Joseon’s Largest Ancestral Rite 'Jongmyo Daeje' Held on the 7th

Enshrinement of Ancestral Tablets of Past Kings and Queens... Closed to Visitors and Held Privately

The National Intangible Heritage Center announced on the 5th that the Jongmyo Daeje will be held on the 7th. It is a ritual ceremony conducted at Jongmyo. Based on Confucian ideology, it enshrines the spirit tablets of past kings and queens and performs ancestral rites. It is held annually on the first Sunday of May, but this year it was postponed to the first Saturday of the month due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The ceremony will be held privately without spectators.

Jongmyo is a royal shrine housing the spirit tablets of the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 for its unique Korean architectural style and the scenic value of its buildings and spaces. The Jongmyo Jerye, a ritual ceremony honoring the kings and queens, along with its music and dance (Jongmyo Jeryeak), was recognized for its literary value and designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2001.

The Jongmyo Daeje proceeds in the order of the Yeongnyeongjeon ritual, the royal procession, and the Jeongjeon ritual. The rites follow strict Confucian procedures. The steps include welcoming the spirits (Yeongsin, Jeonpye), entertaining the spirits (Jinchan, Heonjak, Sujak, Cheolbyeondu), and sending off the spirits (Songsin) in sequence. Videos can be viewed on the official YouTube channel of the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Cultural Heritage Channel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.