Jongmyo jerye
Jongmyo jerye or jongmyo daeje is a traditional rite held for worshipping the deceased Joseon monarchs in Jongmyo Shrine, Seoul, South Korea. It is held every year on the first Sunday of May. The jongmyo rite is usually accompanied with the court music playing and dance called Ilmu or line dance. Jongmyo jerye and jeryeak were designated as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.
History
The ritual has its origins in the Confucian royal ancestral shrine system practiced in premodern China and Korea. It is meant to pay tribute to ancestors and the gods, and was seen as one of the most important rituals and duties for the monarchy.At the latest, the ritual was well in place during the era of the three kingdoms of Korea, especially during the Goguryeo Dynasty. The ritual was then preserved over Silla era to the last Korean Dynasty of Joseon. The Jongmyo ritual, together with the Soil and Grain ritual at Sajikdan, are traditionally Korea's two most important imperial rituals. These practices have been lost in China due to the abolition of the monarchy, but the traditions are still preserved in South Korea even after the fall of the last monarchic Joseon dynasty.
The current ceremonies are organised and performed by the descendants of the former imperial family, the Jeonju Lee Royal Family Association, with assistance from other cultural organisations. The presiding officer is the most senior member of the imperial family, currently Yi Won who holds the title of Hereditary Prince Imperial, succeeding Yi Gu who held the title Prince. During the Joseon dynasty and even during the Japanese occupation period, the chief officiant was the Emperor of Korea.
Procedures
The Jerye procedures were divided into three parts. It is regarded as Korea's highest-ranked ritual, so it was held strictly and solemnly. The first part is the procedures to invite and greet the spirits. The first part's procedures are jagye. Chwiwi describes the part where the officiants, after performing ablutions, take their proper places for the rites to follow.The second is rituals for entertaining the spirits. This segment begins with the rites of Jinchan, in which 63 kinds of foods to the spirits are offered to be placed to the altars. Then three wine offerings are made, the first called Choheonrye, the second Aheonrye and the third Jongheonrye, done by the three most senior officiants present respectively. These offerings are made as other officiants recite prayers asking the spirits of heaven and earth for their blessing. The presiding officer ceremonially tastes the offerings in the Eumbok phase, representing a communal meal held by the president and the spirits. The Cheonbyeondu is the rite of removing all the foods served for the spirits.
The third part is the last rites which are held to send off the spirits to heaven. In Songsin, the choheongwan and other officiants bow four times to send off the spirits to heaven. Mangryo is the last rite, in which the prayer papers used are burned. After the choheongwan receives confirmation that the rituals and services have been completed, all the officiants leave the grounds.
The words of the rite are spoken using the Korean pronunciation of Classical Chinese, and not in modern Korean.
In each of the bows made during the ceremony, those of the official party bow first followed by those watching the ceremony in person, who bow in reverence at the signal of the master of ceremonies.
Jerye-ak
Jongmyo jerye rituals were held together with a large instrumental and vocal ensemble performing ritual music called jerye-ak, which was believed to bring enjoyment to the spirits invited to join the rites. The pieces played in the rites were Botaepyeong and Jeongdaeeop. There were also songs that accompanied the jerye-ak, named Jongmyo Akjang.An elaborate performance of ancient court music known as Jongmyo jeryeak is performed there each year. Musicians, dancers, and scholars would perform Confucian rituals, such as the Jongmyo Daeje in the courtyard five times a year. Today the rituals have been reconstructed and revived. The Jongmyo Daeje has been designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 56 and is performed every year in May. The Jongmyo Jerye-ak, the traditional court music of Joseon, is performed by the Jeongakdan of the National Gugak Center and has been designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1. This court music has its origins in Chinese yayue court music that was brought to Korea during the Goryeo period. King Sejong composed new music for the ritual based largely on hyangak in 1447 and 1462. The National Gugak Center is itself the direct successor to the Yi Household Music Department.
Dances
The jeryeIlmu divided into two types of dance, munmu and mumu. Munmu is accompanied by botaepyeongji-ak. A yak is held in the left hand and jeok in the right hand. For mumu, dancers move quickly by holding wooden swords and the rear four rows wooden spears in the front four rows.