"The ancient words of Yamato kotoba may no longer be spoken in daily life, but they haven’t disappeared. Like roots under the forest floor, they nourish the present quietly, invisibly. Neither fossil nor fantasy, these words still carry power—not despite their age, but because of it."
This particular section really resonated with me and reminds me of how many people are working all over the world to preserve their cultural and linguistic traditions, because I think we as humans see the inherent value in antiquity! Thanks again for another wonderful article, I look forward to reading what you write next!
You’re absolutely right—humans do seem to find deep, inherent value in things that are old. As we grow older ourselves, we accumulate experiences and memories, and that allows us to reflect not only on our own past but also on times before we were even born. I believe this ability to look back through time isn’t limited by the country we were born in—it’s something we all share as human beings. That’s why I feel certain this sense can resonate with many people, across cultures.
It's not *as* old but I think Christians who prefer the English of the King James bible or the (roughly similar time) Anglican Book of Common prayer understand why instinctively. Likewise with the Orthodox who use Old Church Slavonic instead of current Russia, Ukrainian etc.
It's not just tradition, it's a clear separation of the divine from the mundane world.
You're absolutely right—the power of old language isn't just about nostalgia or tradition. It serves to draw a clear boundary between the sacred and the everyday.
In norito (ritual prayers), the deliberate use of archaic Japanese—language not used in daily life—quietly shifts the atmosphere. It creates a sense of, “This is now a space where we are connecting with the divine,” and helps bring body and mind into alignment with that reality.
As a Shinto priest, I also feel a deep sense of connection with those who once used this ancient language. Standing before the kami, beings who exist beyond time, it feels as if I’m exchanging words with people from the distant past—people I’ve never met. That too, I believe, is part of what gives the ritual its sacred character.
I truly appreciated your reference to other religious traditions, such as the use of the King James Bible or Old Church Slavonic. It’s quietly encouraging to discover these shared sensibilities across different spiritual paths.
Thank you! That was very thoughtful, thought-provoking and entertaining. I think I learned more about norito in reading your description of why the language is important than I ever did going over the encyclopedia entry on it
Thank you for your comment! While there are fixed norito like the Ōharae-shi or the Shinpai-shi, most norito are composed specifically for each occasion. So even though the language is very old in form, the time period and local context in which a norito is created are often reflected in it—and I find that to be one of the most fascinating aspects of norito. Encyclopedias have so much to cover that they usually can’t go into that level of detail!
That’s wonderful to hear! Learning Japanese is already a big journey, and the world of ancient Japanese opens up so many poetic and spiritual layers of the language. I’m cheering you on—may the words of the past greet you like old friends one day.
In our modern world, obsessed with progress, we are always looking for the next thing. But I think progress for its own sake is blind and deaf to the possibility that perhaps always marching forward, we pass by the importance destinations that really matter. Language can be the same. We forget the importance of tradition.
For me, the joy of learning from the past and the excitement of embracing progress coexist like yin and yang—sometimes one stronger than the other, but always dancing together.
I wonder how others experience this balance in their own lives.
Thank you for sharing this. I am really fascinated by the significance of rituals and practices that have endured over time so I found this very interesting.
Thank you so much for reading. Just like the use of archaic language in norito, performing ancient rituals in the same way, at the same time, on the same day each year—this continuity—has a deep impact on us. I feel like I’m only beginning to truly understand what it brings to our lives, and I’m quietly excited to have the opportunity to share these reflections with all of you in English.
Thank you for your insight. Reading what you wrote is not only very informative for people that have an interest into the world of Shinto, but is also quite entertaining, since your style of writing is very poetic. I eagerly wait for the next week's post!
That is helpful insight and makes sense to me. I recite a version of Ryaku Haishi at my kamidana, but I have to admit I suspect my pronunciation of the old Japanese is waaaaay off.
It’s wonderful to hear that you have a kamidana at home and that you recite a version of the Ryaku Haishi. That’s truly inspiring.
I say that norito are more about sound than meaning, so this might sound a little contradictory—but I do believe that if you pronounce the words slowly, gently, and with care, the kami will be forgiving when it comes to getting every sound “right.”
Thank you, but it's nothing, I ordered the kamidana on Amazon, and although I don't speak Japanese well I can manage "Ofuda kudasai!" ^^
I memorized the Ryaku Haishi from an English transliteration, but I should double-check it and make sure it's right. I also haven't been speaking slowly and gently as you suggest, so I'll do that. Thank you for your help!
I think it would be most helpful to include in your posting schedule important norito with their phonetic and english translations. As both a scholarly and practical guide.
That way you could easily (I suppose it wont be something very time-consuming) increase your posting rate and boost your stats.
Thank you for your comment! I see—that is certainly one way of thinking about it. I appreciate your suggestion. That said, at the moment, I feel that posting once a week suits me best.
Also, translating norito into English is by no means an easy task for me. While I can translate certain commonly used phrases from norito, rendering the overall flow of sound and the deeper spiritual meaning conveyed by the words is quite another matter. To do this properly, one would really need to be both a specialist in archaic Japanese and norito, and at the same time a specialist in English.
"The ancient words of Yamato kotoba may no longer be spoken in daily life, but they haven’t disappeared. Like roots under the forest floor, they nourish the present quietly, invisibly. Neither fossil nor fantasy, these words still carry power—not despite their age, but because of it."
