Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer to ancestral spirits (1890 edition)

祭祖神告言（1890年刊本）おやかみをまつるのりごと・せんはっぴゃくきゅうじゅうねんかんぽん

A historical household prayer addressed to distant ancestors, successive generations and deceased kin. It asks for protection, a flourishing household and the continued observance of ancestral rites. It is not dedicated to one named kami.

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.

We reverently honor the spirits of distant ancestors, successive generations and our kin: all the spirits enshrined in this ancestral sanctuary.

Let no misfortune befall our home or ourselves. Guard us by night and by day and grant us well-being.

Let our descendants continue through the generations, our household gates rise high and wide, and our family flourish like spreading branches.

Let our lives be long, so that we may serve well in the rites honoring our ancestors.

Let us harbor no wrongful or impure intentions, and let us work diligently at our livelihood.

Let no calamity arise from harmful kami, and grant us well-being.

Please graciously and peacefully hear these requests,

which we offer with humble, reverent worship.

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.

遠都御祖（とほつみおや）の御霊（みたま）、代々（よよ）の祖等（おやたち）、親族（うからやから）の御霊（みたま）、総て（すべて）此（この）御霊屋（みたまや）に鎮座坐す（しづまります）御霊等（みたまたち）の御前（みまへ）を慎み（つつしみ）敬ひ（ゐやまひ）、

tohotsumioyano mitama, yoyono oyatachi, ukarayakarano mitama, subete kono mitamayani shizumarimasu mitamatachino mimahewo tsutsushimi wiyamahi,

家（いへ）にも身（み）にも枉事（まがごと）有らせず（あらせず）、夜（よ）の守（まもり）日（ひ）の護（まもり）に守幸へ（まもりさきはへ）賜ひ（たまひ）、

ihenimo minimo magagoto arasezu, yono mamori hino mamorini mamorisakihahe tamahi,

弥孫（いやひこ）の継続（つぎつぎ）、家門（いへかど）高く（たかく）広く（ひろく）、如茂弥木栄（いかしやくはえのごとく）令立栄（たちさかえしめ）給ひ（たまひ）、

iyahikono tsugitsugi, ihekado takaku hiroku, ikashiyakuhaenogotoku tachisakaeshime tamahi,

息内（いのち）長く（ながく）、御祭（みまつり）善く（よく）仕奉らしめ（つかへまつらしめ）給ひ（たまひ）、

inochi nagaku, mimatsuri yoku tsukahematsurashime tamahi,

邪意穢心（あしきこころきたなきこころ）不令在（あらしめず）、家業（いへのなり）令勉勤（つとめしめ）給ひ（たまひ）、

ashikikokorokitanakikokoro arashimezu, ihenonari tsutomeshime tamahi,

禍神（まがつかみ）の枉事（まがごと）不令在（あらしめず）幸へ（さきはへ）給へ（たまへ）と、

magatsukamino magagoto arashimezu sakihahe tamaheto,

乞祈奉る（こひのみまつる）事（こと）の由（よし）を平く（たひらけく）安く（やすらけく）聞食し（きこしめし）給へ（たまへ）と、

kohinomimatsuru kotono yoshiwo tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshi tamaheto,

畏み畏み（かしこみかしこみ）も拝奉る（をがみまつる）。

kashikomikashikomimo wogamimatsuru.

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