Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth

祈平産祝詞

13

Reporting the approaching birth

Reporting the approaching birth

Kakemaku mo kashikoki agaōkami no ōmae ni nanigashikashikomi kashikomi mo mōsaku掛巻も畏き吾大神の大前に何某畏み畏みも白さく

Nanigashitsumaharamite taigetsu ni atarinuru yue ni kefu o ikuhi no taruhi to iwahi sadamete何某妻孕みて胎月に当りぬる故に、今日を生日の足日と斎ひ定めて

Presenting offerings

Tatematsuru iyajiro no mitegura o yasumitegura no tarumitegura to oki tarahashite kikoshi meshite奉る礼代の幣帛を安幣帛の足幣帛と置き足らはして聞こし食して

Praying for childbirth and the well-being of mother and child

Takaki tafutoki mitamanofuyu o mochite kurushimu kotonaku yasuku tairakeku umi oe tamaite高き貴き恩頼を以ちて、苦しむ事なく安く平けく産み竟へ給ひて

Hahakotomonishigainaku kotosaharu kotonaku iyasukoyaka ni iyamukasaka ni mamori sakihahe tamae to母子諸共死害なく事障る事なく、弥健に弥向栄に守り幸へ給へと

Kashikomi kashikomi mo mōsu畏み畏みも白す

TranslationReporting the approaching birth

Includes interpretation

Before the awe-inspiring great kami, the person named here humbly declares: the wife of the person named here is with child and has reached the month of birth, so this day has been chosen and consecrated as an auspicious and sufficient day.

Editorial note

Nanigashi marks variable places for the names used in the prayer. Taigetsu is understood narrowly here as the stage at which the birth is expected.

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Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth

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Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth

About Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth

Overview

A Meiji-period prayer reporting a pregnancy and approaching birth, presenting offerings, and asking that childbirth be calm, parent and child remain safe, and the child grow in health.

Structure
3sections
Japanese text
146characters
Notes
3notes

Purposes

  • To report the pregnancy and approaching birth
  • To pray for the safety of parent and child
  • To seek the child’s healthy growth

Deities and subjects

The kami who protect childbirth and parent and child
Receives the pregnancy report and petitions for birth and safety

Background

Included in a 1901 ritual collection, this model reports the stage of pregnancy as a milestone, prepares offerings, and petitions for birth and the child’s subsequent growth.

Flow of the text

Across 3 sections, the text moves from “Reporting the approaching birth” to “Praying for childbirth and the well-being of mother and child.”

What to know before reading

  • The prayer moves through the pregnancy report, offerings, childbirth, and the well-being of parent and child.

  • Nanigashi is replaced with the name of the person making the report or the pregnant person.

  • This historical prayer does not replace prenatal care or medical judgment.

Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth

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Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth

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Norito Praying for a Safe Childbirth

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