Jongmyo is the royal ancestral shrine that houses the spirit tablets of the Joseon Dynasty monarchs and their queens, and it served as the basis of legitimacy for the royal household and its traditions. After the Joseon Dynasty was established and the seat of government was transferred to Hanyang (present-day Seoul), Jongmyo was the first building that surveyed and constructed. Important political and social events that took place throughout the Joseon Dynasty were also informed at Jongmyo. Records regarding monarchs and meritorious officials that were selected to be enshrined within Jeongjeon (Jongmyo’s main hall), individuals who were enshrined and then later removed, and posthumous enshrinements all provide a repository of information as to the political and cultural currents of the Joseon Dynasty.

Joseon monarchs performed ceremonial rites at Jongmyo to pay respect to the virtuous deeds of their predecessors, to express gratitude to their forefathers, and to pray for the prosperity and continuity of the royal line. Also, these rites were performed to educate Joseon people and future generations, and were served as a model of Confucianism, the ruling ideology of the Joseon period, based on loyalty and filial piety. Monarchs performed these rituals solemnly, offering meticulously prepared food and wine in beautiful ceremonial vessels to the spirits of their forefathers.

The architectural layout of Jongmyo, from its wide Woldae platform to its Panwibases for the king and crown prince, was designed to create a space that conformed faithfully to the Confucian idea of ancestral worship and its ritual formalities.

 

Joseon’s long history was also integrated into Jeongjeon with its 19 chambers that run westward across the compound in a perfectly straight line. Jongmyo is a historical rarity in the world as it is the most authentic Confucian royal shrine kept in its original form since the 16th century. Additionally, the Royal Ancestral Rite and the Ritual Music of Jongmyo are Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea that have been passed down intact for over 500 years and continue to be performed annually today. UNESCO has recognized Jongmyo’s importance by designating it as a World Heritage Site, and they have also proclaimed the Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music performed at Jongmyo as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.