Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Pillar-Raising Prayer — 1897 edition

柱立祭（1897年刊本）はしらだてのまつり・せんはっぴゃくきゅうじゅうななねんかんぽん

A historical prayer, also called Tatesome-sai in the source, addressed to the building and carpentry kami as a prepared pillar is raised.

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.

Before Yafune Ōkami, Taokihooi and Hikosashiri, enshrined in this sacred enclosure, we humbly speak.

A named carpenter has received the kami’s exalted favor and worked morning and evening, completing the pillars, beams, crossbeams and rafters.

We have chosen this as an auspicious day to raise the sacred pillar and offer ritual gifts as a sign of respect. Please receive them peacefully.

Grant your sacred favor ever more abundantly. Let the pillars stand firm, the work with the marking line proceed promptly, and the construction reach completion. 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（こ）の神籬（ひもろぎ）に斎奉（いつきまつ）る、掛巻（かけまく）も恐（かしこ）き屋船大神（やふねのおほかみ）・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。

kono himorogini itsukimatsuru, kakemakumo kashikoki yafunenoohokami taokihoohinomikoto hikosashirinomikotono ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

先（さき）に木工（こだくみ）何某（なにがし）い、皇神（すめかみ）の高（たか）き貴（たふと）き恩頼（みたまのふゆ）を蒙（かがふ）りて、朝（あした）に夕（ゆふべ）に労（いたつ）き営（いとな）み、柱（はしら）・梁（うつばり）・桁（けた）・椽（たるき）に至（いた）る迄（まで）造竟（つくりを）へぬれば、

sakini kodakumi nanigashii, sumekamino takaki tafutoki mitamanofuyuwo kagafurite, ashitani yufubeni itatsuki itonami, hashira utsubari keta tarukini itaru made tsukuriwohenureba,

今日（けふ）を生日（いくひ）の足日（たるひ）と祝定（ほぎさだ）めて、斎柱（いむはしら）立（た）てむと為（し）て進（たてまつ）る礼代（ゐやじろ）の幣帛（みてぐら）を、平（たひら）けく安（やすら）けく聞食（きこしめ）して、

kefuwo ikuhino taruhito hogisadamete, imuhashira tatemuto shite tatematsuru wiyajirono mitegurawo, tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite,

弥益々（いやますます）に御霊（みたま）幸（さきは）ひ給（たま）ひて、突立（つきたつ）る柱（はしら）の弥堅（いやかた）に、打墨縄（うつすみなは）の速（すみやか）に、事成竟（ことなしを）へしめ給（たま）へと、畏（かしこ）み畏（かしこ）みも白（まを）す。

iyamasumasuni mitama sakihahi tamahite, tsukitatsuru hashirano iyakatani, utsusuminahano sumiyakani, 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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