Sacred Texts Shinto THE YENGISHIKI THE HARVEST RITUAL

I declare in the presence of the soverei n ods of the Harvest! If the soverei n ods "ill #esto"! in $an%&#'ndled spi(es and in l'x'riant spi(es! the late&ripenin harvest "hich the% "ill #esto"! the late&ripenin harvest "hich "ill #e prod'ced #% the drippin of foa$ fro$ the ar$s! and #% dra"in the $'d to ether #et"een the opposin thi hs! then I "ill f'lfil their praises #% presentin the first&fr'its in a tho'sand ears! and in $an% h'ndred ears) raisin hi h the #eer&*ars! fillin and ran in in ro"s the #ellies of the #eer&*ars! I "ill present the$ in *'ice and in rain+ As to thin s "hich ro" in the reat field plain & s"eet her#s and #itter her#s) as to thin s "hich d"ell in the #l'e sea plain thin s "ide of fin! and thin s narro" of fin! do"n to the "eeds of the offin ! and "eeds of the shore) and as to ,lothes! "ith #ri ht cloth! litterin cloth! soft cloth! and coarse cloth "ill I f'lfil their praises+ And havin f'rnished a "hite horse! a "hite #oar! and a "hite coc(! and the vario's (inds of thin s in the presence of the soverei n ods of the Harvest! I f'lfil their praises #% presentin the reat -fferin s of the soverei n Grand&child.s a' 'stness+ THE RITUAL /-R THE 0IN1&G-1S

I declare in the presence of the soverei n ods! "hose praises are f'lfilled at Tats'ta+

2eca'se the% had not allo"ed! firstl% the five sorts of rain "hich the Soverei n Grand& child.s a' 'stness! "ho r'led the reat co'ntr% of $an% islands at Shi(ishi$a! too( "ith r'dd% co'ntenance as his lon and lastin food! and the thin s prod'ced #% the people! do"n to the least leaf of the her#s! to ripen! and had spoilt the$ not for one %ear! or for t"o %ears! #'t for contin'o's %ears! he dei ned to co$$and3 4As to the Heart of the od "hich shall co$e forth in the divinin s of all the $en "ho are learned in thin s! declare "hat od it is+4

0here'pon the $en learned in thin s divined "ith their divinin s! #'t the% declared that no Heart of a od appears+

0hen he had heard this! the Soverei n Grand&child.s a' 'stness dei ned to con*'re the$! sa%in 3 4I so' ht to f'lfil their praises as heavenl% te$ples and co'ntr% te$ples! "itho't for ettin or o$ittin ! and have so acted! #'t let the od! "hatever od he #e! that has prevented the thin s prod'ced #% the people of the re ion 'nder Heaven fro$ ripenin ! and has spoilt the$! $a(e (no"n his Heart+4

Here'pon the% $ade the Soverei n Grand&child.s a' 'stness to (no" in a reat drea$! and $ade hi$ to (no" their na$es! sa%in 3

4-'r na$es! "ho have prevented the thin s $ade #% the people of the re ion 'nder Heaven fro$ ripenin and have spoilt the$! #% visitin the$ "ith #ad "inds and ro' h "aters! are Heaven.s 5illars a' 'stness and ,o'ntr%.s 5illars a' 'stness+4 And the% $ade hi$ to (no"! sa%in 3 4If for the -fferin s "hich shall #e set 'p in o'r presence there #e f'rnished vario's sorts of -fferin s! as to ,lothes! #ri ht cloth! litterin cloth! soft cloth! and coarse cloth! and the five (inds of thin s! a shield! a spear! and a horse f'rnished "ith a saddle) if o'r ho'se #e fixed at 0on'! in Tachin'! at Tats'ta! in a place "here the $ornin s'n is opposite! and the evenin s'n is hidden! and praises #e f'lfilled in o'r presence! "e "ill #less and ripen the thin s prod'ced #% the people of the re ion 'nder Heaven! firstl% the five sorts of rain! do"n to the least leaf of the her#s+4

Therefore hear! all %e "ardens and ver ers! #% declarin in the presence of the soverei n ods that! havin fixed the Ho'se&pillars in the place "hich the soverei n ods had ta' ht #% "ords and $ade (no"n! in order to f'lfil praises in the presence of the soverei n ods! the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness has ca'sed his reat -fferin s to #e lifted 'p and #ro' ht! and has f'lfilled their praises! sendin the princes and co'nselors as his $essen ers+ THE /IRE RITUAL

