Jongmyo Shrine

Jongmyo Shrine, the royal memory of Korea

The Seoul audio-guided tour leads you before the gate of Jongmyo Shrine. It cannot be seen from here, but its history deserves to be told with quiet respect: it is considered the oldest royal Confucian shrine, dedicated to the memory of the sovereigns of the Joseon dynasty.

A Confucian shrine listed by UNESCO

Dedicated to the philosophers of Confucianism, that major current of thought which advocates morality and harmony among people, the shrine has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. It was built in 1394 by King Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty, then enlarged and embellished by King Sejong the Great. Destroyed during the Japanese invasion of the 1590s, it was rebuilt on the same site in 1601.

What there is to see

Inside are kept the original royal tablets, saved by a peasant during the war. A tablet for each king and queen who governed the country is carefully preserved there, for it is said still to house the spirit of the deceased. The shrine is also the setting of a centuries-old ancestral rite, accompanied by ritual music and dance, which makes it a place of memory of great solemnity.

Practical information

Jongmyo Shrine is in the heart of Seoul, near Bukchon Hanok Village. A place of memory and contemplation, its visit follows its own schedule, sometimes framed by guided tours; opening times may vary with the season. A respectful attitude is expected on the site.

To whom is Jongmyo Shrine dedicated?

It is dedicated to the memory of the kings and queens of the Joseon dynasty, whose ancestral tablets it preserves, in the Confucian tradition.

Since when has it been listed by UNESCO?

Jongmyo Shrine has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, as the oldest preserved royal Confucian shrine.