Jongmyo (Seoul)

When it was built in 1394 at the order of King Taejo, the Jongmyo Shrine was thought to be one of the longest buildings in Asia, if not the longest. The main hall, known as Jeongjeon (정전; 正殿), had seven niches or myoshil (묘실; 廟室; lit. Temple Room), each reserved for the spirit tablets of a king and his queens. The complex was expanded by King Sejong (r. 1418–50) who ordered the construction of Yeongnyeongjeon (영녕전; 永寧殿; lit. Hall of Eternal Comfort). This practice of expansion continued, with the growth of the complex moving from west to east, because of the need to house more memorial tablets during the reigns of later kings until there were a total of 19 myoshil.[2] However, during the Seven Years War (1592–98), Japanese invaders burned down the original shrine and a new complex was constructed in 1601 and has survived to this day. The original spirit tablets were saved in the invasion by hiding them in the house of a commoner.[3]

A king's tablet was enshrined three years after his death, which is the end of the mourning period for a king. There are 19 tablets of kings and 30 of their queens, placed in the 19 niches. Each niche is very simple and plain in design. Only two kings' memorial tablets are not enshrined here.[4] In addition to the tablet, there is a panel listing each king's accomplishments.

The two most recent enshrinements occurred in 1973 and 1991 in Yeongnyeongjeon Room 16, for Crown Prince Euimin and his wife Crown Princess Bangja, respectively.[5]

The current Jeongjeon is National treasure No. 227 and is the longest building in Korea of traditional design.[4]

Viewed from the king's throne room at the royal palace Gyeongbokgung, Jongmyo Shrine would have been on the king's left while the Sajik Shrine, another important Confucian shrine, was on the right. This arrangement was derived from Chinese practice. The main halls are surrounded by hills. In front of the main hall is the Woldae Courtyard, which is 150 meters in length and 100 meters in width.

The south entrance gate was reserved for spirits to enter and exit, the east gate was for the king, and the west gate was for the performers of the royal ritual.[6]

Performance of Jongmyo Jeryeak, May 2007.

An elaborate performance of ancient court music (with accompanying dance) known as jongmyo jeryeak (종묘제례악; 宗廟祭禮樂) is performed there each year for the jongmyo jerye ritual. Musicians, dancers, and scholars would perform Confucian rituals, such as the jongmyo daeje (royal shrine ritual) in the courtyard five times a year.[4] Today, the rituals have been reconstructed and revived. The jongmyo daeje has been designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 56 and is performed every year on the first Sunday in May.[4] The jongmyo jeryeak, the traditional court music of Joseon, is performed by the Royal Court Orchestra and has been designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 1.[4] This court music has its origins in Chinese court music that was brought to Korea during the Goryeo period (918–1392).[7] King Sejong composed new music for the ritual based largely on hyangak (with some dangak) in 1447 and 1462.[7]

The songs invite the ancestral spirits to descend from heaven to enjoy the kings' achievements in founding the dynasty and defending the country in order to encourage their descendants to follow in their footsteps.[8] Today, the members of the Jeonju Lee Royal Family Association perform the rites to the accompaniment of music and dance provided by musicians from the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and dancers from the Gukak National High School.[8]

• Taimiao, Beijing
• Thế Miếu, Huế

• Hoon, Shin Young (2008). The Royal Palaces of Korea: Six Centuries of Dynastic Grandeur (Hardback). Singapore: Stallion Press. ISBN 978-981-08-0806-8.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jongmyo.

• Jongmyo Shrine Archived 2017-02-05 at the Wayback Machine at english.visitkorea.or.kr
• Jongmyo Shrine at www.theseoulguide.com