I declare "ith the reat rit'al! the Heavenl% rit'al! "hich "as #esto"ed on hi$ at the ti$e "hen! #% the 0ord of the Soverei n.s dear pro enitor and pro enitrix! "ho divinel% re$ain in the plain of hi h Heaven! the% #esto"ed on hi$ the re ion 'nder Heaven! sa%in 3 4Let the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness tran6'ill% r'le over the co'ntr% of fresh spi(es "hich flo'rishes in the $idst of the reed&$oor! as a peacef'l re ion+4

0hen the t"o pillars! the divine I7ana i and I7ana$i.s a' 'stness! %o'n er sister and elder #rother! had interco'rse! and she had dei ned to #ear the $an% tens of co'ntries of the co'ntries! and the $an% tens of islands of the islands! and had dei ned to #ear the $an% h'ndred $%riads of ods! she also dei ned to #ear her dear %o'n est child of all! the /ire&prod'cer od! and her hidden parts #ein #'rnt! she #id in the roc(s! and said3 48% dear elder #rother.s a' 'stness! dei n not to loo( 'pon $e for seven ni hts of ni hts and seven da%s of s'nshine4) #'t "hen! #efore the seven da%s "ere f'lfilled! he loo(ed! thin(in her re$ainin hidden to #e stran e! she dei ned to sa%3 48% hidden parts "ere #'rnt "hen I #ore fire+4 At s'ch a ti$e I said! 48% dear elder #rother.s a' 'stness! dei n not to loo( 'pon $e! #'t %o' violentl% loo(ed 'pon $e 4) and after sa%in ! 48% dear elder #rother.s a' 'stness shall r'le the 'pper co'ntr%) I "ill r'le the lo"er co'ntr%!4 she dei ned to hide in the roc(s! and havin co$e to the flat hill of dar(ness! she tho' ht and said3 4I have co$e hither! havin #orn and left a #ad&hearted child in the 'pper co'ntr%! r'led over #% $% ill'strio's elder #rother.s a' 'stness!4 and oin #ac( she #ore other children+ Havin #orn the 0ater& oddess! the o'rd! the river& "eed! and the cla%&hill $aiden! fo'r sorts of thin s! she ta' ht the$ "ith "ords! and $ade the$ to (no"! sa%in 3 4If the heart of this #ad&hearted child #eco$es violent! let the 0ater& oddess ta(e the o'rd! and the cla%&hill $aiden ta(e the river&"eed! and pacif% hi$+4

In conse6'ence of this I f'lfil his praises! and sa% that for the thin s set 'p! so that he $a% dei n not to #e a"f'll% 6'ic( of heart in their reat place of the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness! there are provided #ri ht cloth! litterin cloth! soft cloth! and coarse cloth! and the five (inds of thin s) as to thin s "hich d"ell in the #l'e sea plain! there are thin s "ide of fin and thin s narro" of fin! do"n to the "eeds of the offin and "eeds of the shore) as to li6'or! raisin hi h the #eer&*ars! fillin and ran in in ro"s the #ellies of the #eer&*ars! pilin the offerin s 'p! even to rice in rain and rice in ear! li(e a ran e of hills! I f'lfil his praises "ith the reat rit'al! the heavenl% rit'al+ THE RITUAL /-R EVIL S5IRITS

I 9the diviner:! declare3 0hen #% the "ord of the pro enitor and pro enitrix! "ho divinel% re$ainin in the plain of hi h Heaven! dei ned to $a(e the #e innin of thin s! the% divinel% dei ned to asse$#le the $an% h'ndred $%riads of ods in the hi h cit% of Heaven! and dei ned divinel% to ta(e co'nsel in co'ncil! sa%in 3 40hen "e ca'se o'r Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness! to leave Heaven.s eternal seat! to cleave a path "ith $i ht thro' h Heaven.s $anifold clo'ds! and to descend fro$ Heaven! "ith orders tran6'ill% to r'le the co'ntr% of fresh spi(es! "hich flo'rishes in the $idst of the reed& $oor as a peacef'l co'ntr%! "hat od shall "e send first to divinel% s"eep a"a%! s"eep a"a% and s'#d'e the ods "ho are t'r#'lent in the co'ntr% of fresh spi(es 4) all the ods pondered and declared3 4Yo' shall send A$enohohi.s a' 'stness! and s'#d'e the$!4 declared the%+ 0herefore the% sent hi$ do"n fro$ Heaven! #'t he did not declare an

