Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine and World Heritage Site Tour
The tour of royal ancestral rite and ritual music in Jongmyo Shrine and tour of Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs will be held to explore and learn about Korea’s royal tradition and culture.
– UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Jongmyo Royal Ancestral Rite, Jongmyo Ritual Music, Jongmyo Shrine
– Date: Sunday, May 1st 2016
– Region: Seoul
– Content: Royal Culture of Joseon Dynasty Tour
– What to Prepare: Camera, Comfortable Outfit
– When and Where to Meet:
10:00 a.m. at Ticket Office Entrance near Seonjeongneung Parking Lot
– How to get here: Exit 8 Seolleung Station Subway Line 2 or 9
schedule
|
Time |
Content |
Note |
| 10:00 ~ 10:30 | ∙ Meet at Seonjeongneung Entrance and Proceed Event Orientation | |
| 10:30 ~ 11:30 | ∙ Seonjeongneung Tour | Lecture by Cultural Commentator |
| 11:40 ~ 12:40 | ∙ Lunch: Gomehome Restaurant | Korean Nutritious Meal |
| 12:50 ~ 13:20 | ∙ Transport By Bus | |
| 13:30 ~ 13:50 | ∙ Enter Site of Jeongjeon Sacrificial Rite | |
| 14:00 ~ 16:30 | ∙ Jeongjeon Sacrificial Rite | |
| 16:40 ~ | ∙ End of Festival, Survey, Dismissed |
Must read information before participating in this program
- Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs
Seonjeongneung, royal tombs of Joseon Dynasty, is also called by the name Samneung Park due to its presence of three (‘sam’=three) tombs.
Seonjeongneung houses the burial mounds of King Seongjong (1469-1494) and his wife Queen Jeonghyeon of the Joseon Dynasty. The tombs face each other in between a pavilion where King Seongjong’s tomb faces the west and the queen’s faces the east.
King Seongjong’s reign was marked by the rise of education and culture, completing the code of law laid down by kings Sejong and Sejo with revision and improvements. He has completed the basic statute of Joseon, Grand Code for State Administration (Gyeongguk daejeon).
Jeongneung is the royal tomb of King Jungjong (1392-1910) of Joseon Dynasty. King Jungjong fulfilled the system of royal politics with the help of Jo Gwang-jo as his right-hand man.
Historic Site No. 199, Seonjeongneung has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 and is located at the center of Seoul, Gangnam.
- Jongmyo Shrine
Jongmyo Shrine is a primary place of worship for kings and queens throughout 500–year-old Joseon Dynasty, where traditional royal ancestral rite is held according to Confucian tenets. At present, Jeongjeon (Main Hall) has 18 spirit chambers and houses a total of 49 tablets and at Yeongnyeongjeon (Hall of Eternal Peace) there are 16 spirit chambers and 34 tablets. Gongsindang (Hall of Meritorious Subjects) houses 83 tablets. The shrine is Historic Site No. 125 that has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
- Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine
Jongmyodaeje, a royal ancestral ritual to honor the past kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, was the most important and biggest state ritual during Joseon Dynasty. During the Joseon era, the ritual was held five times a year (spring, summer, autumn, winter, and December). Also additional rituals were held at times of good or bad and at period of growing grains and fruit. The ancestral ritual was a state ceremony which the king, prince, and royal subjects in total of 700 people have participated. Jongmyodaeje proceeds of greeting, serving, and bidding farewell to the spirits. Each procedure is accompanied with Jongmyo Jeryeak, a ritual music performance played with traditional musical instruments, and a dance performed by dancers. In 2001 it has been designated as UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
At present royal ancestral ritual is held once per year. On first week Sunday of May every year, royal ancestral ritual music, dance, and rite are held.
