Norito

日本語

Today's reading

Harae no Kotoba

For daily purification

Begin reading
  1. 01Amatsu Norito · Misogi-Harae no Kotoba天津祝詞Read the Japanese text of Amatsu Norito · Misogi-Harae no Kotoba with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  2. 02Chief Priest’s Norito for the Ise Regular Festival神宮月次祭宮司祝詞Read the Japanese text of Chief Priest’s Norito for the Ise Regular Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  3. 03Chief Priest’s Norito for the Kanname Festival神嘗祭宮司祝詞Read the Japanese text of Chief Priest’s Norito for the Kanname Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  4. 04Envoy’s Offering Prayer for the Kanname Festival神嘗祭使奉幣祝詞Read the Japanese text of Envoy’s Offering Prayer for the Kanname Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  5. 05Great Purification of the Six Roots六根清浄大祓Read the Japanese text of Great Purification of the Six Roots with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.7 sections
  6. 06Great Purification of the Ten Sacred Treasures十種大祓Read the Japanese text of Great Purification of the Ten Sacred Treasures with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.7 sections
  7. 07Great Purification on the Last Day of the Sixth Month (Engishiki)六月晦大祓祝詞Read the Japanese text of Great Purification on the Last Day of the Sixth Month (Engishiki) with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.11 sections
  8. 08Harae no Kotoba祓詞Read the Japanese text of Harae no Kotoba with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  9. 09Inari Norito稲荷祝詞Read the Japanese text of Inari Norito with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.6 sections
  10. 10Incantation Recited When the Fumi no Imiki Present a Sword東文忌寸部献横刀時呪Read the Japanese text of Incantation Recited When the Fumi no Imiki Present a Sword with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  11. 11Misogi Harae Kotoba — Purification Prayer身滌祓詞Read the Japanese text of Misogi Harae Kotoba — Purification Prayer with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  12. 12Nakatomi Words of Blessing中臣寿詞Read the Japanese text of Nakatomi Words of Blessing with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.5 sections
  13. 13Norito for a Child’s First Shrine Visit初宮参祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for a Child’s First Shrine Visit with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  14. 14Norito for a Ship’s Departure出船祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for a Ship’s Departure with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  15. 15Norito for Ebisu no Kami恵美須神祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Ebisu no Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  16. 16Norito for Funadama no Kami船玉神祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Funadama no Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  17. 17Norito for Kudo and Furusaki久度古関祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Kudo and Furusaki with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  18. 18Norito for Ōkuninushi no Kami大国主神祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Ōkuninushi no Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  19. 19Norito for Presenting Offerings When an Embassy Is Sent to Tang China遣唐使時奉幣祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Presenting Offerings When an Embassy Is Sent to Tang China with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  20. 20Norito for Raising the Ridgepole of a House人家上棟祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Raising the Ridgepole of a House with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  21. 21Norito for Removing and Relocating Afflicting Kami遷却祟神祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Removing and Relocating Afflicting Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.5 sections
  22. 22Norito for Sacred Sake神酒祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Sacred Sake with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  23. 23Norito for Sarutahiko Ōkami猿田彦大神祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Sarutahiko Ōkami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  24. 24Norito for the Blessing of the Great Palace大殿祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Blessing of the Great Palace with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.5 sections
  25. 25Norito for the Completion of a New Home新宅祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Completion of a New Home with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  26. 26Norito for the Entry of the Consecrated Imperial Princess斎内親王奉入時祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Entry of the Consecrated Imperial Princess with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  27. 27Norito for the Festival of Divine Garments神衣祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Festival of Divine Garments with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  28. 28Norito for the Festival of the Gates御門祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Festival of the Gates with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  29. 29Norito for the Fire-Pacifying Festival鎮火祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Fire-Pacifying Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.5 sections
  30. 30Norito for the Food Offering神供祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Food Offering with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  31. 31Norito for the Grain-Petitioning Festival祈年祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Grain-Petitioning Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.11 sections
  32. 32Norito for the Ground-Pacifying Rite地鎮祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Ground-Pacifying Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  33. 33Norito for the Hand-Axe Beginning Rite釿始祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Hand-Axe Beginning Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  34. 34Norito for the Hirano Festival平野祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Hirano Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  35. 35Norito for the Hirose Ōimi Festival広瀬大忌祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Hirose Ōimi Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.5 sections
  36. 36Norito for the Kasuga Festival春日祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Kasuga Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  37. 37Norito for the Mi-tama-shidume Iwahido Festival鎮御魂斎戸祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Mi-tama-shidume Iwahido Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  38. 38Norito for the Miti-ahe Festival道饗祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Miti-ahe Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  39. 39Norito for the Mountain-Kami Rite山神祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Mountain-Kami Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  40. 40Norito for the Ōho-nihe Festival大嘗祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Ōho-nihe Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  41. 41Norito for the Pillar-Raising Rite柱立祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Pillar-Raising Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  42. 42Norito for the Sake-Deity Rite酒神祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Sake-Deity Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  43. 43Norito for the Shrine Ridgepole-Raising Rite神社上棟祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Shrine Ridgepole-Raising Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  44. 44Norito for the Sixth-Month Tsukinami Festival六月月次祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Sixth-Month Tsukinami Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.10 sections
  45. 45Norito for the Tatsuta Wind Deities Festival龍田風神祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Tatsuta Wind Deities Festival with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.7 sections