ans"er) and havin next sent Ta(e$i('$a.s a' 'stness! he also! o#e%in his father.s "ords! did not declare an ans"er+ A$e&no&"a(a&hi(o also! "ho$ the% sent! did not declare an ans"er! #'t i$$ediatel% perished #% the cala$it% of a #ird on hi h+ 0herefore the% pondered afresh #% the "ord of the Heavenl% ods! and havin dei ned to send do"n fro$ Heaven the t"o pillars of ods! /'ts'n'shi and Ta(e$i(a&d7'chi.s a' 'stness! "ho havin dei ned divinel% to s"eep a"a%! and s"eep a"a%! and dei ned divinel% to soften! and soften the ods "ho "ere t'r#'lent! and silenced the roc(s! trees! and the least leaf of her#s li(e"ise that #ad spo(en! the% ca'sed the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness to descend fro$ Heaven+

I f'lfil %o'r praises! sa%in 3 As to the -fferin s set 'p! so that the soverei n ods "ho co$e into the heavenl% ho'se of the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness! "hich! after he had fixed 'pon as a peacef'l co'ntr% & the co'ntr% of reat Ya$ato "here the s'n is hi h! as the center of the co'ntries of the fo'r 6'arters #esto"ed 'pon hi$ "hen he "as th's sent do"n fro$ Heaven & sto'tl% plantin the ho'se&pillars on the #otto$&$ost roc(s! and exaltin the cross&#ea$s to the plain of hi h Heaven! the #'ilders had $ade for his shade fro$ the Heavens and shade fro$ the s'n! and "herein he "ill tran6'ill% r'le the co'ntr% as a peacef'l co'ntr% $a%! "itho't dei nin to #e t'r#'lent! dei nin to #e fierce! and dei nin to h'rt! (no"in ! #% virt'e of their divinit%! the thin s "hich "ere #e 'n in the plain of hi h Heaven! dei nin to correct "ith 1ivine&correctin and Great& correctin ! re$ove hence o't to the clean places of the $o'ntain strea$s "hich loo( far a"a% over the fo'r 6'arters! and r'le the$ as their o"n place+ Let the soverei n ods tran6'ill% ta(e "ith clear hearts! as peacef'l offerin s and s'fficient offerin s the reat offerin s "hich I set 'p! pilin the$ 'pon the ta#les li(e a ran e of hills! providin #ri ht cloth! litterin cloth! soft cloth! and coarse cloth! as a thin to see plain in & a $irror3 as thin s to pla% "ith&#eads3 as thin s to shoot off "ith & a #o" and arro"s3 as thin s to stri(e and c't "ith & a s"ord3 as a thin "hich allops o't & a horse) as to li6'or & raisin hi h the #eer&*ars! fillin and ran in in ro"s the #ellies of the #eer&*ars! "ith rains of rice and ears) as to the thin s "hich d"ell in the hills thin s soft of hair! and thin s ro' h of hair) as to the thin s "hich ro" in the reat field plain & s"eet her#s and #itter her#s) as to the thin s "hich d"ell in the #l'e sea plain thin s #road of fin and thin s narro" of fin! do"n to "eeds of the offin and "eeds of the short! and "itho't dei nin to #e t'r#'lent! dei nin to #e fierce! and dei nin to h'rt! re$ove o't to the "ide and clean places of the $o'ntain strea$s! and #% virt'e of their divinit% #e tran6'il+ THE R-A1&G-1S. RITUAL

He 9the priest: sa%s3 4I declare in the presence of the soverei n ods! "ho li(e inn'$era#le piles of roc(s! sit closin 'p the "a% in the $'ltit'dino's road&for(in s+ + + f'lfil %o'r praises #% declarin %o'r na$es! Yo'th and 8aiden of the 8an% Road&for(in s and ,o$e&no&f'rther Gate! and sa%3 for the offerin s set 'p so that %o' $a% prevent the servants of the $onarch fro$ #ein poisoned #% and a reein "ith the thin s "hich

shall co$e ro' hl% actin and hatin fro$ the Root&co'ntr%! the 2otto$&co'ntr%! that %o' $a% 'ard the #otto$ of the ate "hen the% co$e fro$ the #otto$! 'ard the top "hen the% co$e fro$ the top! 'ardin "ith ni htl% 'ard and "ith dail% 'ard! and! $a% praise the$ peacef'll% ta(e the reat offerin s "hich are set 'p #% pilin the$ 'p li(e a ran e of hills & that is to sa%! providin #ri ht cloth! etc+! and sittin closin &'p the "a% li(e inn'$era#le piles of roc( in the $'ltit'dino's road&for(in s! dei n to praise the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness eternall% and 'nchan in l%! and to #less his a e as a l'x'riant a e+4 RITUALS T- THE SUN&G-11ESS

