Jongmyo
종묘 · 종로구
A Confucian shrine dedicated to the deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty.
Contents
11 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Jongmyo Shrine3:50
Welcome to Jongmyo, the supreme spiritual sanctuary of the Joseon Dynasty. As you stand before the entrance to this vast complex, you are preparing to step out of the bustling, modern metropolis of Seoul and into a realm…
Listen in the app2The Outer Gate and the Spirit Path3:43
We begin our physical journey at Oedaemun, the grand outer gate of the Jongmyo complex. Before you even pass through its heavy wooden doors, you must note the stone marker standing just outside. …
Listen in the app3Mangmyoru Pavilion and the Square Pond3:33
As we proceed along the path, to your right, you will encounter a serene, square pond, and rising just beyond it is an elevated wooden pavilion known as Mangmyoru. This specific zone serves as a crucial psychological transition…
Listen in the app4Gongminwang Sindang: The Shrine of a Fallen Dynasty3:29
Hidden slightly away from the main processional path is a small, modest structure that represents one of the most fascinating and politically complex mysteries of Jongmyo. This is the Gongminwang Sindang, a shrine dedicated…
Listen in the app5Jaegung: The King's Preparation Quarters3:15
We now arrive at a walled compound known as the Jaegung. This area is uniquely significant because, within the vast, sprawling complex of Jongmyo dedicated entirely to the dead, this is the singular space constructed specifically…
Listen in the app6Jeonsacheong and the Preparation Courtyard3:20
Leaving the quiet meditation of the Jaegung, we step into a courtyard that, during the days of the royal rites, would have been a hive of intense, highly choreographed activity. This is the preparation area, featuring the…
Listen in the app7The Woldae: The Elevated Terrace of Jeongjeon3:24
As we pass through the East Gate, the intimate scale of the preparation courtyards instantly vanishes, and you are thrust into a space of almost terrifying architectural scale. Before you stretches the Woldae, the massive,…
Listen in the app8Jeongjeon: The Main Hall of Spirits3:19
We now stand before the Jeongjeon, the absolute epicenter of the Jongmyo shrine and the most sacred structure in the entire Joseon kingdom. Stretching an astonishing one hundred and one meters in length, it is widely considered…
Listen in the app9Gongshindang: The Hall of Meritorious Officials3:19
Directly opposite the awe inspiring facade of the Jeongjeon, nestled below the elevated level of the great stone terrace, is a long, narrow, and deliberately unassuming building. This is the Gongshindang, the Hall of Meritorious…
Listen in the app10Yeongnyeongjeon: The Hall of Eternal Peace3:26
As we walk a short distance to the northwest of the main shrine, we arrive at a secondary complex that feels at once familiar and distinctly different. This is Yeongnyeongjeon, the Hall of Eternal Peace. …
Listen in the app11Closing2:45
As we conclude our journey through the shadowy, sacred precincts of Jongmyo, it is vital to understand that this architecture is only half of the masterpiece. The buildings you have witnessed today are merely the magnificent,…
Listen in the app
What is Jongmyo?
Jongmyo is a place in 종로구 with 11 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | 종로구 |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 11 |
| Total length | 37 min 23 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 37.5747, 126.9936 |
| Last updated |
