Sacred Buddhist Hall in Japan Destroyed by Fire, 1,200-Year 'Eternal Flame' Saved
Reikado Hall near Hiroshima burned down Wednesday morning, but spiritual leaders successfully relocated the ancient flame to safety.
A devastating fire tore through Reikado Hall on Mount Misen in southwestern Japan Wednesday morning, destroying the sacred Buddhist monument that housed an "eternal flame" spiritual leaders say has burned continuously for more than 1,200 years. While the wooden prayer hall was reduced to a charred skeleton, the flame itself was successfully salvaged and moved to a different site after the blaze.
Reikado Hall, situated at roughly 1,500 feet altitude on Miyajima, a sacred island and popular pilgrimage site near Hiroshima, had stood as a monument to Buddhism for centuries. The Daisho-in Buddhist temple, which oversees the hall, received numerous messages of sympathy following the destruction and announced immediate plans to rebuild the structure. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The eternal flame holds profound spiritual significance, as it was reportedly lit by Kukai, a celebrated monk who founded the Shingon school of Buddhism in the ninth century. Water boiled in an iron kettle over this flame is revered for having healing properties and bringing good fortune to believers. The successful rescue of the flame ensured that this sacred tradition could continue despite the physical destruction.
Tetsuya Kotaki, a fire prevention official at the Hatsukaichi fire department, said authorities received the emergency call at 8:32 a.m. Wednesday from temple officials reporting the fire. The blaze was brought under control approximately two hours later, though firefighters faced significant challenges bringing hoses up the hill and quickly exhausted the temple's fire prevention water tank.
This marks the second time in recent decades that Reikado has been destroyed by fire, having been previously rebuilt after a 2005 blaze sparked accidentally during post-typhoon cleanup. Japanese temples and shrines remain vulnerable to fires due to their traditional wooden construction and materials like thatch and bark, with several similar incidents occurring recently across the country.
