A temple in Japan that housed the country's 'eternal flame' for more than 1,200 years has been tragically destroyed by a fire. The devastating blaze gutted part of Daishoin Temple on Miyajima Island in the city of Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Wednesday.
Historic Reikado Hall Destroyed
The fire ripped through the historic Reikado Hall, which was home to a sacred flame believed to have burned continuously for over 1,200 years. Known as the 'unquenchable fire', the flame was said to have originally been lit by a Buddhist monk in the year 806. It was later used to ignite the eternal flame at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which commemorates victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.
Cause Under Investigation
Local media reported that authorities believe the flame itself may have caused the blaze, but police are still investigating the incident. However, the flame was successfully preserved and moved to a safe place, where it has continued burning. The fire was first reported on Wednesday morning and was confirmed extinguished on Thursday.
Footage of the blaze showed the wooden beams crumbling to the ground in the middle of a forest area on Mount Misen, where the temple is located. The hall became quickly engulfed in orange flames before the fire spread into the trees surrounding it. A report to the fire services was first made at around 8:30 am on Wednesday. Firefighters eventually contained the flames after they spread to nearby woodland, and no injuries were reported.
History of Damage and Rebuilding
The Reikado Hall has suffered repeated damage from fires and natural disasters over the centuries, including in 2005 when the structure was destroyed in another blaze. It was rebuilt the following year to preserve both the historic building and the eternal flame. Investigators at the time believed the earlier fire was caused by burning dead wood and other combustible materials inside the hall.
Symbolic Importance
The temple's eternal flame gained modern symbolic importance after World War II. One of the fires used to light the 'Flame of Peace' at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was taken from Reikado Hall's eternal flame. The Peace Flame was designed to continue burning until all nuclear weapons are abolished worldwide, linking Miyajima's ancient Buddhist tradition with Hiroshima's postwar message of peace.
Recent Temple Fires in Japan
Since the beginning of the year, there have been several fires reported at temples in Japan. In February, at least three temples burned down in Ehime Prefecture and Yamaguchi Prefecture, with multiple people dying in the fires. In April, two more temples burned down in Toyama Prefecture and Mie Prefecture. Earlier this month, a 300-year-old Shinto shrine dedicated to fire prevention in Niigata Prefecture burned down. Most recently, a 573-year-old temple in Toyama Prefecture burned down on 16 May, taking firefighters almost nine hours to control the blaze.
