1950 On July 2, it was getting dark, and the ancient capital of Japan, the Jingu Temple in the north of Kyoto, stared at the direction. A pillar of fire soared into the sky, and in an instant, Luo Kongji's "shrine" was reduced to ashes. This is a national treasure with a history of more than 500 years. The arsonist was Lin Yangxian, a monk from the Golden Pavilion Temple and a freshman majoring in Chinese at Otani University. After the fire, Lin fled to the back hill of Jingu Temple and committed suicide. He was found by the forest protection police and taken to the special search headquarters in Kyoto for questioning. Lin confessed to the fact of setting fire, but did not think that setting fire by himself was a crime. According to the abbot, Lin Yangxian is usually dissatisfied with temples and society, stuttering, introverted and withdrawn. After Lin was sentenced to prison, he was transferred to prison hospital for treatment due to tuberculosis and mental disorder, and then transferred to Kyoto prison. 1955 10 was discharged and admitted to Kyoto government hospital. 1956 died on March 7th at the age of 27.

Jingu Temple was published on 1956. Mishima went to Kyoto specially before writing, and made a very detailed interview and on-the-spot experience, from the experience of arsonists to various records of Jingu Temple, police station and court, and then to the details of Zen Temple architecture and religious life. He even made a special trip to Lin Yangxian's hometown to dance cranes, experience the desolate scenery on the shore of the North Sea, and feel the early spiritual image that led the perpetrators to set fire. In Mishima's creative career, there has never been such a precise and meticulous interview experience. As he himself said, "I have seen all the places I can see and all the places I can go." I estimate that everything useful has been recorded in detail, just like collecting plants and collecting insect specimens. "