How to Set the Table for Jesa

• The purpose of holding ancestral rites is to remember one's ancestors. Even during the ancestral rites, it is a time to recall the names of ancestors, when they were born, when they died, what foods they liked, and if there are memories of spending time together. Religiously, sacrifice is completely different from 'worship idols'. Of course, no one of any religion has parents. 'Jesa' is a courtesy to one's father.

• Seollal (New Year's Day) and Chuseok are large-scale holidays. The family goes to their hometown or firstborn's house.

• Tables and deities are set to the north, and tables are placed in front of them (to the south).

• Fruits and desserts are placed in the first row, usually jujubes, apples, pears, chestnuts, persimmons, and dates are placed in the first row. Place red food on the east side of the table and white food on the west side. Apples and dates will be in the east, and pears will be in the west.

• The second row, behind fruit, includes a variety of dried fish and side dishes of cooked or fermented vegetables. There may be tofu as well as fish dishes here. That is, red foods are on the east side, so most meats are included, and white foods, which include fish, are on the west end of the table.

• In the last row is a bowl of rice and a bowl of soup. Soup bowls should be placed on the west side and rice on the east side, so rice should be on the left and soup on the right.

• Cheongju (靑州) is used for ancestral rites. Also needed to start is an incense bowl full of incense and rice placed on the floor right in front of the altar table.

 

Interpretation "Letters" in "Jibang"

• Hyeongo (顯考) and Hyeonbi (顯妣) mean that the spirits of the dead father (male) and dead mother (female) appear holy on the day of the ancestral rite. Hak (學) means to learn, and Saeng (生) means birth or “life.” Student means “one who learns”. Yuin (孺人) was the name given to the wife of the royal family and Munmugwan (文武官) in the Joseon Dynasty according to her husband's official position. Bu (府) means a government office (官廳) or a village. Gun (君) means a king or a noble person. Bugun (府君) is an abbreviation of Buwongun (府院君), which refers to the king's father-in-law, or the first rank of a government official, or the father or grandfather in the rank of the head of the family.

• In ancestral rites, Bugun (府君) is interpreted as “a title honoring a deceased father or ancestor (male).” It means God(神) is Shinryeong(神靈), spirit(精神), ghost(鬼神), We (位) means seat, and Sinwi (神位) means the place where the spirit of the deceased is located.

• The name of the official rank is used for the deceased. Those who died without being able to hold a government post are given the title of “student (學生).”

• Hyun Ko Haksaeng Bugun Shinwi (顯考學生府君神位-male), Hyeonbi Yuin Junju Yissi Shinwi (顯妣孺人全州李氏神位-female)

• ‘The beginning and end of life for the deceased father or mother, and the bright virtue through learning were regarded as the most important thing, so I hope that God will allow the father or mother to attend this event’. It is a blessing