The Sacrificial Rite of Chungnyeolsa Shrine

「The Sacrificial Rite of Chungnyeolsa Shrine」 is a religious service with great devotion shown from the citizens of Busan Metropolitan City, in order to remember the patriotism and the loyalty of the ancestors, who have fought against the Japanese troops under the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. They died heroic deaths with an ardent wish to keep their country safe, despite the lack of forces and firearms to use against their enemies. This sacrificial rite is performed on May 25th annually.

The Sacrificial Rite of Chungnyeolsa Shrine Summary

• Date: May 25th every year, 10:00 a.m. ~ 10:50 a.m.
• Venue: Main hall and Uiyeolgak of Chungnyeolsa Shrine

Order of a Sacrificial Rite of Chungnyeolsa Shrine 

Announcement of ritual service→ Second bow of ritual specialists → Bow down of participants → Suwejeon incense burning → Baeweijeon/Jongwejeon incense burning → Suwejeon drink offering → Baeweijeon/Jongwejeon drink offering → Dokchook → Flower offering performed by mayor (an act on behalf of President) → Condolatory address → Incense burning by participant → Second bow of ritual specialists → Bow down of participants → Announcement of the end of ritual service → Buncheuk

Chungnyeolsa Shrine Allak Seowon Sacrificial Rite: Appointed as Intangible Cultural Properties No. 5 by Busan

The sacrificial rite of Chungnyeolsa Shrine embodies the service-of-life philosophy that is deeply rooted in the Confucian political ideology of the Joseon Dynasty. The service originated from a ritual rite that enshrined the spirits and revered memories of the people of Dongnae and its governor Song Sang-hyeon and the Scholars of the Busan region who bravely fought against the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592.

The ceremony is held on the day of Jungjeong; every year in Feb. 8 and August based on the lunar calendar. For this, a meeting is held among successive heads of the Anrak Seowon, ten days ahead of the religious service, to select a ritual specialist. The head of the Allak Seowon at the time of the ceremony becomes Choeongwan, and the service is conducted by Holgi (a record of order of ceremonies), as instructed by Jurye and Yeigi.

The unique feature of the service is that it enshrines the spirits of those who died in defense of the country, such as governors, county governors, and successive commanding officers, as well as faithful servants and mistresses, including female ritual specialists' who participated during the service. The ceremony has been held for about 350 years in Yulim, Dongnae; another uniqueness of the service is that the traditional forms and formalities have been preserved.
Currently, Chungnyeolsa Shrine Allak Seowon is dedicated to passing down and preserving the shrine.