Korean Traditional

"Jongmyo Daejae"

  Jongmyo Jeryeak, or the Ceremonial Music of the Royal Ancestral Shrine of Joseon, is a ceremonial
performance combining instrumental and vocal music and dance. Songs extolling the virtuous accomplishments of deceased kings are sung to the accompaniment of instrumental music, and
the music performances are accompanied by ritual dances.

  It is composed of two important musical pieces, namely, Botaepyeong (Preservation of the Great
Peace) and Jeongdaeeop (Determination of the Great Undertaking), both of which were written
by King Sejong. In 1464, (10th year of King Sejo's reign), these musical works were selected as the ceremonial music, and the eleven pieces of Botaepyeong and the eleven pieces of Jeongdaeeop were performed at the Royal Ancestral Memorial Rite for the first time in its history. Botaepyeong was composed to honor the cultural achievements of Joseon's kings, whereas Jeongdaeeop praises their military exploits.

  The rite involved the performance of various pieces of orchestral court music including Botaepyeongjiak (Music for the Protection of Great Peace), Punganjiak (Music of Abundance and Comfort) and Jeongdaeeopjiak (Music on the Determination of the Great Undertaking). The religious atmosphere was further exalted by the sounds of the bak, a fan-shaped wooden clapper, which punctuated
the music intermittently, as well as two types of dance, Munmu (Dance of Cultural Achievement) and Mumu (Dance of Military Achievement), which were performed to honor the great achievements of the royal ancestors of the Joseon Dynasty. 

  Jongmyo Jeryeak was designated by the Korean government as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 in 1964, and placed on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001 along with the memorial rite itself (included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008).

  Jongmyo Jerye, or the Royal Ancestral Memorial Rite of the Joseon Dynasty, dedicated to the kings
and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, was the largest and most important of all Joseon memorial
ceremonies. The rite was performed five times a year, once in each season and once on the last day of the year. Today, however, it is held only once a year, on the first Sunday of May.

  The rite is widely regarded as unique in that it offers an opportunity to witness the splendor of both the tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

  The rituals were reinstated in 1969 by the Jongmyo Ritual Conservation Committee.

  Each ritual was largely divided into several stages including the preparation procedure, the Royal Procession, which carried the king and his retinue to the shrine, and the performance of the rite accompanied by ritual music and dance.

  Jongmyo Jerye was designated by the Korean government as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 56 in 1975, and was placed on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (and included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008) in 2001. The rite was designated as an international cultural event in 2006.