Jongmyo is the old­est and most authen­tic of the Con­fu­cian roy­al shrines to have been pre­served. Ded­i­cat­ed to the fore­fa­thers of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), the shrine has exist­ed in its present form since the 16th cen­tu­ry and hous­es tablets bear­ing the teach­ings of mem­bers of the for­mer roy­al fam­i­ly. Rit­u­al cer­e­monies link­ing music, song and dance still take place there, per­pet­u­at­ing a tra­di­tion that goes back to the 14th cen­tu­ry.