Kyoto Temple Fire: 90-Year-Old Ex-Monk Suspected in Blaze at 1200-Year-Old Senju-ji Temple

A fire broke out at Senju-ji Temple, a thousand-year-old temple with over 1200 years of history in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, yesterday (1st), with thick smoke billowing from the scene and the fire spreading to the surrounding forest. Investigations suggest the cause of the fire was an accident by a former monk, over 90 years old, while "burning dry grass." As Japan has frequently experienced ancient temple fires this year, conspiracy theories about arson have been circulating online.

According to comprehensive Japanese media reports, the fire at Senju-ji Temple in the mountains of Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, broke out around 11:30 AM yesterday, and the connected residential buildings were also engulfed in flames. The fire department urgently dispatched 7 fire trucks and a helicopter to fight the fire from above, and the blaze was brought under control around 5 PM.

According to police investigations, the origin of the fire is suspected to be within the temple grounds. A former monk at the temple, over 90 years old, was burning dry grass that had been cleared, but the fire quickly got out of control and spread to the temple buildings. The former monk suffered minor burns to his right foot while trying to extinguish the fire and escape, and has been rushed to the hospital for treatment. Fortunately, his life is not in danger.

Senju-ji Temple is said to have been founded in the early Heian period, in the second year of Daidō (807 AD), by the famous Kōbō Daishi Kūkai. The temple enshrines Eleven-faced Thousand-armed Kannon, known for praying for the healing of eye diseases. However, sharp-eyed netizens pointed out that Japan has accumulated 10 cases of shrine and temple fires this year, and the last two incidents not only had over a thousand years of history but were coincidentally related to the monk "Kūkai," who had studied in Tang Dynasty China. Coupled with the fire's timing being close to the "Honnō-ji Incident" on June 2, 1582, some netizens interested in mysticism have begun to speculate, leading to the development of conspiracy theories that multiple fires were intentionally set by malicious individuals.

In response, relevant experts pointed out that the frequency of shrine and temple fires across Japan this year appears to be relatively high. The main reasons are the abnormally dry climate in some areas this year, coupled with the peak season of Qingming Festival and spring festivals with abundant incense, as well as environmental factors such as aging electrical wiring common in ancient structures. Currently, the police and fire departments are still investigating the incident as an accidental fire due to improper use of fire.