Norito
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 08Harae no Kotoba祓詞Read the Japanese text of Harae no Kotoba with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.
- 09Inari Norito稲荷祝詞Read the Japanese text of Inari Norito with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.
- 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.
- 11Nakatomi 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.
- 12Norito 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.
- 13Norito 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.
- 14Norito 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.
- 15Norito 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.
- 16Norito 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.
- 17Norito 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.
- 18Norito 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.
- 19Norito 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.
- 20Norito 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.
- 21Norito 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.
- 22Norito 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.
- 23Norito 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.
- 24Norito 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.
- 25Norito 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.
- 26Norito 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.
- 27Norito 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.
- 28Norito 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.
- 29Norito 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.
- 30Norito 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.
- 31Norito 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.
- 32Norito 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.
- 33Norito 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.
- 34Norito 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.
- 35Norito 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.
- 36Norito 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.
- 37Norito 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.
- 38Norito 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.
- 39Offering 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.
- 40Offering 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.
- 41Offering 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.
- 42Ōharae no Kotoba大祓詞Read the Japanese text with reviewed romanization and a section-by-section English rendering.
- 43Prayer 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.
- 44Prayer 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.
- 45Prayer 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.
- 46Prayer 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.
- 47Prayer 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.
- 48Prayer 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.
- 49Prayer 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.
- 50Prayer 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.
- 51Prayer 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.
- 52Prayer 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.
- 53Prayer 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.
- 54Prayer 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.
- 55Prayer 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.
- 56Prayer 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.
- 57Prayer 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.
- 58Prayer 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.
- 59Prayer 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.
- 60Prayer 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.
- 61Prayer 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.
- 62Purification 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.
- 63Purification 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.
- 64Purification 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.
- 65Purification 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.
- 66Sacred 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.
- 67Shingo of Izumo神語Read the Japanese text of Shingo of Izumo with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.
- 68Short Harae Prayer略祓詞Read the Japanese text of Short Harae Prayer with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.
- 69Short 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.
- 70Short 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.
- 71Tenmangū Norito天満宮祝詞Read the Japanese text of Tenmangū Norito with romanized readings and a section-by-section English rendering.
- 72Words 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.
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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.