Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer for a peaceful household

祈家内安全かないあんぜんをいのるまつり

An 1897 example asking for harmony within a family, the correction of faults, and protection from calamity. Names are meant to be supplied in the source form.

English meaning and source text

Text size

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.

On this good day among the many days, with reverence before the awe-inspiring great kami,

we offer sake, food and other gifts of respect and humbly speak.

Please look upon [name], a member of your shrine community, who receives your blessings, honors your virtue and serves you.

Hear this kindly; in your precious blessing, cherish and nurture us.

This Meiji-period form asks that the family live without estrangement, not be led astray by foreign teachings, and be guided toward a pure, sincere Yamato heart.

If there are offences or blame arising from mistakes, reconsider and hear them in a favorable light, so that we may be without calamities.

May the household flourish long into the generations of children and grandchildren. With reverence, we offer this prayer.

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.

本文(ほんぶん)

八十日(やそか)は有(あ)れど、今日(けふ)の生日(いくひ)の足日(たるひ)に、掛巻(かけまく)も恐(かしこ)き吾大神(あがおほかみ)の大前(おほまへ)を慎(つつし)み敬(うやま)ひ、

yasokaha aredo, kefuno ikuhino taruhini, kakemakumo kashikoki agaohokamino ohomahewo tsutsushimi uyamahi,

礼代(ゐやしろ)の御酒御饌(みきみけ)・種々(くさぐさ)の物(もの)を捧備(ささげそな)へて、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)さく、

wiyashirono mikimike kusagusano monowo sasagesonahete, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku,

大神(おほかみ)の氏子(うぢこ)何某(なにがし)、預(あづか)りて大神(おほかみ)の神徳(みいつ)を崇(あが)め尊(たふと)び仕奉(つかへまつ)らくを見(み)そなはし給(たま)ひ、

ohokamino ujiko nanigashi, azukarite ohokamino miitsuwo agame tafutobi tsukahematsurakuwo misonahashi tamahi,

聞(き)こし給(たま)ひて、大神(おほかみ)の高(たか)き貴(たふと)き御恩頼(みたまのふゆ)を以(もち)て、美(うるは)しめ給(たま)ひ、慈(いつく)しび給(たま)ひて、

kikoshi tamahite, ohokamino takaki tafutoki mitamanofuyuwo mochite, uruhashime tamahi, itsukushibi tamahite,

家内(いへのうち)の親族(うから)は各(おの)も乖々(そむくそむく)不令有(あらしめず)、外国(あだしくに)の異教(ことをしへ)に惑(まど)ふ事(こと)なく、清(きよ)き赤(あか)き大和心(やまとごころ)の真心(まごころ)に誘導(いざなひみちび)き給(たま)ひて、

ihenouchino ukaraha onomo somukusomuku arashimezu, adashikunino kotowoshiheni madofu kotonaku, kiyoki akaki yamatogokorono magokoroni izanahimichibiki tamahite,

過犯(あやまちおか)せる罪咎(つみとが)有(あ)らむをば、見直(みなほ)し聞直(ききなほ)し坐(ま)して、諸(もろもろ)の禍(まが)不令有(あらしめず)、

ayamachiokaseru tsumitoga aramuwoba, minahoshi kikinahoshi mashite, moromorono maga arashimezu,

子孫(うみのこ)の八十連属(やそつづき)、家門高(いへかどたか)く令立栄(たちさかえしめ)給(たま)へと、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)す。

uminokono yasotsuzuki, ihekadotakaku tachisakaeshime 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.

← All prayers and sutras