Read, reflect, pray
Tenmangū prayer
天滿宮祝文
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 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 Tenman Tenjin, whose name we speak with awe, we offer these words.
Respectfully we reflect that you assisted the emperor’s government, became an example for the realm, guarded the country and lovingly nurtured its people.
Your loyalty stood alongside sun and moon; your compassionate blessings equaled heaven and earth.
As the great forebear of learning and literature, presiding over poetry, your lofty virtue is recorded in writing and transmitted for ages, from Japan to lands beyond the sea.
Through your blessings, high and low, old and young read and write, earn their livelihood and manage their households. We look up with reverence to this profound kindness.
As today’s morning sun rises brightly, we offer pure food, sake and precious cloth. Hear peacefully the wishes we pray.
May the imperial throne endure without end alongside heaven, earth, sun and moon; may the realm be peaceful, its people prosper, learning and teaching continue, and study reach fulfillment.
Hear us as a divine horse raises its ears; protect and bless us by night and day. With reverence, we proclaim your praise.
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for 7 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.
掛卷も畏き天滿天神の廣前に白さく
kakemakumo kashikoki amamitsuamenokamino hiromaheni mausaku
恭惟帝道を輔佐り四海に儀刑し邦家を守護り萬民を撫育座して
忠誠は日月と並び仁恩は天地と齊座し
mameyakanarutoha hitsukito narabi utsukushiminomegumiha ametsuchito hitoshikumashimashi
又文道の大祖詩歌の本主に座て高德葦原の中國より海隔る異國々まで鳥の跡久くと正木の葛永傳り
mata fuminomichino oyakara karautayamatoutano mototsunushini mashimashite takakisahahi ashiharano nakatsukuniyori umihedatsuru adashikunigunimade torino ato hisashikuto masakino kazura nagakutsutahari
貴きも賤しきも老も若きも皆恩賴を蒙りて誦文能書業を為し世を渡らひ家を治る厚き御惠深き御恩を仰ぎ尊み奉りて
takakimo iyashikimo ohitarumo wakakimo mina mitamanofuyuwo kanburite fumiyomi monokakuwazawo nashi yowo watarahi ihewo shirasuru atsuki mimegumi fukaki utsukushimiwo afugi tafutomi matsurite
今日の朝日の豐榮登に由貴の御饌御酒宇豆の御幣を捧祈申事の由を平けく安らけく聞食て
kefuno asahino toyosakanoborini yukino mike miki uzuno mitegurawo sasagematsuri inorimausukotono yoshiwo tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite
天津日嗣は天地日月と無疆天下泰平に萬民富榮へて文教永久學術成就んことを言祝願
amatsuhitsugiha ametsuchihitsukito kagirinaku amenoshita tahirakani ohontakara tomisakahete fuminowoshihe nagakuhisashiku manabinowaza narankotowo kotohogi negitatematsuru
神の御馬の耳の彌高に聞食て夜の守日の護に守り幸給へと稱辭竟奉ると恐み恐みも申す
kamino miumano mimino iyatakani kikoshimeshite yoruno mamori hiruno mamorini mamori saihahitamaheto tatahegotowohematsuruto osoremi osoremimo mausu
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.