Read, reflect, pray
Ship guardian purification
船玉祓
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.
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.
恐み畏みも船玉大明神の廣前に申て申さく
osoremi kashikomimo funadamadaimiyaujinno hiromaheni maushite mausaku
倩々慮れば大御神は靈異に奇しき御稜威座して顯見蒼生の幸を守り給ひ助け給ふ神になも座しける
tsuratsura omonmireba ohomikamiha kushibini ayashiki miitsumashimashite utsushikiawohitokusano saihahiwo mamori tamahi tasuke tamafu kamininamo mashikeru
山行ば山路を開給ひ陸行ば陸道を道給ひ河川には橋を渡して行渡事を令知給ひ
yamayukaba yamajiwo hirakitamahi kugayukaba kugamichiwo michibikitamahi kahakahaniha hashiwo watashite yukiwatarukotowo shiroshimeshitamahi
橋も及ばぬ大海原には船を造りて千里の浦に行通事を教給ふ
hashimo oyobanu ohounabaraniha funewo tsukurite chisatono urani yukikayofukotowo woshihetamafu
故に山口海上には手向の神と崇祭り阡陌には道陸神と奉齋り海は船玉の神と奉仰祭り
yuweni yamaguchi uminobeniha tamukeno kamito agamematsuri chimataniha daurokujinto ihahimatsuri umiha funadamano kamito afugimatsuri
甚も畏き底意知られぬ海原を自由自在に往來は大御神の恩賴こそと
itomo kashikoki sokoi shirarenu unabarawo kokoronomamani yukikafuha ohomikamino mitamanofuyukosoto
今大廣前に珍の御食珍の御酒雜々の物捧げ稱辭竟奉る
ima ohohiromaheni uzuno mike uzuno miki kusagusano mono sasage tatahegotowohematsuru
此狀を聞食相うづのひ給ひ風波の災無く心の儘に平かに安らかに令通行惠み幸給へ守給へと恐み畏みも申す
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.