Sanctuary of Jongmyo

The sanctuary of Jongmyo is a sanctuary confucéen dedicated to the family members royal of the dynasty Chosŏn. According to UNESCO, it is the oldest royal sanctuary confucéen; the ceremonies which still take place there continue a tradition established at the 14th century. These sanctuaries existed already since the period of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, but there remain only those dedicated to the Chosŏn family.

The sanctuary of Jongmyo is on the Liste of the world heritage of UNESCO since 1995.

History

Built in 1394 on the orders of the king Taejo, one thinks it then one of the longest buildings of Asia, or even longest. The principal structure, the Jeongjeon , comprises seven parts, each one for a king and his queen. The complex is developed by the king Sejong Large the, which orders the construction of the Yeongnyeongjeon ( Hall of comfort eternal ). The expansion of the complex continues with time by need for keeping the shelves of the posterior kings; construction lengthens of west in east. On the whole one made there build nineteen parts.

During the Guerre Imjin (the invasion Japan ease of Korea in 1592 - 1598) the Japanese troops set fire to the original sanctuary. New is built in its place in 1601; it is that which one sees nowadays. The shelves were saved destruction because they were hidden in a peasant; they are thus the same ones as one sees today.

There are nineteen shelves for the kings and 30 for the queens, placed in nineteen very simple and sober rooms. It misses only the shelves of two kings.

The southernmost entry was reserved for the spirits visiting the sanctuary, the Eastern entry for the king, and the Western entry for those powerful the ritual royal ones.

Seen since the throne of the king to the palate Gyeongbokgung, the sanctuary would be on the left and the Sajik sanctuary on the right; it was also an important sanctuary confucéen.

The principal halls are surrounded by hills. In front of the principal building one sees the court Woldae , measuring 150 m length and 100 broad.

Jongmyo jeryeak

A complicated ritual of music and dances of the old court, called Jongmyo jeryeak , takes place there every year. Musicians, dancers and researchers make there ritual confucéens, of which the Jongmyo Daeje ( Ritual of the royal sanctuary ), five times per annum.

Today the ritual ones were found; one makes the Jongmyo Daeje each May. The Jongmyo Jerye-ak , the traditional music of the court of Chosŏn, is played by the Orchestra of the royal court; this music draws its origins in the music of the Chinese, widespread court in Korea for the period Koryŏ. King Sejong the Large one made compose of new musics for the ritual, largely based on the Hyangak (mixed with a little Dangak ) in 1447 and 1462.

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