Little Buddha

Every year, a group of children will enter Chogye Temple in Seoul to become temporary monks in conjunction with the Buddha's Birthday. On May 3 this year, a group of 8 children entered the monastery to become monks to learn more about Buddhism. These children will stay in the monastery for 21 days.

Chogye is the only major temple within the old city walls of Seoul. Built in 1910, the temple became the main site of Korean Buddhism's Chogye Order in 1936.

After the end of the Second World War, the Chogye Order fought for many years to take control of monastic properties for the exclusive use of celibate clergy, and expel all married monks. It finally succeeded, and today it is the most prominent group in Korean Buddhism.

Children getting ready to undergo the shaving ceremony

The children pay homage before the shaving ceremony

Faces of the children while being shaved by the monks

After shaving the children are dressed in robes with the help from the monks