Jongmyo Jerye (the royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine) is a ritual of paying respect to the late kings and queens and emperors and empresses of the Joseon dynasty according to the Confucian rules at Jongmyo Shrine. It is a gillye, or an auspicious ritual of the oryeui (the five rites of states). The royal ancestral ritual is the most prestigious and grand ritual performed by the king himself, and it is attended by the ritual officers, the crown pricnce, the royal family, and the state officials. At the Main Hall, ancestral rites are performed five times a year on the days designated on the first month of the season and ritual dates (the third date of mi after the winter solstice).
At Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, ancestral rites are performed two times a year on designated days in spring and autumn. Other rituals were also held at Jongmyo Shrine for floods, drought, plague, war, and natural disasters, or designation of a crown prince. It also hosted coming of age, weddings, funerals, cheonsin (paying respects to ancestors by offering newly harvested fruits or grains), cheongeum (offering the first animal caught in the hunting game), and more.

Jegi (ritual utensils) of the royal ancestral ritual are byeon, du, bo, gwe, and jak. Jesu (ritual foods) include sacrificial animals (cows, lambs, and pigs), grains (rice, sorghum, glutinous millet, etc.), rice cakes, salted fish, fruits, and more. Currently, the ritual is held on the first Sunday of May and the first Saturday of November.

Jongmyo Jeryeak (the royal ancestral ritual music in the Jongmyo Shrine) is a performance of musical instruments, songs, and dances to the royal ancestral ritual. It is a musical piece to praise and honor the virtues and achievements of kings. King Sejong (1418–1450) was first to reorganize ceremonial music and created Botaepyeong and Jeongdaeeop. Later, in 1463 (the 9th year of King Sejo), these musical pieces were officially selected as the royal ancestral ritual music in the Jongmyo Shrine. A range of instruments for aak (court music), dangak (Tang music), and hyangak (indigenous music) were used, including pyeonjong, pyeongyeong, chuk, eo, bak, ajaeng, janggu, and jeolgo. There are 11 musical pieces each for Botaepyeong and Jeongdaeeop. Ilmu (dances) include munmu for praising academic virtues and mumu for honoring military achievements. Munmu is gentle and static, whereas mumu is strong and full of force.