Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer at the gate

宮門祭みかどのまつり

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

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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.

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(ほんぶん)

是(この)御門(みかど)に称辞竟(たたへごとをへ)奉(まつ)る豊磐間神(とよいはまどのかみ)・櫛磐間神(くしいはまどのかみ)の御前(みまへ)を、慎(つつし)み敬(うやま)ひ、

kono mikadoni tatahegotowohe matsuru toyoihamadonokami kushiihamadonokamino mimahewo, tsutsushimi uyamahi,

礼代(ゐやしろ)の幣帛(みてぐら)を捧(ささ)げて、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)さく。

wiyashirono mitegurawo sasagete, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

新玉(あらたま)の年(とし)の始(はじめ)の朝(あした)より年(とし)の終(をはり)の夕(ゆふべ)まで、是(この)御門(みかど)に湯津磐村(ゆついはむら)の如(ごと)く塞(いは)ひ坐(ま)して、

aratamano toshino hajimeno ashitayori toshino woharino yufubemade, kono mikadoni yutsuihamurano gotoku ihahi mashite,

四方四角(よもよすみ)より疎(うと)び荒(あら)び来(く)る邪鬼醜物(まがものしこつもの)を掠(かす)め取(と)らせ給(たま)ひ、伺(うかが)ふ盗賊等(ぬすびとら)の自上往上(うへよりゆけばうへ)を守(まも)り、自下往下(したよりゆけばした)を護(まも)り、待防(まちふせ)ぎ祓却(はらひや)りて、

yomoyosumiyori utobi arabi kuru magamonoshikotsumonowo kasume torase tamahi, ukagafu nusubitorano uheyoriyukebauhewo mamori, shitayoriyukebashitawo mamori, machifusegi harahiyarite,

朝夕(あさゆふ)に此(この)大宮(おほみや)に参入罷出(まゐりいで)る人(ひと)も家(いへ)も身(み)も、禍事(まがこと)無(な)く、堅石(かきは)に常石(ときは)に守(まも)り恵(めぐ)み幸(さきは)へ給(たま)へと、乞祈(こひのみ)奉(まつ)らくを、聞(き)こし食(め)さむと白(まを)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.

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