Jongmyo Shrine
Joseon royal builders and court craftsmen · Seoul, South Korea · 1608
Jongmyo is the royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon dynasty and one of Korea’s most important surviving ritual complexes. Long timber halls are arranged within walled courtyards whose extreme horizontality and open ceremonial foregrounds create an architecture of restraint rather than ornament. The main Jeongjeon hall grew over successive periods as more royal spirit tablets were added. The shrine originated in the late fourteenth century, was destroyed during the Japanese invasions and rebuilt in 1608. Its continued ritual use and distinctive spatial order make Jongmyo a fundamental reference for traditional Korean architecture.