Read, reflect, pray
Prayer for the Year’s Harvest (1897)
祈年祭
A Meiji-era model addressed to Amaterasu, Toyoukehime, Ōtoshi, Mitoshi and a local deity. The catalogue calls it a New Year rite, while the printed heading identifies the harvest-year rite.
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.
An independent rendering of this historical model. Its period institutions and ritual details are not a universal present-day prescription.
Before Amaterasu, Toyoukehime, the great deities Ōtoshi and Mitoshi, and the deity presiding over this village, whose names we utter with reverence, we respectfully speak. “Such-and-such great deity” is the original book’s space for the local deity’s name.
It recalls Amaterasu in heaven declaring that rice seed would sustain the people of the visible world, blessing the rice ears of the sacred field and bestowing them on the heavenly descendant, a tradition said to remain unchanged from the age of the kami.
Because the court begins the harvest-year rite on the fourth day of the second month each year, this text likewise appoints today as an auspicious day for worship before these kami. That date belongs to this Meiji-era model prayer.
Sacred sake is filled high in jars, peace is sought for the imperial reign, and food from sea, field and mountain fills the offering tables. The prayer asks the kami to receive these offerings peacefully and graciously.
It asks that the late rice grown by people with water splashing their arms and mud gathering on their thighs may ripen into long, luxuriant ears.
If the crop prospers, its first ears, hanging and gathered rice offerings, brewed and white sake, rice liquid and grain will be presented at the autumn festival. Together with the village elders, the worshippers bow low and move humbly like ducks, concluding their reverent praise.
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.
祈年祭の文例
掛けまくも畏き天照大御神豊受比売の大神大年御年大神此郷を領坐す何大神の大前を慎み敬い畏み畏みも白さく。
kakemakumo kashikoki amaterasuoomikami toyoukehimeno ookami ootoshi mitoshinoookami konosatowo ushihakimasu naninoookamino oomaewo tsutsushimi uyamai kashikomi kashikomimo mousaku.
天在哉天照大御神の此稲種は顕見青人草の喫いて活くべき物との宣言為給いし故以て斎庭の穂を言祝ぎて皇孫命に授け給いしに随いて神代も今も変る事無く。
amenaruya amaterasuoomikamino konoinataneha utsushiki aohitokusano kuraite ikubeki monotono norigochitamaishi yuemochite yuniwano inahowo kotohogite sumemimanomikotoni sazuke tamaishini shitagaite kamiyomo imamo kawaru koto naku.
毎年二月四日大朝廷に御年初め給えるが故に此の御前にも今日生日の足日の祝定めて。
toshino kisarazuki yokanohi oomikadoni mitoshi hajime tamaeruga yueni kono mimaenimo kyouikuhino taruhino iwaisadamete.
莫留る大御酒は甕の上高知り大御代は平けく安けく御饌は海物野物山物を机も登ををに仕奉らくを平けく安けく聞食し。
mochitaru oomikiha mikano uetakashiri oomiyoha tairakeku yasukeku mikeha uminomono nunomono yamanomonowo tsukuemo towowoni tsukaematsurakuwo tairakeku yasukeku kikoshimeshi.
百姓が手肱に水沫播き向股に泥播寄せて取作れる奥津御年は八束穂の茂穂に成し幸え給わば。
oomitakaraga tanahijini minawakaki mukamomoni hijikakiyosete tsukureru okitsumitoshiha yatsukahono ikashihoni nashi sakiwae tamawaba.
荷前をば懸税税甕酒白酒の汁にも頴にも秋祭に献ると里の刀祢等と諸共に鴨の成伊這回り恐み恐みも称辞竟奉らくと白す。
nosakiwoba kakejikara chikara miki shirokino shirunimo kainimo akimatsurini tatematsuruto satono tonerato morotomoni kamono nasuihaimotoori kashikomi kashikomimo tataegotooematsurakuto mousu.
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
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.