종묘: 신성한 왕실의 사당 편집하기 (부분)

===Eng===
* Jongmyo Shrine: The Sacred Ancestral Shrine of the Joseon Royal Family

Located in Hunjeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jongmyo Shrine is a Confucian royal shrine where the spirit tablets of the kings and queens of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), including posthumously honored monarchs and consorts, are enshrined and honored through ancestral rituals.

In the Confucian state of Joseon, Jongmyo (the shrine of royal ancestors) and Sajik (the altars to the deities of land and grain) were regarded as the two fundamental institutions that upheld the nation. According to Confucian ritual principles, the capital city of a country must contain three essential spaces: the royal palace, where the king governs; Jongmyo Shrine, where ancestral rituals are held; and Sajikdan Altar, where offerings are made to the gods of the land and grain. After relocating the capital to Hanyang (present-day Seoul) in 1394, the Joseon court built Jongmyo in 1395 to the left of the palace and Sajik to the right, following this ritual order. Here, the king regularly performed ancestral rituals together with his ministers to pray for the peace and prosperity of the state and its people.

The precincts of Jongmyo Shrine are divided into two main areas: the ritual spaces, where the rituals are held, and the preparation spaces, where offerings and materials for the rituals are arranged. While embodying Confucian ideals of modesty and restraint, the architecture also conveys solemn dignity. Decorative painting and ornamentation were minimized, and variations in platform height, roof length, and column thickness subtly express the hierarchical order prescribed by ritual propriety.

The ritual section comprises the Main Hall, Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, Gongsindang Shrine, and Chilsadang Shrine. Among these, the Main Hall and Yeongnyeongjeon Hall are the central structures of the shrine. Although the Joseon dynasty had 27 kings in total, 19 kings—including the dynasty’s founder, King Taejo—and their queens are enshrined in the Main Hall. Measuring over 100 meters in roof length, the Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine is the largest single wooden building of the Joseon period and was designated as a National Treasure in 1985. It consists of 19 chambers, enshrining the spirit tablets of 19 kings and their consorts, totaling 49 in all.

Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, constructed in 1421 to house the spirit tablets of King Taejo’s four ancestors, serves as an auxiliary shrine for kings and queens who could not be enshrined in the Main Hall. It contains 16 chambers and enshrines the tablets of 16 kings and queens, totaling 34 in all. Notably, King Yeonsangun (the 10th ruler) and King Gwanghaegun (the 15th ruler), who were dethroned, were excluded from Jongmyo’s enshrinement.

To the southeast of the Main Hall stands Gongsindang Shrine, where the spirit tablets of meritorious subjects—officials who rendered exceptional service during their monarchs’ reigns—are kept. Currently, 83 such tablets are enshrined. Chilsadang Shrine is dedicated to seven guardian deities believed to oversee human life: 

The preparation area includes Mangmoru Pavilion, Jaegung Hall, Hyangdaecheong Hall, Jeonsacheong Hall, and Akgongcheong Hall. Mangmoru was the administrative office of officials responsible for managing the shrine. Jaegung served as a purification hall where the king and crown prince would bathe, dress in ritual robes, and prepare themselves before the rituals. Hyangdaecheong stored incense and ritual texts , while also serving as a waiting area for officiants. Jeonsacheong was used to prepare and store ritual food and vessels. Akgongcheong, attached to both the Main Hall and Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, provided waiting spaces for musicians and dancers participating in the rituals.

Jongmyo Shrine is not merely a collection of buildings, but a sacred space symbolizing royal authority, dynastic legitimacy, and the governing ideology of the Joseon state. Since its construction more than six centuries ago, it has undergone multiple repairs and expansions while retaining its original function. Today, Jongmyo stands as a comprehensive heritage site where tangible and intangible values coexist—an enduring symbol of the Confucian spirit, ritual order, and cultural sophistication of the Joseon dynasty.