Read, reflect, pray
Prayer at the gate
宮門祭
An 1897 example asking Toyoiwama and Kushiiwama to guard the gate, the home, and those entering and leaving. The names follow this edition.
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.
With reverence before Toyoiwama and Kushiiwama, whose names we praise at this gate,
we offer gifts of respect and humbly speak.
From the first morning of the new year to the final evening of the year, may you stand firm at this gate like layers of sacred rock.
Remove calamities approaching from every direction; repel and purify away thieves who spy upon us, guarding above and below.
May those who pass into and out of this dwelling morning and evening, their households and their persons, remain without calamity under your unchanging protection: this we pray.
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
是御門に称辞竟奉る豊磐間神・櫛磐間神の御前を、慎み敬ひ、
kono mikadoni tatahegotowohe matsuru toyoihamadonokami kushiihamadonokamino mimahewo, tsutsushimi uyamahi,
礼代の幣帛を捧げて、恐み恐みも白さく。
wiyashirono mitegurawo sasagete, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.
新玉の年の始の朝より年の終の夕まで、是御門に湯津磐村の如く塞ひ坐して、
aratamano toshino hajimeno ashitayori toshino woharino yufubemade, kono mikadoni yutsuihamurano gotoku ihahi mashite,
四方四角より疎び荒び来る邪鬼醜物を掠め取らせ給ひ、伺ふ盗賊等の自上往上を守り、自下往下を護り、待防ぎ祓却りて、
yomoyosumiyori utobi arabi kuru magamonoshikotsumonowo kasume torase tamahi, ukagafu nusubitorano uheyoriyukebauhewo mamori, shitayoriyukebashitawo mamori, machifusegi harahiyarite,
朝夕に此大宮に参入罷出る人も家も身も、禍事無く、堅石に常石に守り恵み幸へ給へと、乞祈奉らくを、聞こし食さむと白す。
asayufuni kono ohomiyani mawiriideru hitomo ihemo mimo, magakoto naku, kakihani tokihani mamori megumi sakihahe tamaheto, kohinomi matsurakuwo, kikoshi mesamuto 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.