Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer for the mountain kami

山神祭やまのかみのまつり

An 1897 example thanking Ōyamatsumi for the trees of a mountain and reporting their felling and transport. A historical ritual text, not advice to cut trees.

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 the awe-inspiring Ōyamatsumi Ōkami, I respectfully offer these words.

The great trees and small trees growing in the broad and narrow valleys of this mountain under your care:

I honor and thank you for nurturing them to flourish ever more abundantly.

Today we wish to receive these great and small trees, to fell them and carry them away.

Please hear this closely and kindly, without blame or retribution,

and grant your protection and blessing. Offering these gifts in reverence, I respectfully make this prayer.

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）

掛巻（かけまく）も恐（かしこ）き大山祇大神（おほやまづみのおほかみ）の大前（おほまへ）に、恐（かしこ）み恐（かしこ）みも告（のり）奉（まつ）らくは、

kakemakumo kashikoki ohoyamazuminoohokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo nori matsurakuha,

汝命（いましみこと）の領（うしは）き坐（ま）す此山（このやま）の大峡小峡（おほををを）に生（お）ひ立（た）てる大木小木（おほきちひさきき）は、

imashimikotono ushihaki masu konoyamano ohowowowoni ohi tateru ohokichihisakikiha,

弥生（いやおひ）に生（お）ひ繁（しげ）り、弥栄（いやさか）に立（た）ち栄（さか）えしめ給（たま）ひし事（こと）を、尊（たふと）み謝（いや）び思（おも）ひつつ、

iyaohini ohi shigeri, iyasakani tachi sakaeshime tamahishi kotowo, tafutomi iyabi omohitsutsu,

今日（けふ）はしも、其（その）大木小木（おほきちひさきき）を申乞（まをしこ）ひ、伐（き）り取（と）り運（はこ）び出（だ）さむとする事（こと）を、

kefuhashimo, sono ohokichihisakikiwo mawoshikohi, kiri tori hakobi dasamutosuru kotowo,

御心（みこころ）も多（おほ）に親（した）しく知（し）ろし食（め）して、咎（とが）め賜（たま）ふ事（こと）無（な）く、祟（たた）り現（あらは）る事（こと）無（な）く、

mikokoromo ohoni shitashiku shiroshi meshite, togame tamafu koto naku, tatari araharu koto naku,

守（まも）り恵（めぐ）み幸（さきは）へ給（たま）へと、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）す。

mamori megumi sakihahe tamaheto, wiyashirono mitegurawo sasagete, 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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