Jongmyo once housed the tablets of the royal family ancestors and was where the memorial services for deceased kings and queens took place. Constructed by King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon Dynasty, Jongmyo was thought to be one of the longest buildings in Asia. While older shrines existed during the Three Kingdoms period, this shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine that preserves various 14th-century traditions. Unfortunately, during the Seven-Year War, Japanese invaders burned down the original shrine. A new complex was constructed in 1601 and remains standing today….
