종묘 [유네스코 세계유산]

Overview

Jongmyo (宗廟) is a state shrine where the spirit tablets of the kings, queens, emperors, and empresses of Joseon and the Korean Empire are enshrined and rituals are held. Jongmyo has several auxiliary buildings, including the original Jeongjeon (main hall) and a separate shrine called Yeongnyeongjeon. After the founding of Joseon, in 1395 (the 4th year of King Taejo), Jongmyo was built at its current site, following the precedent of 'establishing Jongmyo on the left and Sajik on the right, based on the palace.' At the time of its founding, only the current main hall existed, so it was called 'Daemyo,' 'Taimyo,' or 'Jongmyo.' Joseon, as a vassal state, enshrined spirit tablets in Jongmyo under the system of the Five Shrines system, enshrined the founding ancestor (Taejo) and the reigning king's four generations of ancestors (great-great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, grandfather, father-in-law). Then, during King Sejong's reign, following the five-tomb system, after several discussions regarding the spirit tablets of kings who had passed four generations except Taejo, a new Byeolmyo (separate shrine) was built next to the main hall, named 'Yeongnyeongjeon.' After four generations, all the royal ancestral tablets were moved to Yeongnyeongjeon, and during Yeonsangun's reign, the ancestral tablets were enshrined following the precedents of 'Sesil (ancestral shrines, ancestral tablets enshrined in the main hall) and Jocheon (relocation of spirits to Yeongnyeongjeon)'. Following this custom, during the memorial rite (the ritual of placing the spirit tablet in Jongmyo), after the three-year mourning period (27 months), the spirit tablet was first placed in the main hall, and afterwards, the ritual was set as 'cecil' or 'ancestral spirit,' with the spirit tablet placed in the main hall and Yeongnyeongjeon hall. As the number of shrines increased, the shrine was expanded several times, reaching the current size of the main hall with 19 bays and Yeongnyeongjeon with 16 bays. Additionally, within the Jongmyo grounds, there are buildings such as Mangmyoru (望廟樓, where officials of the Jongmyoseo Office handled ritual affairs), Hyangdaecheong (Hyangdaecheong, where incense and prayer texts are kept), Jaegung (齋宮, where the king and crown prince prepared for ancestral rites), and Jeonsacheong (Jeonsacheong, where food for the rituals was prepared).