Joseon Dynasty Ancestral Rite Structures 'Samyo' and 'Jaesil' to Be Designated as Treasures

[Asia Economy, Reporter Seo Midum] Ten tangible cultural properties of Gyeonggi Province, including the Namhansanseong Sungnyeoljeon Shrine, are set to be designated as National Treasures. After a 30-day public notice period and deliberation by the Cultural Heritage Committee, they will be officially designated as Treasures.

The cultural properties preliminarily designated by the Cultural Heritage Administration include eight examples of Confucian architecture such as shrines (samyo), ritual houses (jaesil), and memorial gates (jeongryeogak), as well as one government office residence (naea) and one stone pagoda from the Unified Silla period. Shrines that house ancestral tablets or portraits (samyo) and ritual houses located next to tombs (jaesil) are architectural structures that reflect the emphasis on ancestral rites during the Joseon Dynasty. Since 2018, the Cultural Heritage Administration has been investigating the value of such properties and this year has announced the preliminary designation of eight Confucian architectural cultural properties as Treasures.

The eight Confucian architectural properties include: ▲ Namhansanseong Sungnyeoljeon Shrine, which exemplifies the typical 17th-century Joseon Dynasty shrine; ▲ Yeongwol Changjeolsa Shrine, which reflects the architectural characteristics of the 18th century; and ▲ Yeongdong Saecheonjae, which well preserves the typical features and regional characteristics of ritual houses in the Chungcheong area.

In addition, the Kimje Naea, a building that offers insight into the daily life of local government officials in the late Joseon period, and the Gyeongju (Former) Yeonbulsa Temple Site East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas, which are representative examples of Unified Silla stone pagodas, have also been preliminarily designated.

The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "We plan to actively investigate and discover architectural cultural properties whose value has not yet been recognized, designate them as national cultural properties, and promote their use and awareness among the public." The agency also added, "We will continue to support projects that enhance the social value of local cultural properties and improve the surrounding historical and cultural environment."