Miyajima Fire Destroys Kukai-Linked Reikado Hall, Burning 30 Square Meters of Woodland
Updated
Updated · Nippon.com · May 21
Miyajima Fire Destroys Kukai-Linked Reikado Hall, Burning 30 Square Meters of Woodland
6 articles · Updated · Nippon.com · May 21
Firefighters responding around 8:30 a.m. found Reikado Hall on Miyajima engulfed, and the Kukai-linked sacred structure and a nearby hut burned to the ground.
About 30 square meters of nearby woodland also caught fire before crews brought the blaze under control shortly after 10:30 a.m.; no injuries were confirmed.
The hall belongs to Daishoin temple near Mount Misen's summit and housed an "eternal flame" the temple says had burned for nearly 1,200 years since Kukai lit it for prayer.
The destruction hits one of Miyajima's notable religious sites, adding to scrutiny over the fate of the historic flame and the cause of the fire.
As its temple turns to ash for a second time, what is the secret to this sacred flame's 1,200-year survival?
A sacred flame keeps destroying its historic home. Is it time to rethink how we protect living heritage?