Illustrated Guide to the world of Spira (FFX and FFX-2)/Culture/Mythology/Hymn

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The Hymn of the Fayth is a song composed by Japanese composer Nobuo Uematsu for the Final Fantasy X game on the PlayStation 2. Wikipedia has a 30 second sample of the song. In the game, the Hymn serves as a transitional song and an indicator of religious importance or solemnity, though its lyrics don't appear to have any meaning to the game's characters.

In the real world, the lyrics of the song require some deciphering. They are:

  • Ieyui
  • Nobomeno
  • Renmiri
  • Yojuyogo
  • Hasatekanae
  • Kutamae

The words are comprised of Japanese syllables, but are arranged in such a way that they do not read as Japanese. However, the composer left a puzzle. To begin translating, first arrange the first four words in four columns, going by syllable from the top down. Note that in Japanese, "N" is its own syllable when followed by a consonant.

I   NO  RE  YO
E   BO  N   JU 
YU  ME  MI  YO 
I   NO  RI  KO 

Then, take the six syllables of the fifth word and arrange them similarly, in a rectangle of two rows and three columns, starting with the first syllable in the top left square and going down and to the right.

HA  TE  NA
SA  KA   E

Finally, put the last word in an "L" shape, as shown below.

KU
TA MA E

Then, you put it all together.

I  NO RI YO
E  BO N  JU
YU ME MI YO
I  NO RI KO
HA TE NA KU
SA KA E  TA MA E

Now read across, and you get

Inori yo, Ebon-Ju (祈れよエボン=ジュ)   Pray to Yu Yevon
Yume mi yo, inorigo (夢見よ祈り子)      Dream, Fayth
Hatenaku (果てなく)                     Forever and ever
Sakaetamae (栄えたまえ)                 Bring us prosperity

Song History[edit | edit source]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

On Mount Gagazet, Maechen reveals to us that The Hymn Of The Fayth was a song sung by the people who hated Yevon for instance, the Al Bhed. Yevon took the song and made it scripture, spreading it around saying it was a holy song of Yevon sung to sooth the souls of the dead.

Some players think the song represents an additional mystery, in that both Tidus and Jecht knew the tune of the song (which is obviously a hymn glorifying Yevon and the Fayth) while knowledge of these things did not exist in their home Zanarkand. However, as it is revealed that both Tidus and Jecht (and their world) were a dream of the Fayth, it is likely that they knew the tune sub-consciously, as they are creations of the Fayth—it should be noted that the Fayth that seems personally linked to Tidus, Bahamut, sings the song on at least one occasion.