A Study on the Arrangement of Music and Ritual Procedures for Jongmyo Shrine in the early Joseon Dynasty

Research reveals that the ritual procedures and musical arrangements for Jongmyo Shrine during the early Joseon Dynasty were not merely adaptations of existing systems but represented a distinct Korean synthesis. The study demonstrates how the Joseon court, constrained by neither the Chinese imperial rituals nor the Goryeo traditions, developed its own unique form of Confucian rites centered on ancestor worship. A key finding is that musical elements, particularly the new 'sinak' (new music) introduced under King Sejong, played a crucial role in defining this distinctiveness. The integration of ritual procedures and music, culminating in the standardized forms documented in the 'Gugjo Oryeui,' achieved both cultural differentiation from China and Goryeo while embodying universal Confucian principles. This study underscores the innovative process through which the Joseon Dynasty established its own ritual and musical traditions, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Korean ceremonial practices.

Kang, J.-H. (2022). A Study on the Arrangement of Music and Ritual Procedures for Jongmyo Shrine in the early Joseon Dynasty. The Journal for the Studies of Korean History, 86, 117–159. https://doi.org/10.21490/jskh.2022.2.86.117