Overview

Jongmyo Daeje is a ritual rite performed at the Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul, South Korea. Its purpose is to honor the spirits of the kings and queens of Korea from past times. The origins of the ritual date back to the 15th century, the heyday of the great Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. The ritual is held on the first Sunday of May each year, accompanied by national music and dance. In 2001, the ritual itself and the music performed during it were included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A recording of a performance by musicians and dancers from Seoul's National Gugak Center at the Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris in 2015 as part of the Franco-Korean Friendship Year. The ritual is being performed outside of Korea for the first time. About 100 performers, dancers, singers and musicians are present on stage.