Blazing through the pine trees in the deep mountain ravines, this great ominous flame has a hawk-like
yōkai at its center, likely a tengu of some sort. This fire, rather than bringing illumination,
is said to be a demon fire that disrupts the path of Buddhism. Taimatsu-maru is rumored to be the ghost
of Emperor Sutokuin, a man opposed to Buddhism, who died in Shikoku after being deposed from his throne.¹

Taimatsu-maru may also be related to the tengu-no-taimatsu, or tengu's torch, a light sometimes seen on top of
Miyama Mountain.²

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1. Mizuki vol. 1 2003, p. 64

2. source 1, source 2