Jongmyojeryeak

Music performed for ancestral rituals at Jongmyo Shrine which houses the tablets of the kings of the Joseon dynasty. Botaepyeong, which praises the king’s literary virtues and Jeongdaeeop, which commemorates their military achievements, are performed in regular sequence, and they each consist of 11 pieces. Songs sung here are called Akjang, and dances Ilmu, but Ilmu has two kinds: Munmu is performed for Botaepyeong, while Mumu is for Jeongdaeeop. Both Jeongdaeeop and Botaepyeong were created for court banquets during the reign of King Sejong, but they began to be used for Jongmyo Jeryeak under King Sejo, and have been passed down as such.
Jongmyo Jeryeak is currently designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 and is on the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.