Sajikdan

Sajikdan (Korean: 사직단; Hanja: 社稷壇) is a Neo-Confucian altar located in Sajik-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea.^[1] It was built and used during the Joseon period to perform rituals related to soil and grain.^[2][3]

Sajikdan
The shrine in 2014
Religion
Affiliation	Korean Confucianism
Location
Location	Seoul, South Korea
Geographic coordinates	37.5757°N 126.9677°E / 37.5757; 126.9677
Architecture
Date established	1395
Historic Sites of South Korea
Official name: Sajikdan Altar
Designated	1963-01-21
Reference no.	121
Korean name
Hangul	사직단
Hanja	社稷壇
Revised Romanization	Sajikdan
McCune–Reischauer	Sajiktan

Description

When Seoul was founded during the Joseon period, the location of Sajikdan was prescribed by the ritual bureaucratic text Rites of Zhou.^[1][4] The shrine was created in 1395.^[4] Along with the royal palace Gyeongbokgung and the shrine Jongmyo, Sajikdan is a fundamental symbol of the new capital city.^[4]

On this square altar were honored on key moments of the lunar calendar the national deities of earth (Sa) and grains (Jik).

Certain ceremonies have been recently revived in the square altars.

See also

• Hwangudan, a separate altar in Seoul
• Esplanade of Sacrifice to the Heaven and Earth, Huế, Vietnam
• Shejitan, Beijing