美しい日本語の歌を世界へ広げよう　MUSIC HARVEST

The Legend of the Gods
〜 From Oharae no Kotoba〜

Lyrics:Oharae no Kotoba
Music: Chiyomi Takayama
Arrangement: Kazutaka Asai
English Translation: Chiyomi Takayama

---

This suite is based on the ancient Shinto prayer ?harae no Kotoba, passed down for over 1,500 years.
It has the power to purify human sins and bring peace and harmony.

Through its eight sections, it tells the sacred story of gods purifying the world,
and the divine legend of guiding the Imperial Grandchild to rule a peaceful land.

1. Takamanohara (High Plain of Heaven)

2. Ame no Yaegumo (The Eightfold Clouds of Heaven)

3. Oyamato Hidaka-mi-no-kuni (Great Yamato, Land of High Sight)

4. Futo Norito (The Great Prayer)

5. Ame no Iwato (The Heavenly Rock Gate)

6. Ounabara (The Great Ocean)

7. Seoritsu-hime

8. Gods of Heaven and Earth

---

1. Takamanohara (High Plain of Heaven)

In Takamanohara dwell
the Imperial Ancestors, Kamurogi and Kamurumi,
who gathered the eight million gods
for a divine council,
and declared:

"My Imperial Grandchild shall rule
over this rich and fertile land,
bringing peace and harmony,
and guide it with wisdom and care."

---

2. AmE no Yaegumo
(The Eightfold Clouds of Heaven)

To prepare the land,
the restless gods were questioned and calmed.
Every root of rock and tree, every blade of grass,
was restrained from causing chaos.

The heavenly rock-seat was opened,
the eightfold clouds of heaven were parted,
and the Imperial Grandchild descended
to bring order to the world.

---

3. Oyamato Hidaka-mi-no-kuni (Great Yamato, Land of High Sight)

Among all the lands,
Oyamato Hidaka-mi-no-kuni was established
as a peaceful and secure country.

Pillars were firmly set in the rock,
and high rafters raised in Takamanohara,
to prepare a magnificent hall
for the Imperial Grandchild.

Under the protection of heaven and the sun,
the land became peaceful,
and human errors, whether heavenly or earthly,
would be purified in time.

---

4. Futo Norito (The Great Prayer)

When sins appear,
heavenly rituals are performed.
Sacred trees are cut at the roots,
and the thousand sacred seats are arranged.

Heavenly sedge and hemp are cut and divided
into eight bundles,
as the Great Prayer is proclaimed,
purifying all impurity.

---

5. AmE no iwato
(The Heavenly Rock Gate)

As the prayer is declared,
the gods of heaven open the rock gate,
part the eightfold clouds,
and hear the prayer.

The gods of the land ascend the mountains,
parting the ridges to listen
and receive the divine message.

---

6. Ounabara (The Great Ocean)

When the gods hear the prayer,
no sin remains.

As the wind disperses the clouds,
as morning and evening mists are cleared by the breeze,
as ships in the harbor are untied and launched into the sea,
as overgrown woods are cleared with a sharp sickle,

so all remaining sins are purified
and cleansed completely.

---

7. Seoritsu-hime(Goddess Seoritsu )

From the high mountains to the low hills,
the goddess Seoritsu-hime
carries sins to the great ocean.

There, Hayakitsu-hime
receives them and swallows them completely.

Then Ibukido-nushi,
god of the wind gate,
blows the remaining essence
to the root land and the underworld.

Finally, Hayasasura-hime
takes the remnants
and scatters them far away,
removing all impurity entirely.

---

8. Amatsukami・Kunitsukami
(Gods of Heaven and Earth)

When all is purified,
no sin remains.

Heavenly gods, earthly gods,
and all eight million gods
hear this purification
and join in blessing the land
with their divine power.