Shrines and Tombs

Jongmyo Shrine

Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul houses the spirit tablets of the deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty and is also a place for ancestral rights. Spirit tablets are rectangular plaques made of wood or stone that would have the name of the deceased inscribed on them and which were used to honour the deceased. There are numerous buildings, but the main areas are Jeongjeon, the main hall, and Yeongnyeongjeon. Yeongnyeongjeon, otherwise known as the Hall of Eternal Peace, is an annexe that was built when Jeongjeon could accommodate no further spirit tablets. The shrine was completed in 1395, burned down during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and then rebuilt in the early 1600s. Today, Jongmyo Shrine is not only a wonderful example of Confucian architecture, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its royal ancestral rites (Jongmyo Jerye) and ritual music (Jongmyo Jeryeak) are inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and are still performed annually. If you plan to visit during such special events, do check for any specific or changed entry requirements.

Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs

The Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs feel like hidden gems compared to many of the other cultural heritage sites in Seoul as they are set within a large and relatively quiet wooded park area, making it feel like a much more relaxing experience for visitors. The tombs form part of a collection of 40 tombs scattered around 18 locations that have been given UNESCO World Heritage Site status as 'Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty'. Seolleung and Jeongneung are two such examples, and between them they form the resting places of three individuals. The first tomb houses King Seongjong and his wife, Queen Jeonghyeon. The second tomb houses King Jungjong, who was the son of King Seongjong and Queen Jeonghyeon. The site was significantly damaged during the Imjin War (1592-1598), but historical records show that it was rebuilt, excluding some stone pieces that were left broken as a reminder of what had happened. A visible reminder of this can be seen next to the tomb of King Seongjong and Queen Jeonghyeon, where a broken stone pillar lies on the ground partly covered in vegetation.

The tomb areas are enclosed, but it is possible to get close enough to view most of their contents, which include a burial mound and various stone objects. There are also other open areas connected with the tombs. The most visible fo these are the tomb keeper's houses. Each of the tombs has a tomb keeper's house which can be fully viewed, although entry is not allowed. The purpose of the house and the activities that took place there, which are connected to the carrying out of ancestral rites, are explained through an interpretation panel. The tomb keeper's house has two sets of steps leading up to it, one for the king and one for spirits. This is a theme that can be seen elsewhere on the site in the form of a spirit path that was built to help guide the spirit of the deceased to the afterlife. You can also see a building that houses a stele - an upright commemorative stone, and a large gate connected to the spirit path. A small visitor centre gives more detail on the historical significance of the site, on the other tombs that form the larger UNESCO World Heritage Site cluster, and on the relationship between the Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs and Bongeunsa Temple, which was originally called Gyeonseongsa Temple.