohafumushino wazahahiwo harahamu tameni sonomajinahitoru noriwo sadame tamafu.
是を以て百姓今に至るまで、皆恩頼を蒙れりと称辞竟奉り、宇豆の広前に、宇豆の御膳、宇豆の御酒、宇豆の御幣を、朝日の豊栄登に捧奉る。
平けく聞食と申す。宝祚、天壌と窮無く、百姓安穏に、某姓名等家内諸の災難なく、万の幸給へと。夜の守り日の守り、愚なるは猶も恵み幸給ひと、謹美謹美惶美惶美、申す事の洩落ん事を、神直日大直日に見直して、平けく安けく、左男鹿の耳を振立て、聞食と申す。
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.