Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Ship guardian purification

船玉祓ふなたまのはらひ

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

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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.

With reverence before Funadama Daimyōjin, we offer these words.

Reflecting deeply, we recognize your wondrous and precious power, guarding and helping the people’s happiness in this world.

In mountains you open mountain paths; on land you show the road; across rivers you teach the building of bridges.

On the great sea beyond the reach of bridges, you teach the making of boats and travel to distant shores.

Therefore at mountain entrances and upon the sea we honor you as kami of offerings, along roads as kami of the way, and at sea as Funadama.

Through your blessing we travel freely upon the fearful sea whose depths are unknown.

Now we offer fine food, sake and many gifts before you and proclaim your praise.

Hear this wish and lend your strength. Bless and protect us so that, without calamities of wind or waves, we may travel peacefully as we hope. With reverence, we 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.

恐(おそれ)み畏(かしこ)みも船玉大明神(ふなだまだいみやうじん)の廣前(ひろまへ)に申(まうし)て申(まう)さく

osoremi kashikomimo funadamadaimiyaujinno hiromaheni maushite mausaku

倩々(つらつら)慮(おもんみ)れば大御神(おほみかみ)は靈異(くしび)に奇(あや)しき御稜威座(みいつましま)して顯見蒼生(うつしきあをひとくさ)の幸(さいはひ)を守(まも)り給(たま)ひ助(たす)け給(たま)ふ神(かみ)になも座(ま)しける

tsuratsura omonmireba ohomikamiha kushibini ayashiki miitsumashimashite utsushikiawohitokusano saihahiwo mamori tamahi tasuke tamafu kamininamo mashikeru

山行(やまゆか)ば山路(やまぢ)を開給(ひらきたま)ひ陸行(くがゆか)ば陸道(くがみち)を道給(みちびきたま)ひ河川(かはかは)には橋(はし)を渡(わた)して行渡事(ゆきわたること)を令知給(しろしめしたま)ひ

yamayukaba yamajiwo hirakitamahi kugayukaba kugamichiwo michibikitamahi kahakahaniha hashiwo watashite yukiwatarukotowo shiroshimeshitamahi

橋(はし)も及(およ)ばぬ大海原(おほうなばら)には船(ふね)を造(つく)りて千里(ちさと)の浦(うら)に行通事(ゆきかよふこと)を教給(をしへたま)ふ

hashimo oyobanu ohounabaraniha funewo tsukurite chisatono urani yukikayofukotowo woshihetamafu

故(ゆゑ)に山口(やまぐち)海上(うみのべ)には手向(たむけ)の神(かみ)と崇祭(あがめまつ)り阡陌(ちまた)には道陸神(だうろくじん)と奉齋(いはひまつ)り海(うみ)は船玉(ふなだま)の神(かみ)と奉仰祭(あふぎまつ)り

yuweni yamaguchi uminobeniha tamukeno kamito agamematsuri chimataniha daurokujinto ihahimatsuri umiha funadamano kamito afugimatsuri

甚(いと)も畏(かしこ)き底意(そこい)知(し)られぬ海原(うなばら)を自由自在(こころのまま)に往來(ゆきかふ)は大御神(おほみかみ)の恩賴(みたまのふゆ)こそと

itomo kashikoki sokoi shirarenu unabarawo kokoronomamani yukikafuha ohomikamino mitamanofuyukosoto

今(いま)大廣前(おほひろまへ)に珍(うづ)の御食(みけ)珍(うづ)の御酒(みき)雜々(くさぐさ)の物(もの)捧(ささ)げ稱辭竟奉(たたへごとをへまつ)る

ima ohohiromaheni uzuno mike uzuno miki kusagusano mono sasage tatahegotowohematsuru

此狀(このかたち)を聞食(きこしめし)相(あひ)うづのひ給(たま)ひ風波(かぜなみ)の災(わざはひ)無(な)く心(こころ)の儘(まま)に平(たひら)かに安(やす)らかに令通行(かよはしめ)惠(めぐ)み幸給(さいはひたま)へ守給(まもりたま)へと恐(おそれ)み畏(かしこ)みも申(まう)す

konokatachiwo kikoshimeshi ahiuzunohi tamahi kazenamino wazahahi naku kokorono mamani tahirakani yasurakani kayohashime megumi saihahitamahe mamoritamaheto osoremi kashikomimo mausu

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.

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