Jongmyo Shrine

종묘

Jongmyo is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in Seoul, South Korea. It was built in the Joseon period (1392-1897) so that the kings and queens who had died could be remembered with ceremonies. UNESCO says it is the oldest royal Confucian shrine still preserved, and it added Jongmyo to the World Heritage List in 1995.

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At a glance

Country: South Korea
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Built: 1394
Type: Religious building

Quick answers

Where is Jongmyo Shrine?

Jongmyo Shrine is in Seoul, South Korea.

When was Jongmyo Shrine built?

Jongmyo Shrine was built in 1394.

Royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon kings; its 101 m Jeongjeon hall is Korea's longest single wooden building.

The main buildings were put up in 1394, soon after King Taejo, the first Joseon king, moved the capital to Hanseong, which is today's Seoul. They burned down during the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598 and were rebuilt in the early 1600s. Its main hall, Jeongjeon, is more than 100 m long, the longest traditional wooden building in Korea.

Spirit tablets of kings and queens

The main hall, Jeongjeon, has 19 rooms. Each room holds the spirit tablets, small wooden plaques that stand for the spirit, of a king and his queens. In all there are 19 kings and 30 queens, and each room is plain and simple.

King Sejong later added another hall, Yeongnyeongjeon, whose name means "Hall of Eternal Comfort". The complex grew from west to east as more tablets needed space.

Ceremonies that never stopped

The royal ancestor ritual, Jongmyo Jerye, and its court music, Jongmyo Jeryeak, are still performed. The ceremony is held every year on the first Sunday of May, with a royal procession.

UNESCO also listed the ritual and music as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, which means living traditions, in 2001. The shrine sits just south of the palaces Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung.

Fun facts

Its royal ancestral rite, Jongmyo Jerye, with its court music, is still held every May.
Jeongjeon was one of the longest buildings in Asia when it was built.
The ritual music is said to have been composed by King Sejong.
Spirit tablets of 19 kings and 30 queens rest in the main hall.