Monastic Life and Temples

Images feature monks in serene temple surroundings, capturing the tranquility of sacred spaces and ritualistic practices across various East Asian cultures.

Incense sticks burning, China

North Korea, Myohyang. A monk at Pohyon Temple, located on the slopes of the Myohyang mountains. Pohyon was founded in 1042 by the monk Kwanghwak although much was destroyed during the Korean War, and since rebuilt.

A Priest Walking Across The Monastery Courtyard, Po Lin Monastery, Lantou Island; Hong Kong, China

Central Mongolia, Near Karakorum, Shankh Hiid Monastery, Door

Incense sticks burning, China

Nanyang Sacred Union, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Asia

Hong Kong, China. Temple with men praying to Buddhas.

Pilgrims worshiping in Tachia Chelan Temple dedicated to Matsu, Taichung, Taiwan

Senjo-ji Kannon Temple in Asakusa - Tokyo, Japan Senjo-ji Kannon Temple in Asakusa - Tokyo, Japan Copyright: xZoonar.com/BRUNOxSILVAx 22190754

Menacing creature designed to fend off evil spirits on roof of traditional Naxi-style home, Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China.

Shrine at the Lama Temple, Lama Temple, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

Monks at Kandze monastery.

Incense hanging from ceiling in Chinese temple

Dinh Phat Loc, central province of Thai Binh in the Red Delta area, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Drum inside the Confucius Temple, Shida district, Taipei, Taiwan, Asia

front view woman man praying temple with burning incense 2

Vuetnam, Ho Chi Minh City, man in temple

Buddhist pilgrims turning prayer wheels at the Pelcho Monastery in the town of Gyantse in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Honor guard at Martyrs´ Shrine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, Asia

Incenses in front of a temple, Da Zhao Temple, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

Young monk leaving monastery in Boudhanath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal

A man praying at a temple

A Buddha statue in an alcove of a Buddhist temple

Monk standing in front of a gong, Wannian monastery, Emei Shan, Sichuan province, China, Asia

Shaolin is a Buddhist monastery in central China. Located on Songshan Mountain. Shaolin is a Buddhist monastery in central China.

Thailand, Chinese person praying at the Chinese shrine

View of a man in traditional Bhutanese clothing stands against intricately painted walls, a study in light and shadow, Trongsa, Trongsa, Bhutan.

Vietnam, North, Hanoi, Temple Of Literature Founded In 1070 By Emperor Ly Thanh Tong And Dedicated To Confucius. Interior Detail Of Altar With Bowl Of Burning Incense.

Beijing, China - 16 November 2025: View of figures in traditional Qing dynasty attire near the ornate, red-walled entrance to a historic site.

Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak, Sibu. Incense sticks, Seven Stories Pagoda, taoist temple dedicated to Kuan Yin

China, Beijing. Chinese New Year Spring Festival - incense burning at Baiyun Guan White Cloud Taoist Temple.

View of a man in traditional Bhutanese dress standing confidently on stone steps flanked by ornate chortens, against a misty backdrop, Hungtso, Bhutan.

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple (Taoist temple), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

China, Beijing. Chinese New Year Spring Festival - incense burning at Baiyun Guan White Cloud Taoist Temple.

Incense burner, Taoist temple, Yangon, Burma, Myanmar, Rangoon, Asia

Japan, Honshu, Tokyo, Asakusa. People Tying Omikuji Or Fortune Papers At Senso Ji Temple

Vintage Photograph. Shinto priest performing a traditional ritual in a serene Japanese shrine setting.

Colorful statues at the Buddhist Pohyon-temple, Mount Myohyangsan, North Korea

Motion blur of pilgrims turning prayer wheels; Labrang, Amdo, China

China, Shandong Province, Qufu City. International Confucius Cultural Festival, birthplace of Confucius the great philosopher politician and educator.

Asia, South Korea, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jirisan National Park, Ssanggyesa Buddhist temple

Kek Lok Si Temple; Penang, Malaysia

Malaysia, Penang, Georgetown, Wat Chayamangkalaram, Interior with woman placing offerings on altar in front of seated Buddha covered in gold leaf, Incense burning in foreground.

