| Location on island |
At the base of Mount Misen (tallest mountain on Miyajima) |
| UNESCO World Heritage |
Part of Itsukushima Shrine World Heritage Area (since 1996) |
| Other names |
Also called "Great Holy Temple" |
Recent Fire (2026) Key Points
| Category |
Details |
| Date of fire |
20 May 2026 (burned until 21 May) |
| Building destroyed |
Reikado Hall (also called “Inextinguishable Flame Hall”) |
| Also destroyed |
A small wooden annex building next to the Reikado Hall |
| What was inside |
The “eternal flame” (Kiezu-no-hi) said to have burned for 1,200 years |
| Origin of the flame |
Lit by Kukai during a goma (fire) prayer ritual in 806 AD |
| Was the flame destroyed? |
No – the temple had moved a copy of the flame to another location |
| Was anyone hurt? |
No – no injuries reported |
| Current status |
Temple planning to rebuild the Reikado Hall |
| Previous fire |
The Reikado Hall was also destroyed by fire in 2005 and rebuilt in 2006 |
Miyajima Island Key Points
| Category |
Details |
| Island name |
Miyajima (also Itsukushima) – “Shrine Island” |
| Location |
Seto Inland Sea, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan |
| UNESCO status |
Itsukushima Shrine and Mount Misen forest listed as World Heritage in 1996 |
| Famous for |
“Floating” red torii gate that appears to stand on water at high tide |
| Itsukushima Shrine built |
Around 1168 AD by Taira no Kiyomori |
| Tourists per year |
Over 3 million visitors annually |
| Population |
About 1,600 permanent residents |
Kukai (Kobo Daishi) Key Points
| Category |
Details |
| Birth name |
Saeki no Mao (later ordained as Kukai) |
| Lived |
774 – 835 AD |
| Honorific name |
Kōbō-Daishi (given after death) meaning “Grand Master who spread the Buddhist teaching” |
| Founded |
Shingon (“True Word”) school of Buddhism in Japan |
| Travelled to |
China to study esoteric Buddhism at Qinglong Temple in Xi‘an |
| Teacher |
Huiguo (Hui-kuo), a master of esoteric Buddhism |
| Also known for |
Calligraphy (called one of the “Three Brushes” of the Heian period) |
| Notable work |
Fujin no Sho (“Wind Letter”) |
FAQs
Q1: Where is Daishoin Temple located?
Ans: On Miyajima Island in the Chugoku region of Japan.
Q2: Which Buddhist school is associated with Daishoin Temple?
Ans: The Shingon School.
Q3: At the base of which mountain is Daishoin Temple situated?
Ans: Mount Misen.
Q4: Who founded Daishoin Temple?
Ans: It was founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 806 AD.
Q5: What was destroyed in the May 2026 fire at Daishoin Temple?
Ans: The Reikado Hall, which housed the temple‘s 1,200-year-old “eternal flame,” was completely destroyed. The flame itself was saved because a copy had been moved to another location.
Relevance Tag: Useful for UPSC Prelims (Art & Culture – World Heritage Sites, Buddhism), State PSC exams, CDS, NDA, SSC, and all competitive exams covering Japanese culture, Buddhist history, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Month: Current Affairs - May 22, 2026
Category: World Heritage Sites, Buddhism