Kakemaku mo kashikoki tenmangūsugahara no ōkaminohiromae ni kiyomari kiyomarite tsutsushimi uyamahi kashikomi kashikomi mo mōsaku掛巻も畏き天満宮菅原大神の広前に、清まり浄まりて、慎み敬ひ畏み畏みも白さく
Sumeramikoto o tasukematsuri ame no shitanōomimatsurigoto o kikoshimeshi kunīe o osame ōmitakara o nadeyashi nahi tamai天皇を輔佐奉り、天下の大政を所聞食し、国家を治め万民を撫育し給ひ
Mameyakanarukoto wa hitsuki to narabi utsukushimi wa ametsuchi to hitoshiku fumi no michi no ōkami ni masu忠誠は日月と並び、仁慈は天地と斉しく、文道の大神に坐す
The transmission of learning and writing
Takaki mīsao wa sugahara no nakatsukuni yori umihedatsuru kotokunigunimade mo tori no atohisashiku todomari masaki no kazuratokoshihe ni tsutahari高き御功績は菅原の中津国より海隔る異国々までも、鳥の跡久しく止まり、正木の葛永久に伝はり
Tafutoki mo iyashiki mo oitaru mo wakaki mo mitamanofuyu o kagafuri fumiyomimo no kakaza o nashi yo o watari ie o osamu貴も賤も老も若も恩頼を蒙り、読書筆跡の業を為し、世を渡り家を治む
Offerings and a prayer for learning
Tafutomi matsuri yuki no mikimikeuzu no mitegura o sasage kohi nomimōsu koto no yoshi o tairakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite尊み奉り、由貴の御酒・御饌・宇豆の御幣を捧げ、請ひ祈り白す事の由を平けく安けく所聞食して
Sumemima no mikotonōomiyo o kakiha ni tokiha ni iwahi matsuri yomo no kuni no aohitokusadomo ni kusagusa no sakihahi o sakihahe tamai皇御孫命の大御世を堅磐に常磐に斎ひ奉り、四方の国の青人草等に種々の福を幸へ給ひ
Yauchi no morohitoyakara ni wazahahinaku fumimonokakaza o nashi ideyo no mamori hi no mamori ni mamorisakihahe tamae to kashikomi kashikomi mo mōsu家内の諸人・親族に災難無く、文筆学術を成就し、夜の守り日の守りに守幸へ給へと畏み畏みも白す
TranslationThe great kami of letters and learning
Includes interpretation
Before Sugawara Ōkami of Tenmangū, whose name is spoken with reverence, we purify ourselves and humbly declare these words. The prayer praises his service to the court, his work in governing the realm and caring for its people, and his loyalty and benevolence, revering him as a great kami of letters and learning.
Editorial note
This modern-era prayer praises selected aspects of Sugawara no Michizane’s life. It is not a complete historical biography or an assessment of every political event in which he took part.
Includes interpretation
It declares that his achievements and the written arts were transmitted for generations, even to lands across the sea, and that people of every rank and age received their benefits, learned to read and write, and thereby sustained their lives and households.
Editorial note
“The traces of birds” is an old metaphor for written characters and calligraphy. The prayer’s reference to distant lands is retained as praise, not converted into a precise historical claim about the range of transmission.
Includes interpretation
Pure sacred sake, food, and offerings are presented, with the request that this prayer be heard in peace. May the imperial reign and the people of every land be blessed; may the household and its kin be free from calamity; may writing and learning be brought to fulfillment; and may all be guarded by night and by day.
Editorial note
The prayer asks for the fulfillment of learning. This page does not promise examination results or any religious effect.
Beginning
The great kami of letters and learning1 / 3
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