Trang has been a trading center since at least the 1st century AD. It grew to prosperity between the 7th and 13th centuries during the Srivijaya period and remains an important commercial town today. Rubber, palm oil and fishing are the mainstays of the town's economy. Tourism is making an increasing impact as Trangs Anadaman Coast and islands are increasingly developed and popularized. The town has a strong Overseas Chinese character (and hence good Chinese restaurants) as a result of an influx of Chinese labor in the latter half of the 19th century.

Man Mo TempleHong KongChina

Jakar Dzong, Bhutan - 24 September 2025: View of monks in vibrant red robes dancing and twirling in a sunlit room with painted walls and wooden floors, a blend of tradition and joyous movement.

Buddhist statue in Huaning Temple. Yining (Ghulja), Xinjiang Province, China.

Caucasian woman wearing traditional hanbok at Gyeonbokgung Palace

TRONGSA, BHUTAN - JANUARY 6, 2017: Bhutanese people in traditional clothes watching the annual Tsechu of Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan Bhutanese people in traditional clothes watching the annual Tsechu of Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan Trongsa Bhutan *** TRONGSA, BHUTAN 6. JANUAR 2017 Bhutaner in traditioneller Kleidung beobachten das jährliche Tsechu von Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan Bhutaner in traditioneller Kleidung beobachten das jährliche Tsechu von Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan Trongsa Bhutan Copyright: xoffenberggmx.dex

Saiho-ji, Rinzai Zen, Buddhist temple, Kyoto, Japan. The temple, which is famed for its moss garden, is commonly referred to as "Koke-dera" was, primarily constructed to honor Amitabha. In 1994, Saiho-ji was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main hall of the temple, known as Sairai-do was reconstructed in 1969. The paintings on the sliding doors are the work of Insho Domoto.

Malaysia, Penang, Kek Lok Si Temple, 'Ban Po, The Pagoda Of A Thousand Buddhas. Seven Tier Pagoda With Double Row Of Standing Buddha Figures Under Canopy In The Foreground. '

China, Hong Kong, Lantau Island, Kwun Yam Temple. Detial from the front of this picturesque temple on the outskirts of Tai O

Pilgrims burning incense sticks and candles in front of the temple, Wannian monastery, Emei Shan, Sichuan province, China, Asia

Japan, Shikoku, Matsuyama, Ishite-ji Temple, buddhist, religion,

Kun Iam Temple. Macau. China.

Japan, Honshu Island, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City. Jidai Festival of the Ages. Started in 1895, commemorating 1100 year anniversary since the start of the capital. Procession of traditional costume entering Heian Shrine.

Restorer painting letters of a Torii gate at Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine, Kyoto City, Honshu, Japan

The Chariot Hall or Royal Funerary Chariot Hall at the Wat Xieng Thong in the UNESCO world heritage town of Luang Prabang in Central Laos contains King Sisavang Vongs gilded, carved wooden funeral carriage, decorated with large Naga snakes at the front.

JAPAN, TOKYO, ASAKSA, SENSOJI TEMPLE, PRAYERS

China, Beijing, Donyue temple. A business man visiting the Taoist temple to burn incense.

Sanno Oharai and Chinka-sai purification ceremony during Sanno Matsuri, in HieJinja shrine, Nagata-cho.Tokyo city, Japan, Asia

China,Hong Kong,Hollywood Road,Man Mo Temple,Elderly Lady Preying

Japan, Kanazawa, Higashiyama, Jukyoji temple, Nanaine jizo statues

The Naxi or Nakhi are an ethnic group inhabiting the foothills of the Himalayas in the northwestern part of Yunnan Province, as well as the southwestern part of Sichuan Province in China. The Naxi are thought to have come originally from Tibet and, until recently, maintained overland trading links with Lhasa and India. The Naxi form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. The Naxi are traditionally followers of the Dongba religion. Through both Han Chinese and Tibetan cultural influences, they adopted Tibetan Buddhism and, to a lesser extent, Taoism, in the 10th century. The Old Town of Lijiang dates back more than 800 years and was once an important town on the old Tea Horse Road.

