PHOTOS: Royal ancestral Jongmyo Daeje ritual resumes after six-year pause

2025년 5월 4일 서울 종묘에서 봉행된 종묘대제 Courtesy of Korea Heritage Agency — The Jongmyo Daeje ritual held at Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul on May 4, 2025. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Agency

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - On May 4, the royal ancestral rite known as Jongmyo Daeje was held at Jongmyo Shrine in central Seoul. Recognized as the most significant and solemn ritual of its kind, Jongmyo Daeje was conducted for the first time in six years and unfolded in grand fashion beneath clear skies.

2025년 5월 4일 서울 종묘에서 봉행된 종묘대제 Yonhap — The Jongmyo Daeje ritual held at Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul on May 4, 2025. Yonhap

2025년 5월 4일 서울 종묘에서 봉행된 종묘대제 AJP Han Jun-gu — The Jongmyo Daeje ritual held at Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul on May 4, 2025. AJP Han Jun-gu

Built in 1394 by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, Jongmyo is the official royal shrine where the spirits of past kings and queens are enshrined. Spanning 200,545 square meters, the complex consists of the Main Hall (Jeongjeon), Yeongnyeongjeon, Jeonsacheong, and Hyangdaecheong. More than a sacred space for rites, Jongmyo served as a powerful symbol of the Joseon dynasty’s religious and political identity. Today, 27 former kings are honored there.

Jongmyo Daeje is a comprehensive ritual that fuses courtly elegance with traditional dance and music. Its cultural significance earned it a place on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2001. While the rite was historically performed five times a year—in spring, summer, fall, winter, and at year’s end—it is now held twice annually: on the first Sunday of May and the first Saturday of November.

The Main Hall, where the ceremony is held, is accessed via two sets of stone steps. Upon ascending the first stairway and passing through the entrance, visitors are met with a vast ceremonial courtyard that evokes reverence and awe as they face the ancestral spirits of past monarchs.

At the heart of the ritual is Jongmyo Jeryeak, a blend of instrumental music, song, and dance performed during the ceremony. Designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1964, the performance on this day featured a visually striking ensemble: 64 dancers dressed in red performed the solemn Ilmu, accompanied by 80 court musicians and 320 ceremonial officials, making up a total of 464 participants.

Han Jun-gu jungu141298@ajupress.com

PHOTOS: Royal ancestral Jongmyo Daeje ritual resumes after six-year pause

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