Jongmyo (Seoul)

 park, shrine, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Confucian temple

jikimi.cha.go.kr/english/world_heritage_new/culture_tre...

Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine built in 1394 dedicated to the memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established since the 14th century.

The main hall, known as Jeongjeon (정전), with a floor area measuring 5,190 square meters/17,027 square feet is the longest building in Asia. Forty-nine mortuary tablets, including those of 19 Joseon Kings, from its first, Taejo, to its last, Sunjong, reside here. Jeongjeon is National treasure of Korea #227.

The shrine is the site of the Jongmyo jeryeak (종묘제례악), an elaborate six-hour rite (memorial service) performance of ancient court music with accompanying dance, in three main parts – welcoming the arrival of the royal ancestral spirits, entertaining the spirits and finally, bidding farewell to them. The musical part of the ceremony, is produced by instruments, songs, and dances that originated over 500 years ago.

The Jongmyo Shrine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.