Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple

{{Short description|Buddhist temple in Seattle, Washington, US}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}

File:Seattle Buddhist Church 01.jpg

File:Betsuin Joya no Kane December 2022.jpg

File:Seattle Buddhist Temple, ca 1914 (MOHAI 6204).jpg

Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple (built 1940–41) is a Japanese Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is a member of the Buddhist Churches of America. Its original name is the Seattle Buddhist Church.{{cite web | last = MacIntosh| first = Heather M. | title=Arai, Kichio Allen (1901-1986)|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=139| date=November 3, 1998|publisher=HistoryLink.org}}

Although it was designed by Japanese American Kichio Allen Arai,{{cite web | last = MacIntosh| first = Heather M. | title=Arai, Kichio Allen (1901-1986)|url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=139| date=November 3, 1998|publisher=HistoryLink.org}} the architect of record was Pierce A. Horrocks, because Arai lacked an architectural license.{{sfn|Rash|2014|pp=242–243}} It replaced an earlier building (built 1906–1908 by Saunders & Lawton) that was torn down as part of the Yesler Terrace project.{{sfn|Rash|2014|pp=27–39, 242}}

The building is a designated Seattle landmark.[https://www.cityofseattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/s.htm Landmarks Alphabetical Listing for S] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721033852/https://www.cityofseattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/s.htm |date=July 21, 2011 }}, Individual Landmarks, Department of Neighborhoods, City of Seattle. Accessed December 28, 2007. An arson fire on December 31, 2023, destroyed the temple's archives and damaged an altar.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Greg |date=January 4, 2024 |title=Arson closes Seattle Buddhist temple, destroys century-old archives |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/arson-closes-seattle-buddhist-temple-destroys-century-old-archives/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 4, 2024}}