He 9the priest envo%: sa%s3 4Hear all of %o'! $inisters of the ods and sanctifiers of offerin s! the reat rit'al! the Heavenl% rit'al! declared in the reat presence of the /ro$&Heaven&shinin & reat deit%! "hose praises are f'lfilled #% settin 'p the sto't pillars of the reat ho'se! and exaltin the cross&#ea$ to the plain of hi h Heaven at the so'rces of the Is'7' river at Ud*i in 0atarahi+4

He sa%s3 4It is the Soverei n.s reat 0ord+ Hear all of %o'! $inisters of the ods and sanctifiers of offerin s! the f'lfillin of praises on this seventeenth da% of the sixth $oon of this %ear! as the $ornin s'n oes 'p in lor%! of the -ho&Na(ato$i! "ho&havin a#'ndantl% piled 'p li(e a ran e of hills the tri#'te thread and sanctified li6'or and food presented as of 'sa e #% the people of the deit%.s ho'ses attri#'ted to her in the three depart$ents and in vario's co'ntries and places! so that she dei n to #less his 9the 8i(ado.s: life as a lon life and his a e as a l'x'riant a e eternall% and 'nchan in l% as $'ltit'dino's piles of roc() $a% dei n to #less the children "ho are #orn to hi$! and dei nin to ca'se to flo'rish the five (inds of rain "hich the $en of & a h'ndred f'nctions and the peasants of the co'ntries in the fo'r 6'arters of the re ion 'nder Heaven lon and peacef'll% c'ltivate and eat! and 'ardin and #enefitin the$ dei n to #less the$ & is hidden #% the reat offerin &"ands+4

I declare in the reat presence of the /ro$&Heaven&shinin & reat deit% "ho sits in Ise+ 2eca'se the Soverei n reat oddess #esto"s on hi$ the co'ntries of the fo'r 6'arters over "hich her lance extends! as far as the li$it "#ere Heaven stands 'p li(e a "all! as far as the #o'nds "here the co'ntr% stands 'p distant! as far as the li$it "here the #l'e clo'ds spread flat! as far as the #o'nds "here the "hite clo'ds lie a"a% fallen&the #l'e sea plain as far as the li$it "hither co$e the pro"s of the ships "itho't dr%in poles or paddles! the ships "hich contin'o'sl% cro"d on the reat sea plain! and the roads "hich $en travel #% land! as far as the li$it "hither co$e the horses. hoofs! "ith the #a a e& cords tied ti htl%! treadin the 'neven roc(s and tree&roots and standin 'p contin'o'sl% in a lon path "itho't a #rea( & $a(in the narro" co'ntries "ide and the hill% co'ntries

plain! and as it "ere dra"in to ether the distant co'ntries #% thro"in $an% tens of ropes over the$ & he "ill pile 'p the first&fr'its li(e a ran e of hills in the reat presence of the Soverei n reat oddess! and "ill peacef'll% en*o% the re$ainder+ THE 5URI/I,ATI-N RITUAL

;The rit'al opens #% callin 'pon the asse$#led princes of the 8i(ado.s fa$il%! the $inisters of State! and all other officials! to listen! in "ords "hich are a $odern addition after the esta#lish$ent of a for$ of ad$inistration $odeled on that of the ,hinese+ To this s'cceeds a second en'$eration of the Soverei n.s servants! accordin to the old division! into scarf&"earin co$panies 9"o$en attendants:! sash&"earin co$panies 9coo(s:! 6'iver&#earin and s"ord&#earin co$panies 9 'ards:! "ith "hich #e ins the en'ine ancient text+ The nat're of the 8i(ado.s title to r'le over the land is then stated! as in the rit'al of the ods of pestilence! alread% 6'oted! after "hich "e have a list of the offenses of "hich the nation is to #e p'r ed+<