This particular section really resonated with me and reminds me of how many people are working all over the world to preserve their cultural and linguistic traditions, because I think we as humans see the inherent value in antiquity! Thanks again for another wonderful article, I look forward to reading what you write next!
Thank you so much for your comment!
You’re absolutely right—humans do seem to find deep, inherent value in things that are old. As we grow older ourselves, we accumulate experiences and memories, and that allows us to reflect not only on our own past but also on times before we were even born. I believe this ability to look back through time isn’t limited by the country we were born in—it’s something we all share as human beings. That’s why I feel certain this sense can resonate with many people, across cultures.
It's not *as* old but I think Christians who prefer the English of the King James bible or the (roughly similar time) Anglican Book of Common prayer understand why instinctively. Likewise with the Orthodox who use Old Church Slavonic instead of current Russia, Ukrainian etc.
It's not just tradition, it's a clear separation of the divine from the mundane world.
Thank you for your comment!
You're absolutely right—the power of old language isn't just about nostalgia or tradition. It serves to draw a clear boundary between the sacred and the everyday.
In norito (ritual prayers), the deliberate use of archaic Japanese—language not used in daily life—quietly shifts the atmosphere. It creates a sense of, “This is now a space where we are connecting with the divine,” and helps bring body and mind into alignment with that reality.
As a Shinto priest, I also feel a deep sense of connection with those who once used this ancient language. Standing before the kami, beings who exist beyond time, it feels as if I’m exchanging words with people from the distant past—people I’ve never met. That too, I believe, is part of what gives the ritual its sacred character.
I truly appreciated your reference to other religious traditions, such as the use of the King James Bible or Old Church Slavonic. It’s quietly encouraging to discover these shared sensibilities across different spiritual paths.
Thank you! That was very thoughtful, thought-provoking and entertaining. I think I learned more about norito in reading your description of why the language is important than I ever did going over the encyclopedia entry on it
Thank you for your comment! While there are fixed norito like the Ōharae-shi or the Shinpai-shi, most norito are composed specifically for each occasion. So even though the language is very old in form, the time period and local context in which a norito is created are often reflected in it—and I find that to be one of the most fascinating aspects of norito. Encyclopedias have so much to cover that they usually can’t go into that level of detail!
I’m currently learning Japanese and would love to be able to read ancient Japanese someday!
That’s wonderful to hear! Learning Japanese is already a big journey, and the world of ancient Japanese opens up so many poetic and spiritual layers of the language. I’m cheering you on—may the words of the past greet you like old friends one day.
In our modern world, obsessed with progress, we are always looking for the next thing. But I think progress for its own sake is blind and deaf to the possibility that perhaps always marching forward, we pass by the importance destinations that really matter. Language can be the same. We forget the importance of tradition.
Thank you for your comment!
For me, the joy of learning from the past and the excitement of embracing progress coexist like yin and yang—sometimes one stronger than the other, but always dancing together.
I wonder how others experience this balance in their own lives.
Thank you for another wonderful article!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for sharing this. I am really fascinated by the significance of rituals and practices that have endured over time so I found this very interesting.
Thank you so much for reading. Just like the use of archaic language in norito, performing ancient rituals in the same way, at the same time, on the same day each year—this continuity—has a deep impact on us. I feel like I’m only beginning to truly understand what it brings to our lives, and I’m quietly excited to have the opportunity to share these reflections with all of you in English.
I'm excited too, thank you.
“Why do we use the archaic English of the King James Bible?”
Thank you so much for this thoughtful connection!
Yes—I find it fascinating how sacred language in many traditions retains an older, more poetic form. It resonates deeply with me.
Thank you for your insight. Reading what you wrote is not only very informative for people that have an interest into the world of Shinto, but is also quite entertaining, since your style of writing is very poetic. I eagerly wait for the next week's post!
You’re very welcome—I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying it!
If my writing feels poetic, it’s probably thanks to the norito I recite every day.
That is helpful insight and makes sense to me. I recite a version of Ryaku Haishi at my kamidana, but I have to admit I suspect my pronunciation of the old Japanese is waaaaay off.
Thank you for your comment.
It’s wonderful to hear that you have a kamidana at home and that you recite a version of the Ryaku Haishi. That’s truly inspiring.
I say that norito are more about sound than meaning, so this might sound a little contradictory—but I do believe that if you pronounce the words slowly, gently, and with care, the kami will be forgiving when it comes to getting every sound “right.”
Thank you, but it's nothing, I ordered the kamidana on Amazon, and although I don't speak Japanese well I can manage "Ofuda kudasai!" ^^
I memorized the Ryaku Haishi from an English transliteration, but I should double-check it and make sure it's right. I also haven't been speaking slowly and gently as you suggest, so I'll do that. Thank you for your help!
Thank you! I actually learned the word transliteration from your comment. In Japanese, we call that rōmaji—it literally means ‘Roman letters’.
Thank you for your post.
I think it would be most helpful to include in your posting schedule important norito with their phonetic and english translations. As both a scholarly and practical guide.
That way you could easily (I suppose it wont be something very time-consuming) increase your posting rate and boost your stats.
Thank you for your comment! I see—that is certainly one way of thinking about it. I appreciate your suggestion. That said, at the moment, I feel that posting once a week suits me best.
Also, translating norito into English is by no means an easy task for me. While I can translate certain commonly used phrases from norito, rendering the overall flow of sound and the deeper spiritual meaning conveyed by the words is quite another matter. To do this properly, one would really need to be both a specialist in archaic Japanese and norito, and at the same time a specialist in English.