Read, reflect, pray
Prayer for a New Home (1897)
新宅祭
A model prayer welcoming the named building kami and the local tutelary deity to a new home and seeking the well-being of the home and its household.
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.
We invite Yafune Toyoukehime, Taokihooi, Hikosashiri and the local tutelary deity to the inner place of this home and respectfully offer this prayer.
Following the divine measure by which the kami first established building, we have cut and brought timber grown in valleys great and small, and have finished constructing this new home.
On this auspicious day we present the various sacred textiles, jars filled high with sake, food heaped in vessels and delicacies from sea, river, field and mountain, filling the offering stands. We ask the kami to receive them peacefully.
May the raised pillars neither lean nor decay; may the thatched roof not leak; may the wall plates, beams, doors and shutters neither shift, shake nor creak. The prayer also asks for freedom from disturbed nights and frightening occurrences.
May there be no harm from violent wind, flood, earthquake or fire. May descendants flourish through many generations. We reverently ask for protection and blessing by night and day.
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.
新居へ神々を迎える
掛けまくも畏き屋船豊受比売大神手置帆負命彦狭知命此地を領坐す産土大神を是の奥床に招奉り坐奉りて畏み畏みも白さく。
kakemakumo kashikoki yafunetoyoukehimenoookami taokihooinomikoto hikosashirinomikoto konotokorowo ushihakimasu ubusunanoookamiwo koreno okutokoni okimatsuri masematsurite kashikomi kashikomimo mousaku.
大神等の天津御量を以て事始め給いしに随いて大峡小峡に生立る大木小木を伐取り持来て是の新室を築営み造竟えて。
ookamitachino amatsumihakariwo mochite kotohajime tamaishini shitagaite ookaiokaini oitateru ookiokiwo kiritori mochikite koreno niimurowo tsukiitonami tsukurioete.
今日の生日の足日に莫留る飾帛は明妙照妙和妙荒妙御酒は甕の上高知り御饌は平瓮に弥盛海川野山の味物を案代に置足わし仕奉らくを平けく安けく聞食して。
kyouno ikuhino taruhini mochitaru kazarinusaha akarutaeterutaenigitaearatae mikiha mikano uetakashiri mikeha hirakani yamori umikawanuyamano tametsumonowo tsukueshironi okitarawashi tsukaematsurakuwo tairakeku yasukeku kikoshimeshite.
天突立てる柱の傾き朽てる事無く取葺ける萱の洩なく桁梁戸扉の錯動鳴事無く夜女の伊須々岐伊都久之き事無く。
amatsukitateru hashirano katabuki kuteru koto naku torifukeru kayano morenaku ketaharitotobirano tagaiyurugi narukoto naku yameno isusuki itsukushiki koto naku.
大風洪水の禍事無く地震香具土の災害無く子孫の八十続に向栄の立栄に夜守日守に護恵幸給わむと畏み畏みも事祝奉らくと白す。
ookazeoomizuno magakoto naku naikagutsuchino wazawai naku uminokono yasotsuzukini mukaeno tachisakaeni yomamorihimamorini mamorimegumisakiwaitamawamuto kashikomi kashikomimo kotohogimatsurakuto mousu.
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.