The Jongmyo Shrine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995. I've noticed some nice changes to the surrounding property since 2008. It was destroyed by the Japanese and rebuilt in 1601. Like the many of the palaces, Jongmyo Shrine is situated in a park-like area with lots of trees. English speaking tours are at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Easy access from Incheon Airport via Bus #6015. Take the Seoul Subway (Line 1, 3, or 5) to Jongno 3-ga Station and leave through Exit 11. Their bodies are buried elsewhere. One of the buildings in Jongmyo has a video showing a recent ceremony, together with a spirit table “loaded” with replica plastic food and various pots and implements. It is where the past kings and their queens of the Joseon Dynasty, who founded the country and endeavored for the best of … I visited this WHS in May 2017 using the combination ticket to 4 Palaces and this shrine. Jul 22, 2014 - Jongmyo Shrine is the oldest Confucian royal shrine of Seoul in South Korea. Jongmyo Shrine is nothing to see. Twice a year, these ancestors are honored by a big ritual of song, dance and music in the Confucian tradition. IMO, by far the best explanation of the shrine - its structure, purpose and history and of the ceremony which took/takes place there, is to be found in the excellent (and free) “National Palace Museum of Korea ” situated next to Gyeongbokgung Palace (The National Museum itself is well worth visiting too but is less good than the Palace Museum in respect of Jongmyo). Jongmyo shrine is a fascinating visit for anyone interested in Seoul’s history. The complex is still used today for ritual ceremonies. [citation needed] Only two kings' memorial tablets are not enshrined here. I really like it, and is one of my favourite places in Seoul. Update: I revisited Jongmyo in 2016 to improve my pictures and better appreciate this quite WHS. The royal ceremony in Jongmyo called Jongmyo Daeje, a performance of ritual, music and dance, is considered the only existing royal Confucius ceremony that still practicing in modern time recognized by UNESCO as world intangible cultural asset, so Jongmyo is a few place on earth holding two statuses from UNESCO world heritage program. [4] King Sejong composed new music for the ritual based largely on hyangak (with some dangak) in 1447 and 1462. It was destroyed by the Japanese and rebuilt in 1601. Unlike the other posters, I don't think this place is boring at all! Jongmyo shrine is a royal Confucian shrine in Jongno-gu, South Korea near the Changdeokgung Palace, unique for its traditional practice of ancestral worship hailing from ancient China. Even though I visited the site when it's truly active with the Royal Culture Festival taking place during the first week of May, the crowds were not that huge and the nighttime performance (entrance with prior registration) with royal ancestral ritual music was a truly unexpected highlight. 3.00 California - United States of America - 15-Apr-10 -. It is a pretty austere site to get a grip on. The entrance has been expanded forming a "green axis" that is aimed toward connecting Jongmyo Shrine with Namsan Park. This Confucian shrine, an architectural masterpiece, remains the scene of rituals that pay tribute to past kings and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The current form of the shrine has been the same since the 16th century. Excellent location, a short block from Subway Line #2 (the Green Line). [5], Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the, Important Intangible Cultural Property of South Korea, Jongmyo Ancestral Shrine, Seoul, Korea, South, Confucianism - Jongmyo Royal Ancestral Shrine, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jongmyo&oldid=995197938, Buildings and structures completed in 1394, Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Important Intangible Cultural Properties of South Korea, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2020, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from February 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 December 2020, at 19:32. The Jongmyo Shrine grounds is literally across the street from the Changdeok Palace compound. [2] The Jongmyo Jerye-ak, the traditional court music of Joseon, is performed by the Royal Court Orchestra and has been designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property of South Korea No. During the Seven-Year War, Japanese invaders burned down the original shrine and a new complex was constructed in 1601 which has survived to this day. They really lend themselves to animation and those in the museum also have English sub-titles. Jongmyo Shrine is a Confucian sanctuary dedicated to the Joseon dynasty dead members. According to Confucian philosophy and the concepts of geomancy, it was built on the east side of the royal palace, while the Sajik Shrine, where ritual services for the gods of earth and crops were performed, was built on the west side. However, Jongmyo is not an active shrine and most of the times are closed making it just big boring buildings in the forest-liked park with few visitors, a really contrast to lively Japanese royal shrines in Tokyo or Kyoto. In the old times, this ceremony was held at the change of seasons and during the twelfth lunar month of the year. It is held every year on the first Sunday of May. Having done some reading prior to visiting the site and also by attentively reading the superb information boards on site, I opted to visit on a Saturday to be able to visit at leisure. The site has [citation needed] In front of the main hall is the Woldae Courtyard, which is 150 meters in length and 100 meters in width. Essentially it is a walled park with two large rectangular courtyards lined with