Hangul 조선신궁 Revised Romanization Josean Singung | Hanja 朝鮮神宮 McCune–Reischauer Chosean Singung | |
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Josean Shrine (Korean: 조선신궁, Hanja: 朝鮮神宮) was the most important Shinto shrine in Korea from 1925 to 1945, during the period of Japanese rule. The famous architect and architectural historian Itō Chūta, also responsible for Meiji Jingū, contributed to its planning.
Background
After the annexation of Korea in 1910, the Japanese government embarked upon a policy of Japanization. This included worship at Shinto shrines, as much a political expression of patriotism as a religious act. From 1925, school pupils were required to attend Shinto shrines, and in 1935 it became compulsory for university students and government employees to attend Shinto ceremonies. By 1945, there were a total of 1,140 shrines in Korea associated with State Shinto.
Chōsen Jingū was erected in 1925 on the peak of Namsan in Seoul and was dedicated to Amaterasu and Emperor Meiji. It was constructed in the shinmei-zukuri style of Ise Jingū. Chōsen Jingū was demolished in October 1945, several months after Korea became independent, and in 1970 the "Patriot An Chung-gun Memorial Hall" was constructed on the site of the former shrine, in honour of An Chung-gun, the assassin of Itō Hirobumi, the first Japanese Resident-General.