Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer at the First Use of the Adze — 1897 edition

釿始祭（1897年刊本）てをのはじめのまつり・せんはっぴゃくきゅうじゅうななねんかんぽん

A historical prayer at the start of carpentry for a sanctuary, addressed to Taokihooi and Hikosashiri. It asks for careful use of tools and completion of the work.

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.

We purify this place, set up a sacred enclosure and humbly address the invited kami Taokihooi and Hikosashiri.

A named carpenter is about to build a sanctuary for the local guardian kami. As this is no easy task, we ask for your favor and protection and offer sake, food and products of sea, rivers, fields and mountains. Please receive them peacefully.

Guard the work performed diligently morning and evening. Let no error be made with the axe or the carpenter’s marking line, and allow the work to be completed promptly according to its proper form. We humbly make this request.

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.

此所（このところ）を伊豆（いづ）の磐境（いはさか）と掃清（はらひきよ）めて、神籬（ひもろぎ）指立（さした）て、招奉（をぎまつり）揚奉（あげまつ）る手置帆負命（たおきほおひのみこと）・彦狭知命（ひこさしりのみこと）の大前（おほまへ）に、畏（かしこ）み畏（かしこ）みも白（まを）さく。

konotokorowo izuno ihasakato harahikiyomete, himorogi sashitate, wogimatsuri agematsuru taokihoohinomikoto hikosashirinomikotono ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

此回（こたび）木工（こだくみ）何某（なにがし）い、此里（このさと）の産土神（うぶすなのかみ）の神殿（みあらか）造仕奉（つくりつかへまつ）らむとす。此（こ）は不容易（たやすからぬ）業（わざ）なれば、大神等（おほかみたち）の恩頼（みたまのふゆ）を蒙（かがふ）り、御保護（みまもり）を乞祈奉（こひのみまつ）らむと奉（たてまつ）る幣帛（みてぐら）は、御酒（みき）・御饌（みけ）、海川野山（うみかはぬやま）の多明物（ためつもの）を、平（たひら）けく安（やすら）けく聞食（きこしめ）して、

kotabi kodakumi nanigashii, konosatono ubusunanokamino miaraka tsukuritsukahematsuramutosu. koha tayasukaranu wazanareba, ohokamitachino mitamanofuyuwo kagafuri, mimamoriwo kohinomimatsuramuto tatematsuru miteguraha, miki mike, umikahanuyamano tametsumonowo, tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite,

朝夕（あさゆふ）に勤（いそし）み仕奉（つかへまつ）る業（わざ）を守（まも）り給（たま）ひて、執斧（とるをの）の過（あやま）つ事（こと）なく、打墨縄（うつすみなは）の違（たが）ふ事（こと）なく、法式（のり）の随（まにま）に速（すみや）けく事成竟（ことなしを）へしめ給（たま）へと、恐（かしこ）み恐（かしこ）みも白（まを）す。

asayufuni isoshimi tsukahematsuru wazawo mamori tamahite, toruwonono ayamatsu kotonaku, utsusuminahano tagafu kotonaku, norino manimani sumiyakeku kotonashiwoheshime tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosu.

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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