Interiors of a temple, Man Mo Temple, Hollywood Road, Hong Kong, China

People praying at the Chinese temple (Editorial Usage Only)

Chinese Temple filled with smoke from burning incenses. New Year’s Eve. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

KOREA, SEOUL, SUSONG-DONG, CHOGAESA BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Ceiling of Litang Monastery (Changchunkeersi), Litang, western Sichuan, China

Asia, China, Yunnan Province, Kunming, Bamboo Village. Temple and incense burning

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple (founded in 1864) near Central Market, capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Peninsula, Malaysia, SE Asia

Tibet, Kham, Litang. Litang Monastery. Buddhist monks. (Editorial Use Only)

Thien Hau Temple. Burning Incense during Tet, the Vietnamese lunar New Year celebration.

A Bhuddist monk at Puning Temple

Asia,China, Yunnan, Jianshui, Confucius Temple,

Low angle view of Chinese lanterns, Beijing, China

A young woman in a Non La conical hat and a traditional Ao Dai dress in the historical centre, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, ...

Chinese Practicing Tai Ji

China, Hong Kong, New Territories, Tai Po area. Inside famous Man Mo Temple, hanging coils of burning incense used as offering.

Old monk reading holy scripts in front of pavilion, Wannian monastery, Emei Shan, Sichuan province, China, Asia

Asia, South Korea, Seoul, Gyeongbokgung, changing of the guards ceremony

The A Ma Temple, incense hangs from the ceiling as worshippers pray and make offerings, Macau, China, Asia

Temple keeper at a shinto shrine, Kyoto,Japan

Red flags fly over the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, China.

Vietnam, Ho Chi Mihn City (Saigon), Cholon, Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda, woman wearing aoi dai dress (MR)

Kiyomizudera temple monk begging for alms infront of temple gate

Kun Iam Temple. Worshipper.

Japanese parade; Kyoto, Japan

A Buddhist monk in saffron coloured robes praying in front of a statue of Buddha at the Buddhist Temple in Huating, China

Dance of the 21 Black Hats Paro Festival Bhutan

PRAYER WHEELS & POLE in the COURTYARD of TRUGO MONASTERY on the shore of sacred LAKE MANASAROVAR - TIBET

China, Beijing. The Yonghe Temple , also known as the Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple, the Yonghe Lamasery, or - popularly - the Lama Temple is a temple and monastery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism

Thimphu, Bhutan - 28 September 2025: View of two children framed by intricately decorated windows, gazing out with curiosity from a building at Thimphu Dromchoe festival.

Shrine maidens at Atsuta shrine, Nagoya, Japan

Kyoto Japan Tourismus Tradition Geschichte Architektur Buddismus 03.03.2025 Kyoto Japan Die einstige japanische Hauptstadt KyÅto liegt auf der Insel HonshÅ. KyÅto ist bekannt für seine zahlreichen buddhistischen Tempel, seine Gärten, Kaiserpaläste, ShintÅ-Schreine und traditionellen Holzhäuser. Horinji Temple - Daruma Temple Kyoto Kyoto Japan *** Kyoto Japan Tourism Tradition History Architecture Buddhism 03 03 2025 Kyoto Japan The former Japanese capital Kyoto is located on the island of Honsho Kyoto is known for its numerous Buddhist temples, its gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses Horinji Temple Daruma Temple Kyoto Kyoto Japan

Workers at the Chua Bai Dinh pagoda, currently a construction site, to become one of the largest pagodas in Southeast Asia, near Ninh Binh, Vietnam, S...

Incense pot, Kwan Kung Temple, Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong, China

Hasedera Sakurai Japan

Japan,Honshu,Kansai,Osaka,Osaka Museum of History,Display of Historical Figures Dressed in Historical Costume

Devout monks leaving a temple, Lingying Monastery, Xihu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, Asia

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