A$on st the vario's sorts of offenses "hich $a% #e co$$itted in i norance or o't of ne li ence #% Heaven.s increasin people! "ho shall co$e into #ein in the co'ntr%! "hich the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness! hidin in the fresh residence! #'ilt #% sto'tl% plantin the ho'se&pillars on the #otto$&$ost roc(s! and exaltin the cross& #ea$s to the plain of hi h Heaven! as his shade fro$ the Heavens and shade fro$ the s'n! shall tran6'ill% r'le as a peacef'l co'ntr%! na$el%! the co'ntr% of reat Ya$ato! "here the s'n is seen on hi h! "hich #e fixed 'pon as a peacef'l co'ntr%! as the center of the co'ntries of the fo'r 6'arters th's #esto"ed 'pon hi$ & #rea(in the rid es! fillin 'p "aterco'rses! openin sl'ices! do'#l% so"in ! plantin sta(es! fla%in alive! fla%in #ac("ard! and d'n in ) $an% of s'ch offenses are distin 'ished as Heavenl% offenses! and as earthl% offenses) c'ttin livin flesh! c'ttin dead flesh! lepros%! pro'd flesh! the offense co$$itted "ith one.s o"n $other! the offense co$$itted "ith one.s o"n child! the offense co$$itted "ith $other and child! the offense co$$itted "ith child and $other! the offense co$$itted "ith #easts! cala$ities of cra"lin "or$s! cala$ities of a od on hi h! cala$ities of #irds on hi h! the offenses of (illin #easts and 'sin incantations) $an% of s'ch offenses $a% #e disclosed+

;The hi h priest then arran es the sacrifices! and! t'rnin ro'nd to the asse$#led co$pan%! "aves #efore the$ a sort of #roo$ $ade of rass! to s%$#oli7e the s"eepin a"a% of their offenses+ At this point occ'rs in the ori inal a direction to the priest to repeat 4 the reat rit'al! the Heavenl% rit'al+4 Several versions of "hat see$s to #e the $issin doc'$ent have #een discovered! and it t'rns o't to have #een a short address to all the ods! callin 'pon the$ to #ear the re$ainin part of the principal rit'al! after "hich the ori inal proceeds3<

0hen he has th's repeated it! the Heavenl% ods "ill p'sh open Heaven.s eternal ates! and cleavin a path "ith $i ht thro' h the $anifold clo'ds of Heaven! "ill hear) and the co'ntr% ods! ascendin to the tops of the hi h $o'ntains! and to the tops of the lo" hills! and tearin as'nder the $ists of the hi h $o'ntains! and the $ists of the lo" hills! "ill #ear+

And "hen the% have th's heard! the 8aiden&of&1escent&into&the&,'rrent! "ho d"ells in the c'rrent of the s"ift strea$ "hich #oils do"n the ravines fro$ the tops of the hi h $o'ntains! and the tops of the lo" hills! shall carr% o't to the reat sea plain the offenses "hich are cleared a"a% and p'rified! so that there #e no re$ainin offense) li(e as S#inato.s "ind #lo"s apart the $anifold clo'ds of Heaven! as the $ornin "ind and the evenin "ind #lo" a"a% the $ornin $ist and the evenin $ist! as the reat ships "hich lie on the shore of the reat port loosen their pro"s! and loosen their sterns to p'sh o't into the reat sea plain) as the tr'n(s of the forest trees! far and near! are cleared a"a% #% the sharp sic(le! the sic(le for ed "ith fire) so that there cease to #e an% offense called an offense in the co'rt of the Soverei n Grandchild.s a' 'stness to #e in "ith! and in the co'ntries of the fo'r 6'arters of the re ion 'nder Heaven+

And "hen she th's carries the$ o't and a"a%! the deit% called the 8aiden&of&the&S"ift& cleansin ! "ho d"ells in the $'ltit'dino's $eetin s of the sea&"aters! the $'ltit'dino's c'rrents of ro' h sea&"aters shall 'lp the$ do"n+

And "hen she has th's 'lped the$ do"n! the lord of the 2reath&#lo"in &place! "ho d"ells in the 2reath&#lo"in &place! shall 'tterl% #lo" the$ a"a% "ith his #reath to the Root&co'ntr%! the 2otto$&co'ntr%+

And "hen he has th's #lo"n the$ a"a%! the deit% called the 8aiden&of&S"ift& 2anish$ent! "ho d"ells in the Root&co'ntr%! the 2otto$&co'ntr%! shall co$pletel% #anish the$! and et rid of the$+

And "hen the% have th's #een ot rid of! there shall fro$ this da% on"ard #e no offense "hich is called offense! "ith re ard to the $en of the offices "ho serve in the co'rt of the Soverei n! nor in the fo'r 6'arters of the re ion 'nder Heaven+

;Then the hi h priest sa%s3<

Hear all of %o' ho" he leads forth the horse as a thin that erects its ears to"ard the plain of hi h Heaven! and dei ns to s"eep a"a% and p'rif% "ith the eneral p'rification! as the evenin s'n oes do"n on the last da% of the "ater% $oon of this %ear+

- diviners of the fo'r co'ntries! ta(e the sacrifices a"a% o't of the river hi h"a%! and s"eep the$ a"a%+