In news that sounds like it was ripped from an ancient scroll, a sacred Buddhist hall in Japan recently went up in flames. But fear not, history buffs and purveyors of the perpetually lit: the hall's 1,200-year-old "eternal flame" was dramatically rescued and continues to burn brightly.
Reikado Hall, nestled on Mount Misen in southern Japan, was completely consumed by the blaze, leaving behind little more than a very expensive pile of ash. Thankfully, no one was injured. The wooden prayer rooms, which had stood for centuries (or at least since the last rebuild in 2005), vanished in a puff of smoke. But the flame, reportedly lit by the ninth-century monk Kukai himself, was whisked away to safety.
Daisho-in temple, which oversaw the hall, issued a statement thanking everyone for their concern. Because, apparently, even ancient temples appreciate a bit of social media support after a catastrophic fire.
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The cause of this particular inferno is still under investigation, though one might surmise that a structure made primarily of wood, thatch, and bark in a country prone to typhoons and, well, fire, might be a tad vulnerable. It's a recurring theme, too: 13 buildings at Daihoji Temple were recently damaged, and the Atago shrine in Niigata also saw an unexpected late-night blaze.
As for the flame's backstory, it's not just a really old fire. It's believed to have special powers. Water boiled over it in an iron kettle is said to possess healing properties and bestow good luck. Which, if you think about it, is a pretty handy thing to have around when your entire temple just went up in smoke. One wonders if they used some of that lucky water to douse the flames, or if its powers are strictly for internal use. Either way, it lives to burn another millennium.
