A Lofty House where a King Reflected Deeply about the Dynasty

A Lofty House where a King Reflected Deeply about the Dynasty Mangmyoru, which literally means a lofty house for looking up at the shrine, was a building used by government officials of the Joseon Dynasty whose duty was to look after the shrine. It was sometimes used as a place for night vigil for Joseon rulers when they stayed at the shrine as part of the preparation for the forthcoming memorial rite. As the name of the building expresses properly, the kings faced and looked up at the central shrine hall from this building and reflected deeply about the achievements of their ancestors, the dynasty, and the duties they inherited from their ancestors. As an architectural work, the building features seven bays on the front and two bays on each side. Characteristically, the bay on the far left is designed to have a raised floor with an open space underneath. It is this lofty floor that gave the building the name Mangmyoru rather than Mangmyodang, as the word ru refers to a tall building with two or more stories.

Currently, the building is used as a library containing books on the Jongmyo Shrine and history of the Joseon Dynasty.