As interest in historical narratives related to Danjong rises with the film The King's Warden, a traditional memorial rite honoring his loyalty will be held in Gongju.
Gongju City and the Sukmohoe said on May 1 that they will conduct the spring memorial rite at Sukmojeon on Mount Gyeryong on May 1.
At Sukmojeon's main hall, the spirit tablets of Danjong and Queen Jeongsun are enshrined. In the east and west side halls, the loyal spirits of 341 figures who devoted themselves and died for Danjong's restoration, including Eom Heung-do, Grand Prince Anpyeong, and Grand Prince Geumseong, as well as the Sayuksin and Saengyuksin, are enshrined.
Sambyeongak enshrines six figures, including the "Sam-eun," loyal retainers at the end of Goryeo, while Donggye Temple enshrines two spirit tablets, including that of Park Je-sang, a loyal retainer of Silla.
The origins of Sukmojeon date back to 1456. At that time, Kim Si-seup, one of the Saengyuksin, built an altar near Sambyeongak at Donghaksa and held a calling-of-the-souls rite at the "Chohondan" to honor the spirits of the Sayuksin who perished while seeking Danjong's restoration.
Later, in 1458, when Sejo visited Donghaksa, he heard the account and ordered the construction of "Chohongak" to honor Danjong; Grand Prince Anpyeong; Hwang Bo-in; and Kim Jong Seo, among others who were wrongfully put to death. From then on, monks and Confucian scholars jointly officiated the rites, a tradition that has continued to the present day for hundreds of years.
Sukmohoe is a nonprofit corporation established in 1963 with the participation of 64 clan lineages descended from the loyal retainers enshrined at Sukmojeon, Sambyeongak, and Donggye Temple. It hosts the spring and autumn grand rites every year. The spring rite is held on the 15th day of the third lunar month, when Kim Si-seup first offered the calling-of-the-souls rite, and the autumn rite is held on the 24th day of the 10th lunar month, the date of Danjong's passing.
The ritual procedures begin at 10 a.m. that day at the Daeungjeon Hall of Donghaksa with the "cheonhonjae," in which monks call and gather the souls, followed by the "chohonrye," in which the loyal spirits are called one by one at Injaemun. The rites then proceed through chamsinrye, jeonpye-rye, chohonrye, aheonrye, jongheonrye, eumbokrye, sashinye, and conclude with mangnyorye.
Sukmohoe Chairman Jeong Baek-gyo explained the historical background, saying, "After Eom Heung-do collected Danjong's body at Cheongnyeongpo in 1457, he carried the royal shroud and set out on the path of exile, met Kim Si-seup, reached Donghaksa, wept bitterly, and held a memorial rite, and the prayer text at that time was written by Kim Si-seup."
Jeong added, "I hope hikers on Mount Gyeryong and visitors to Donghaksa will stop by Sukmojeon for a moment and take the opportunity to reflect on the spirit of loyalty of Danjong and the Sayuksin and Saengyuksin who were unjustly sacrificed."
Gongju City plans to operate an educational program in cooperation with the Sukmohoe this year to foster the filial piety and spirit of loyalty of the loyal retainers who prioritized justice for the nation and the community.
Starting in 2027, it plans to actively apply for the Korea Heritage Service's "Our Hometown National Heritage Utilization Project" and to broadly spread the value of national heritage by preparing programs that allow people to experience traditional culture and ritual ceremonies firsthand.