Jongmyo (Seoul)

Jongmyo Shrine
Jeongjeon of Jongmyo Shrine
Type	Confucian royal ancestral shrine
Location	157 Jongno, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
Coordinates	37°34′29″N 126°59′37″E / 37.57472°N 126.99361°E / 37.57472; 126.99361
Area	200,545 m2
Built	From 1394
Governing body	Jongmyo Management Office, Cultural Heritage Administration
Owner	Government of South Korea
Website	english.cha.go.kr
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iv
Designated	1995 (19th session)
Reference no.	738
Region	East Asia
Historic Sites of South Korea
Designated	1963-01-18
Reference no.	125
Location of Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul Show map of Seoul Jongmyo (Seoul) (South Korea) Show map of South Korea

Jongmyo (Korean: 종묘) is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in the Jongno District of Seoul, South Korea. It was originally built during the Joseon period (1392–1897) for memorial services for deceased kings and queens. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established in the 14th century. Such shrines existed during the Three Kingdoms of Korea period (57–668), but these have not survived. The Jongmyo Shrine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.^[1]

Changdeok Palace and Changgyeong Palace lie to the north of Jongmyo. Yulgok-ro separated Jongmyo from the palaces from 1932 to 2019, until Yulgok-ro was turned into a road tunnel and the connection between Jongmyo and the palaces restored. The main buildings of Jongmyo were constructed in October 1394 when Taejo, founder and first king of Joseon, moved the capital to Hanseong (present-day Seoul). The shrine was destroyed by fire in the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), then rebuilt in early 1600s.

The shrine continues to be the venue for the Jongmyo Daejae ancestor-worship ceremony, where descendants of the imperial family honor the spirits of their deceased ancestors.