Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer for a New Home (1897)

新宅祭しんたくさい

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

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.

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(しんきょへかみがみをむかえる)

掛(か)けまくも畏(かしこ)き屋船豊受比売大神(やふねとようけひめのおおかみ)手置帆負命(たおきほおいのみこと)彦狭知命(ひこさしりのみこと)此地(このところ)を領坐(うしはきま)す産土大神(うぶすなのおおかみ)を是(これ)の奥床(おくとこ)に招奉(おきまつ)り坐奉(ませまつ)りて畏(かしこ)み畏(かしこ)みも白(もう)さく。

kakemakumo kashikoki yafunetoyoukehimenoookami taokihooinomikoto hikosashirinomikoto konotokorowo ushihakimasu ubusunanoookamiwo koreno okutokoni okimatsuri masematsurite kashikomi kashikomimo mousaku.

大神等(おおかみたち)の天津御量(あまつみはかり)を以(もち)て事始(ことはじ)め給(たま)いしに随(したが)いて大峡小峡(おおかいおかい)に生立(おいたて)る大木小木(おおきおき)を伐取(きりと)り持来(もちき)て是(これ)の新室(にいむろ)を築営(つきいとな)み造竟(つくりお)えて。

ookamitachino amatsumihakariwo mochite kotohajime tamaishini shitagaite ookaiokaini oitateru ookiokiwo kiritori mochikite koreno niimurowo tsukiitonami tsukurioete.

今日(きょう)の生日(いくひ)の足日(たるひ)に莫留(もちた)る飾帛(かざりぬさ)は明妙照妙和妙荒妙(あかるたえてるたえにぎたえあらたえ)御酒(みき)は甕(みか)の上高知(うえたかし)り御饌(みけ)は平瓮(ひらか)に弥盛(やもり)海川野山(うみかわぬやま)の味物(ためつもの)を案代(つくえしろ)に置足(おきたら)わし仕奉(つかえまつ)らくを平(たいら)けく安(やす)けく聞食(きこしめ)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(あまつきた)てる柱(はしら)の傾(かたぶ)き朽(く)てる事(こと)無(な)く取葺(とりふ)ける萱(かや)の洩(もれ)なく桁梁戸扉(けたはりととびら)の錯動(たがいゆるぎ)鳴事(なること)無(な)く夜女(やめ)の伊須々岐(いすすき)伊都久之(いつくし)き事(こと)無(な)く。

amatsukitateru hashirano katabuki kuteru koto naku torifukeru kayano morenaku ketaharitotobirano tagaiyurugi narukoto naku yameno isusuki itsukushiki koto naku.

大風洪水(おおかぜおおみず)の禍事(まがこと)無(な)く地震香具土(ないかぐつち)の災害(わざわい)無(な)く子孫(うみのこ)の八十続(やそつづき)に向栄(むかえ)の立栄(たちさかえ)に夜守日守(よまもりひまもり)に護恵幸給(まもりめぐみさきわいたま)わむと畏(かしこ)み畏(かしこ)みも事祝奉(ことほぎまつ)らくと白(もう)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.

← All prayers and sutras