On March 5, the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, known as Jeongwol Daeboreum, the Jongmyo Shrine played host to a reenactment of a special set of royal and ancestral rites: the sangmangjeon (삭망전, 朔望奠).

Traditionally the ceremony was performed on the first day of the lunar month or in the morning of the first day of a full moon in the Lunar New Year. People paid tribute to the ancestral tablets stored at the shrine. This was the first modern enactment of the sangmangjeon ceremony to be carried out at the shrine.

A group of 19 people were selected in advance to conduct the special event. The participants, who varied in age and sex, didn’t hesitate to show their excitement, as they were part of a traditional ritual and, furthermore, of one that was being performed at a historical site for the first time in modern times.

They changed into traditional garments, nokeui, at the Jeonsacheong, a special spot in the shrine where food for the ancestral rites was prepared. After being briefed on the traditions of the ancestral ceremony itself, the group began cleaning the main hall, the Jeongjeon. They entered the Jeongjeon Hall with reverent respect, dusting off and cleaning the chamber where the ancestral tablets are kept.



After the clean-up, they changed into their ritual clothes back at the Jeonsacheong building and then in a line marched into the Jeongjeon Hall again. Under a solemn mood, the religious service was brought to life, this time paying respect to Taejo (r. 1392-1398), the first king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Many tourists who came to witness the first-ever modern reenactment of the ceremony listened to an explanation of the history and traditions embedded in the ceremony, all while pressing the shutter button on their cameras to capture the rare moment.



According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, the reenactment will give the public a rare chance to try in person the traditional ancestral ceremony, as well as to get a better understanding of the singular royal traditions that existed in ancient Korea and at the Jongmyo Shrine itself, a registered UNESCO world heritage site.

Periodical ceremonies will continue until November on the first day and on the first day of a full moon of each lunar month. Anyone aged 19 or over can apply to participate in the event. For those who are interested, please call the Jongmyo Shrine management office at 02-2174-3601~9. Only the first 19 applicants are allowed for each ceremony.

By Sohn JiAe
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
jiae5853@korea.kr