Lighting Devices in the Jongmyo Ancestral Rites: From Offering Candles to Consumables

This study reveals that candles in Jongmyo Shrine's ancestral rites underwent a significant shift from being sacred offerings to becoming consumables, marking a transition in their symbolic and functional roles during the Joseon Dynasty and into the modern era. The research analyzes historical texts and records to trace the evolution of lighting devices, showing how candles were initially categorized based on wax composition and ritual significance, reflecting hierarchical and emotional aspects of the rites. By the late Joseon period, mixed-wax candles were phased out due to smoke and odor issues, replaced by lead-wax candles. Post-liberation, industrial-era lighting like oil lamps and electric bulbs took over, but candles persisted as ritual symbols, bridging tradition and modernity.

Lee, W. (2026). Lighting Devices in the Jongmyo Ancestral Rites: From Offering Candles to Consumables. The Critical Review of Religion and Culture, 49(0), 83–130. https://doi.org/10.36429/crrc.49.3