As the number of the gods who possess different functions is so great, it will be convenient to worship by name only the most important and to include the rest in a general petition.  Those whose daily affairs are so multitudinous that they have not time to go through the whole of the following morning prayers, may content themselves with adoring the residence of the emperor, the domestic kami-dana, the spirits of their ancestors, their local patron god and the deity of their particular calling in life.

In praying to the gods the blessings which each has it in his power to bestow are to be mentioned in a few words, and they are not to be annoyed with greedy petitions, for the Mikado in his palace offers up petitions daily on behalf of his people, which are far more effectual than those of his subjects.

Rising early in the morning, wash your face and hands, rinse out the mouth and cleanse the body.  Then turn toward the province of Yamato, strike the palms of the hands together twice, and worship, bowing the head to the ground.  The proper posture is that of kneeling on the heels, which is ordinarily assumed in saluting a superior.

    PRAYER.

From a distance I reverently worship with awe before Ame no Mi-hashira (Heaven-pillar) and Kuni no Mi-hashira (Country-pillar), also called Shinatsu-hiko no kami and Shinatsu-hime no kami, to whom is consecrated the Palace built with stout pillars at Tatsuta no Tachinu in the department of Heguri in the province of Yamato.

I say with awe, deign to bless me by correcting the unwitting faults which, seen and heard by you, I have committed, by blowing off and clearing away the calamities which evil gods might inflict, by causing me to live long like the hard and lasting rock, and by repeating to the gods of heavenly origin and to the gods of earthly origin the petitions which I present every day, along with your breath, that they may hear with the sharp-earedness of the forth-galloping colt.

To the common people the sun is actually a god, as none can doubt who sees them worshipping it morning and evening.  The writer can never forget one of many similar scenes in T[=o]ki[=o], when late one afternoon after O Tent[=o] Sama (the sun-Lord of Heaven), which had been hidden behind clouds for a fortnight, shone out on the muddy streets.  In a moment, as with the promptness of a military drill, scores of people rushed out of their houses and with faces westward, kneeling, squatting, began prayer and worship before the great luminary.  Besides all the gods, supreme, subordinate and local, there is in nearly every house the Kami-dana or god-shelf.  This is usually over the door inside.  It contains images with little paper-covered wooden tablets having the god’s name on them.  Offerings are made by day and a little lamp is lighted at night.  The following is one of several prayers which are addressed to this kami-dana.