Jongmyo Shrine reopens main hall with return of ancestral tablets after restoration

Jongmyo Shrine's main hall, Jeongjeon / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

After years of restoration, Jongmyo Jeongjeon, the main hall of Jongmyo Shrine, will reopen this Sunday with a ceremonial procession returning the ancestral tablets of Joseon kings and queens to their original place.

Jongmyo Shrine serves as the royal ancestral shrine of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, where ancestral tablets of deceased monarchs were enshrined and honored through annual Confucian rituals.

Originally built in 1394 by Joseon's founder King Taejo, the shrine was destroyed during the 1592-98 Japanese invasions of Korea and rebuilt in the early 1600s. In 1995, UNESCO designated Jongmyo Shrine as a World Heritage site in recognition of its preservation as a Confucian royal ancestral shrine, its unique architectural style and the continued performance of "Jongmyo Jerye," a traditional royal ancestral ritual.

Restoration of Jongmyo Jeongjeon began in 2021 and during that period, all spirit tablets, known as "sinju" in Korean, were temporarily relocated to nearby Changdeok Palace.

Sunday’s homecoming ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at the Geumhomun Gate of Changdeok Palace. Around 1,100 people will take part in a 3.5-kilometer parade to Jongmyo Shrine, passing through the Gwanghwamun and Jongno areas. The public is welcome to join and observe the procession.

“For the procession, the Korea Heritage Service collaborated with artisans to recreate 'sinyeo' (palanquins used outside the palace for royal ancestral tablets), 'sinyeon' (indoor palanquins) and 'hyangyongjeong' (palanquins for incense burners and cases), based on 'uigwe,' historical documents detailing royal ceremonial protocols,” the agency said in a statement.

“A total of 28 specially crafted palanquins will be used to transport the tablets, adding grandeur to the procession through the heart of Seoul.”

Officials prepare for an ancestral ceremony to relocate ancestral tablets from Jongmyo Shrine to Changdeok Palace in this file photo from June 5, 2021. Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration

On the sidelines of the parade, traditional performances, including "pungmulnori" (percussion music and dance), "jultagi" (tightrope walking), "talchum" (mask dance) and "sajachum" (lion dance), will be staged in an open area near Gwanghwamun.

The homecoming will be followed by a special ritual at the shrine performed by 200 members of the Jeonju Yi clan, descendants of the Joseon royal family. A separate ceremony marking the completion of the restoration will also take place.

With the reopening of Jeongjeon, this year’s Jongmyo Jerye, an annual royal ritual honoring ancestors with music and dance, will return in its full form. The ritual and its accompanying music were designated as UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001.

This year’s ritual is scheduled for May 4 and is open to the public by reservation.