Read, reflect, pray
Prayer to the crossroads kami
衢神祝詞
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 the kami ordained from the beginning in Takamagahara, praised for the heavenly descendant, standing at great crossroads like ranks of sacred rock to guard the way, we offer these words.
We name and praise Yachimatahiko, Yachimatahime and Kunado.
Do not let us meet or exchange words with those who come from the land of roots and depths to do violent harm. Guard below when we descend and above when we ascend; protect us night and day.
As cloth offerings we prepare bright beautiful fabric, shining fabric, soft fabric and coarse fabric; we fill jars of sake to their rims and set them out. We offer grain cooked and in the ear, beasts and birds of mountain and field, great and small sea fish, and seaweed from offshore and shore, piled abundantly like mountains.
Receive these sacred offerings peacefully. Stand at the crossroads like sacred rocks, steadfastly protecting the heavenly descendant and blessing an enduring, abundant reign.
Guard peacefully the imperial princes, other princes, subjects, all officials and everyone throughout the land. The officiant proclaims your praise with the venerable prayer transmitted from heaven.
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.
高天原に事始て皇御孫之命と稱辭竟奉る大八衢に湯津磐村の如く塞座す皇神等の前に申さく
takamanoharani kotohajimete sumemimagonomikototo tatahegotowohematsuru ohoyachimatani yutsuihamurano gotoku fusagarimasu sumekamitachino maheni mausaku
八衢比古八衢比賣久那斗と御名は申て稱辭竟奉らく
yachimatahiko yachimatahime kunatoto minaha maushite tatahegotowohematsuraku
根國底國より麁び疎び來物に相率相口會事無くして下行ば下を守り上往ば上を守り夜の守日の守に守奉り齋奉り
nenokuni sokonokuniyori arabi utobi kitaranmononi ahishitagahi ahikuchiahasetanaku koto nakushite shimoyukaba shimowo mamori kamiyukaba kamiwo mamori yoruno mamori hino mamorini mamorimatsuri ihahimatsuri
進る幣帛は明妙照妙和妙荒妙に備奉り御酒は甕邊高知神腹滿雙て汁にも頴にも山野に住物は毛の和物毛の荒物青海原に住物は鰭の廣物鰭の狹物奥津海菜邊津海菜に至るまで横山の如く置所足て進る
tatematsuru miteguraha akarutahe terutahe nigitahe arataheni sonahematsuri mikiha mikanobetakashiri kaminoharamichinarabete shirunimo kahinimo yamanoni sumumonoha keno nigimono keno aramono awomiharani sumumonoha hatano hiromono hatano samono okitsumoha hetsumohani itarumade yokoyamano gotoku okitarahashite tatematsuru
宇豆の幣帛を平けく聞食て八衢に湯津磐村の如く塞座して皇御孫命を堅磐に常磐に齋奉り茂御世に幸給へと申す
uzuno mitegurawo tahirakeku kikoshimeshite yachimatani yutsuihamurano gotoku fusagarimashimashite sumemimagonomikotowo kakihani tokihani ihahimatsuri ikashimiyoni saihahitamaheto mausu
又親王等王臣等百官人等天下公民に至るまで平けく齋給へと神官天津祝詞の太祝詞事をもつて稱辭竟奉ると申す
mata mikoohokindachi mauchikindachi momotsukasabitotachi amenoshita ohomitakarani itarumade tahirakeku ihahitamaheto kantsukasa amatsunoritono futonoritogotowomotsute tatahegotowohematsuruto 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.