  46. 46Norito for the Travel Rite祈旅祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Travel Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  47. 47Norito for the Well-Kami Rite井神祭祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for the Well-Kami Rite with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  48. 48Norito for Transferring the Great Shrine遷奉大神宮祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito for Transferring the Great Shrine with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  49. 49Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth祈平産祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  50. 50Norito to Sukunahikona no Kami少毘古名神祝詞Read the Japanese text of Norito to Sukunahikona no Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  51. 51Offering Prayer for the Ise Grain-Petitioning and Regular Festivals神宮祈年・月次祭奉幣祝詞Read the Japanese text of Offering Prayer for the Ise Grain-Petitioning and Regular Festivals with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  52. 52Offering Prayer for the Kanname Festival at Toyouke no Miya豊受宮神嘗祭奉幣祝詞Read the Japanese text of Offering Prayer for the Kanname Festival at Toyouke no Miya with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  53. 53Offering Prayer for the Toyouke Grain-Petitioning and Regular Festivals豊受宮祈年・月次祭奉幣祝詞Read the Japanese text of Offering Prayer for the Toyouke Grain-Petitioning and Regular Festivals with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  54. 54Ōharae no Kotoba大祓詞Read the Japanese text with reviewed romanization and a section-by-section English rendering.8 sections
  55. 55Prayer Before the Kamidana神棚拝詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer Before the Kamidana with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  56. 56Prayer of Reverence at a Shrine神社拝詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence at a Shrine with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  57. 57Prayer of Reverence to Atsuta Shrine, Owari拝尾張熱田宮詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to Atsuta Shrine, Owari with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  58. 58Prayer of Reverence to Izumo Taisha拝出雲大社詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to Izumo Taisha with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  59. 59Prayer of Reverence to Ōmiyanome no Kami拝大宮能売神詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to Ōmiyanome no Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  60. 60Prayer of Reverence to the Guardian of This Place拝当所鎮守詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Guardian of This Place with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  61. 61Prayer of Reverence to the Ichinomiya of One’s Province拝当国一宮詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Ichinomiya of One’s Province with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  62. 62Prayer of Reverence to the Kami Guarding the Privy拝守厠神詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Kami Guarding the Privy with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  63. 63Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of Haraidokoro拝祓処神等詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of Haraidokoro with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  64. 64Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of the Hearth拝竈神等詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of the Hearth with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  65. 65Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of Water拝水屋神等詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of Water with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  66. 66Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of Wisdom拝思慮神等詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Kami of Wisdom with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  67. 67Prayer of Reverence to the Mitoshi Kami拝御年神等詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Mitoshi Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  68. 68Prayer of Reverence to the Realm of the Heavenly Sun拝天日御国詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Realm of the Heavenly Sun with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  69. 69Prayer of Reverence to the Realm of Tsukuyomi拝目夜見国詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Realm of Tsukuyomi with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  70. 70Prayer of Reverence to the Sae no Kami拝塞神等詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Sae no Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  71. 71Prayer of Reverence to the Shrine at Kumomi, Izu拝伊豆雲見社詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Shrine at Kumomi, Izu with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  72. 72Prayer of Reverence to the Three Eastern Shrines拝吾妻三社詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Three Eastern Shrines with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  73. 73Prayer of Reverence to the Three Mountains三山拝詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Three Mountains with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  74. 74Prayer of Reverence to the Three Yamato Shrines拝大和三社詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Three Yamato Shrines with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  75. 75Prayer of Reverence to the Two Hitachi Shrines拝常陸両社詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Two Hitachi Shrines with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  76. 76Prayer of Reverence to the Two Ise Shrines拝伊勢両宮詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Two Ise Shrines with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  77. 77Prayer of Reverence to the Wind Kami of Tatsuta拝竜田風神詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to the Wind Kami of Tatsuta with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  78. 78Prayer of Reverence to Yafune no Kami拝屋船神詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer of Reverence to Yafune no Kami with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  79. 79Prayer to the Ancestral Spirits祖霊拝詞Read the Japanese text of Prayer to the Ancestral Spirits with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.5 sections
  80. 80Purification at the Torii鳥居之祓Read the Japanese text of Purification at the Torii with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  81. 81Purification of Complete Fulfillment一切成就祓Read the Japanese text of Purification of Complete Fulfillment with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.2 sections
  82. 82Purification of Heaven, Earth, and All Things天地一切清浄祓Read the Japanese text of Purification of Heaven, Earth, and All Things with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.6 sections
  83. 83Purification Prayer to the Five Inari Myōjin稲荷五社大明神祓Read the Japanese text of Purification Prayer to the Five Inari Myōjin with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.4 sections
  84. 84Sacred Words of Blessing by the Governor of Izumo出雲国造神賀詞Read the Japanese text of Sacred Words of Blessing by the Governor of Izumo with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.6 sections
  85. 85Saijō Harae — Prayer of Highest Purification最上祓Read the Japanese text of Saijō Harae — Prayer of Highest Purification with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  86. 86Saiyō Harae — Concise Words of Purification最要祓詞Read the Japanese text of Saiyō Harae — Concise Words of Purification with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  87. 87Sango Haishi三語拝詞Read the Japanese text of Sango Haishi with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  88. 88Shingo of Izumo神語Read the Japanese text of Shingo of Izumo with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  89. 89Short Harae Prayer略祓詞Read the Japanese text of Short Harae Prayer with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  90. 90Short Prayer of Distant Worship to Inari遥拝略詞Read the Japanese text of Short Prayer of Distant Worship to Inari with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  91. 91Short Prayer of Reverence略拝詞Read the Japanese text of Short Prayer of Reverence with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.1 section
  92. 92Tenmangū Norito天満宮祝詞Read the Japanese text of Tenmangū Norito with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections
  93. 93Words for the Na Festival of Expelling Pestilence儺祭詞Read the Japanese text of Words for the Na Festival of Expelling Pestilence with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.3 sections

