Daigomado, Hall for the Goma Fire Ritual
This hall was built for the performance of the Goma fire ritual. In this esoteric Buddhist rite, prayers written on paper or small tablets of wood are transmitted to the Buddhist deities by being burnt in a sacred fire. Given the risk posed by carrying out such a ritual in any of the important historical wooden structures at the Rinnoji, it was decided to construct this new special-purpose hall.
Although built in a traditional architectural style, the structure is made from modern steel-reinforced concrete. Aside from providing protection in the event of an earthquake, these incombustible materials also serve to prevent fires from spreading to nearby cultural properties should there be an accident during the ritual. Built in 1998, it is the newest structure at the Rinnoji Temple.