Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the place where the memorial tablets of the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty are housed. King Taejo had Jongmyo Shrine constructed in 1394 and the shrine was continuously expanded throughout the rest of the Joseon dynasty’s history. Although a victim to Japanese invasion in the late 1500s, the current complex has been standing since 1601 and now houses 19 memorial tablets for kings and 30 for their queens with only two of Joseon’s kings not being enshrined here. The current main hall, Jeongjeon, is the longest traditional style building in Korea.
Jongmyo Shrine is also the site of Jongmyo Dae-je, an annual memorial service held in honor of Joseon’s past kings. During the Joseon dynasty’s rule, this rite was held five times a year but now it is held only once a year on the first Sunday in May. The rite is accompanied by Jongmyo Je-rye-ak, an elaborate performance of traditional Joseon court music, in what has been designated as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO.
Jongmyo Shine was once connected to Changgyeonggung Palace but a road built during the Japanese occupation separated the two. Today however, the two have once again been connected, now by an overpass making it quite easy to tour both the palace and the shrine in one visit. Jongmyo Shrine can be reached by taking exits 8 or 11 from Jongno 3-ga Subway Station on Lines 1, 3, or 5.
References:
1. Koehler, R. (2012, March). Seoul Selection Guides: Korea. Seoul: Seoul Selections.
2. Seoul Tourism Organization. https://english.visitseoul.net/attractions/Jongmyo_/549
3. UNESCO. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/738
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