A massive fire tore through a historic Buddhist temple in Japan late Friday evening, reducing its main wooden structure to ashes and triggering fears over the safety of priceless centuries-old artefacts.
According to local reports, the blaze erupted on May 16 at Daigoji Temple in the city of Takaoka. The fire quickly engulfed the temple’s main hall, which was completely destroyed before firefighters could bring the situation under control.
The flames later spread to a nearby exhibition centre and an unoccupied residential building located close to the temple complex. Emergency teams rushed to the scene as thick smoke covered the surrounding area.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Two families living within the temple premises were safely evacuated in time, officials said.
Japanese media outlet Fuji News Network reported that firefighters managed to contain the spread of the blaze by around 10:20 p.m. local time. However, firefighting operations continued through the night, and the fire was fully extinguished only around 3:00 a.m.
Rare Buddhist Treasures May Have Been Damaged
Authorities are now assessing the extent of the damage, especially to the temple’s historic treasures. Local guides and heritage experts said the temple reportedly housed rare 16th-century Buddhist scrolls linked to legendary Japanese painter Hasegawa Tōhaku.
The condition of those scrolls remains unknown, raising concerns among historians and cultural preservation groups.
Investigators are also trying to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Why Daigo-ji Temple Holds Massive Cultural Importance?
Daigo-ji is considered one of Japan’s most culturally significant Buddhist temple complexes. Located in Kyoto’s Fushimi ward, the temple serves as the head temple of the Shingon-shū Daigo-ha sect of Japanese Buddhism.
Spread across nearly 6.6 million square meters around Mount Daigo, the centuries-old temple complex is known for housing around 150,000 historical artifacts, including several National Treasures and important cultural properties.
The temple is also famous for its connection to Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who once hosted the iconic “Daigo Cherry Blossom Viewing” celebration there.
In 1994, Daigo-ji became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site titled “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto,” recognized globally for its contribution to Japanese wooden architecture, Buddhist heritage, and traditional garden design.
