Munmyo

Infobox Korean name


hangul=문묘
hanja=
rr=Munmyo
mr=Munmyo

Munmyo (also called Seonggyungwan Munmyo) is Korea's primary Confucian shrine. It is located in central Seoul, South Korea, at 53 Myeongnyun-dong 3(sam)-ga, Jongno-gu, on the campus of Sungkyunkwan University.

It was established by the scholar An Hyang in 1398, in the seventh and final year of the reign of King Taejo (r. 1392-1398), the founder and first king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

A ritual called "Munmyo jerye" (hangul: 문묘제례; hanja: 文廟祭禮), which involves music and dance, is held there each year in the spring (April) and autumn (September); the ritual features ancient music of Chinese origin called "Munmyo jeryeak" (hangul: 문묘제례악; hanja: 文廟祭禮樂), which is a form of "aak". The ritual honors Confucius as well as Choe Chiwon and Seol Chong, Confucian scholars of the Unified Silla period (668–935). The musicians are provided by The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts. The instruments used include flutes ("hun", "so", and bamboo flutes), zithers ("seul" and "geum"), stone chimes ("pyeongyeong"), bronze bells ("pyeonjong"), various drums played with sticks, tiger-shaped wooden scraper ("eo"), wooden box ("chuk"), and wooden clappers ("bak").

Munmyo is designated by the South Korean government as Historic Site No. 143.

External links

* [http://www.parandeul.co.kr/munmyo.htm Munmyo Shrine]
* [http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/seoul/munmyoindex.htm Asian Historical Architecture profile of Munmyo Confucian Shrine]
* [http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/200211/kt2002112212281111010.htm "Rare Confucian Musical Ritual at NCKTPA"] , by Kim Ju-young, from "The Korea Times"

Video

* [http://tvpot.daum.net/search/SearchPot.do?svctype=0&q=%EB%AC%B8%EB%AC%98%EC%A0%9C%EB%A1%80%EC%95%85&searchTvpot=&lu=v_tag "Munmyo jeryeak" video]

ee also

*Temple of Confucius
*Korean Confucianism
*Confucius
*Aak
*Jongmyo