bulky wooden buildings fronted with closed doors on one side. It was built in 1394 and has been used to the early 20th century. Esoteric maybe, but worth knowing about within the overall context of the shrine and the Jerye! What makes Jongmyo Shrine special is it's unique architecture and peacefulness. It was built in 1394 by king Taejo and is then thought to be the oldest Confucian sanctuary. The complex is quite unique in East Asia where normally the spirit tablets are kept in a small shrine in the house or palace in case of royalties, but Jongmyo was built apart from the palace which makes it different from other royal Confucius shrines in China. This royal shrine and its surroundings are well-preserved in their present form since the 16th century, where visitors can marvel at traditional Korean architecture and performance of memorial services during the Joseon Dynasty. : Royal Shrine) was reserved for a king and his queen. Get information like fast facts, when to visit, weather, places to visit, hotels, restaurants, things to do, transportation and much more. Unlike most sites in South Korea, it is closed on Tuesdays. Through its extreme simplicity, one is supposed to feel the deep meaning of life and death as well as the sacred legacy of the Joseon Dynasty. But this didn’t really add a great deal for us. The slightly raised one in the centre was for those carrying the spirit tablets, incense and written prayers. In this shrine are kept the so-called memorial tablets for the kings and queens of the last dynasty of Korea. There, room 7 is given over to the Jongmyo Shrine (Other things at that level are worth seeing also – there is a delightful reconstruction of an early 15th C Korean Water Clock for instance). Hailed as Seoul’s most popular attraction, Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 by King Taejo. The guide was passionate & informative & ensures to sensitive tourists … I am excited by this development. [citation needed] The original tablets were saved in the invasion by hiding them in the house of a commoner and also survive. I think this is actually good as the guide was able to try and make some sense of the Confucian concepts behind the function of the shrine. Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the perpetuation of memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. The construction of Jongmyo predates that of the main palace of Seoul, Gyeongbokgung. [citation needed], The current Jeongjeon is National treasure of Korea No. Jongmyo is less known than other historic sites in central Seoul, but I think it is worth visiting if you are into Korean Confucian culture, architecture or history. Read more about the Jongmyo Shrine on my website. This one is still in place. A short walk to Jogyesa Temple, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Jongmyo Shrine, Seoul Plaza and (for unique shopping) Insa-dong. As with its long history, the Seoul Capital Area contains five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine, Namhansanseong and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The ceremony was nice with strange sound of ancient musical instruments and many graceful ritual movements from dancers and because of the ceremony, all gates of the shrine were opened providing a rare chance to peek the spirit tablets inside the building. Source: Wikipedia, Image: Wikimedia. Unique Cycling Initiative. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established in the 14th century. It used to welcome some of the Tripitaka Koreana, wooden tablets that are now within the Haiensa temple, as well registered as WHS. I don't know if you can say that you like it or not - it's meant as a shrine. [2] Today the rituals have been reconstructed and revived. Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the perpetuation of memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. In 2008, I chose to visit Jongmyo on the first Sunday of May, the only time of the year when Jongmyo is backed to its glory by the performance of Jongmyo Daeje. The whole park is really crowded with thousands of spectators and lots of people dressed in ancient Korean ceremonial robes, a real feast of sight. [2] This court music has its origins in Chinese court music that was brought to Korea during the Goryeo period (918-1392). A similar passageway to the Royal Joseon Tombs, called Sillo, consists of 3 separate footpaths paved with stones for ancestral rituals. This royal shrine and its surroundings are well-preserved in their present form since the 16th century, where visitors can marvel at traditional Korean architecture and performance of memorial services during the Joseon Dynasty. Although I did some homework I didn't really get a grip on this monument during my first visit in 2001. Jongmyo Shrine: Jongmyo Shrine - See 737 traveler reviews, 981 candid photos, and great deals for Seoul, South Korea, at Tripadvisor. The main distinctive element is the great square in front of the building, 150 meters long and 100 meters width. Their spirits are believed to reside in a special hole bored into the wooden tablets. 27 พ.ย. Get information like fast facts, when to visit, weather, places to visit, hotels, restaurants, things to do, transportation and much more. Korea has a commendable policy on entry fees. The video was in Korean with no obvious way of getting a different language (and anyway all the attendees were Korean!) The shrine is right next to Changdeokgung another WHS, and just a short stroll form the antique shops and tea rooms of Insadong (my recommendation is Sin Yetchatjip/ Old Teashop where you can enjoy your cuppa in the company of some inquisitive finches that fly around the knick-knacks inside). 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