Taejo Yi Seong-gye Establishes Joseon and Founds Jongmyo and Sajik

During the Joseon Dynasty, 'abandoning Jongmyo and Sajik' meant leaving the country to ruin. Jongmyo refers to the shrine housing the spirit tablets of successive kings and queens, while Sajik refers to the altar where prayers for a bountiful harvest were offered to the gods of earth and grain. Jongmyo and Sajik were the foundation supporting the nation and the most sacred spaces for praying for peace and prosperity. Taejo Yi Seong-gye decided on Hanyang as the new capital and built Jongmyo before Gyeongbokgung Palace. He established Jongmyo to the left of Gyeongbokgung and Sajik to the right; visiting these places reflects on the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty.