Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer at a Well — 1897 edition

井神祭(1897年刊本)ゐのかみのまつり・せんはっぴゃくきゅうじゅうななねんかんぽん

A historical prayer to the well kami for clear, enduring water and peace within the household. It is a different text from the shorter Prayer of Reverence to the Well Kami already on this site.

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.

Before Mitsuhanome no Kami, Mi-i no Kami and Oshikumone no Kami, who govern this place, we humbly speak.

We revere your sacred power: you protect this well abundantly, allowing us to draw water morning and evening as if receiving the enduring water of a heavenly well.

We offer sake, food, fresh products of the sea and seasonal fruit. Please receive these offerings and hear our words peacefully.

For countless generations, let this water remain clear and never run dry. Grant us ever more abundant water that is gentle, sweet and pure.

Cleanse wrongdoing and defilement arising within and outside this household. Let our kin live long, without bereavement or trouble, and continue serving you. We humbly make this request.

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.

此処(このところ)を宇須波岐(うすはき)坐(ま)す、掛巻(かけまく)も畏(かしこ)き水波能売神(みつはのめのかみ)・御井神(みゐのかみ)・忍雲根神(おしくもねのかみ)の大前(おほまへ)に、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)さく。

konotokorowo usuhaki masu, kakemakumo kashikoki mitsuhanomenokami miwinokami oshikumonenokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

此(こ)の生井(いくゐ)の水(みづ)を広(ひろ)く厚(あつ)く守(まも)り給(たま)ひて、朝(あした)に夕(ゆふべ)に間(ま)なく時(とき)なく汲挙(くみあぐ)る天津水(あまつみづ)を、天(あめ)の忍石(おしいは)の長井水(ながゐみづ)と受(う)けしめ給(たま)へる、厳(いつ)の御霊(みたま)をうづみかしこみて、

kono ikuwino mizuwo hiroku atsuku mamori tamahite, ashitani yufubeni manaku tokinaku kumiaguru amatsumizuwo, ameno oshiihano nagawimizuto ukeshime tamaheru, itsuno mitamawouzumikashikomite,

奉(たてまつ)る幣帛(みてぐら)は、御酒(みき)・御饌(みけ)に、鮮(あざらけ)なる海物(うみつもの)、時(とき)の菓(このみ)を取添(とりそ)へて仕奉(つかへまつ)らくを、平(たひら)けく安(やすら)けく聞食(きこしめ)して、

tatematsuru miteguraha, miki mikeni, azarakenaru umitsumono, tokino konomiwo torisohete tsukahematsurakuwo, tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite,

千代万代(ちよよろづよ)もにごる事(こと)なく、涸(か)る時(とき)なく、和(にぎ)き水(みづ)の甘(うま)き水(みづ)の清(きよ)き水(みづ)を、弥多(いやさは)に弥広(いやひろ)に授(さづ)け給(たま)ひ与(あた)へ給(たま)ひて、

chiyoyorozuyomonigoru kotonaku, karu tokinaku, nigiki mizuno umaki mizuno kiyoki mizuwo, iyasahani iyahironi sazuke tamahi atahe tamahite,

此(こ)の家(いへ)の内外(うちと)より起(おこ)る罪穢(つみけがれ)を祓(はらへ)給(たま)ひ清(きよめ)給(たま)ひて、親族(うからやから)は喪(も)なく事(こと)なく息長(いきなが)く、堅石(かきは)に常石(ときは)に仕奉(つかへまつ)らしめ給(たま)へと、畏(かしこ)み畏(かしこ)みも白(まを)す。

kono iheno uchitoyori okoru tsumikegarewo harahe tamahi kiyome tamahite, ukarayakaraha monaku kotonaku ikinagaku, kakihani tokihani tsukahematsurashime tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosu.

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.

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