For the first time in Russian, a complete translation of two most important monuments of ancient Japanese writing is given - norito, the texts of spells and prayers in their later recording, and semmyo - a collection of decrees. In the preface, translator L.M. Ermakova explores in detail the meaning of norito and semmyo in Japanese culture, the mythological structure of monuments, pointing out the features of their poetics in comparison with the Chinese model of the universe.