Choose a text

Choose a first text by length or the occasion for reading.

Questions about norito

Background on the texts and how this edition is prepared.

What is a norito?

A norito is a ritual text addressed to kami. It may name and praise the kami, recount their workings or origins, state the purpose of a rite and its offerings, and give words to a prayer. Volume eight of the Engishiki, compiled in the Heian period, preserves norito associated with rites already transmitted by that time.

What kinds of norito are there?

Older norito were composed for distinct rites: prayers for the year’s harvest, protection of palace halls and gates, pacification of fire or dangers along the roads, and great purification. Later traditions also preserve texts for worship at shrines, household kamidana, and ancestral spirits. Titles and wording can differ by period and line of transmission.

When are norito recited?

Historically, norito were recited in court and regional rites marking seasonal transitions, harvests, purification, protection from fire, and other occasions. Today they are also heard at regular shrine festivals, prayers for particular wishes, rites marking stages of life, shrine visits, and worship before a household kamidana. Not every norito belongs to the same occasion or manner of recitation.

Are Ōharae no Kotoba and Harae no Kotoba the same text?

No. Volume eight of the Engishiki records a long text proclaimed at the purification on the last day of the sixth month, and the Ōharae no Kotoba widely read today belongs to that historical current while reflecting later transmission. Harae no Kotoba is a separate, shorter prayer asking the Haraedo kami—whose story is tied to Izanagi’s purification—to cleanse impurities.

Is the English translation the only possible interpretation?

No. The edition compares multiple public references and prioritizes correspondence with the Japanese text, but it does not claim a single final interpretation. Where interpretations differ, the wording avoids unnecessary certainty.

What should I do if I find an error in the text or reading?

Use the correction link on the relevant reading page or “Suggest a correction” in the footer. The site-wide form lets you choose the norito and include a supporting webpage, book title, or page number.