Tongdosa Temple Prayer Goers Photographed by Jonathan Hanson
A man hangs a prayer from a lantern at Tongdosa. One of Korea's five "Buddha Jewel Temples" (Jeokmyeolbogung), it enshrines crystallized remains (sarira), the Buddha's alms bowl, robe, and jawbone, brought from China by Monk Jajang in the 7th century. This travel photography series reflects Jonathan Hanson’s global storytelling approach, documenting South Korea for a Korean TV audience through intimate portraits, environmental scenes, and cinematic pacing.