This building is where the king stayed to prepare a royal ancestral rite, paying homage to his ancestors. Participants in the rite held in Jongmyo Shrine, including the king, had to adhere to strict rules of conduct during the period of preparation for the rite. For example, they were not allowed to visit a family with a member who fell ill or recently died, listen to music, or punish a criminal. They believed that they should not engage in any inauspicious action but should pay full attention to the state event and to communing with the royal ancestral spirits.