신라 상고기에는 박·석·김 3성이 교차하여 왕위를 계승하였다. 이러한 때에 단일 혈연 관념으로 만들어진 종묘제도를 어떻게 운영하였을까 하는 점은 큰 의문이었다. 본고는 그러한 문제를 해결하는 단초로서 역대 중국의 예제상에 나타난 종묘제의 변화와 운영원리에 주목하였다. 이에 『삼국사기』 제사지에서 종묘제도로 기술한 始祖廟와 神宮, 五廟制와 社稷壇, 그리고 七廟制로의 확대‧정비과정을 중국 역대 禮制의 변화와 관련하여 비교‧검토하였다. 또한 김씨 왕실이 종묘제를 운영한 기본 원리를 찾아냄으로써, 그것이 신라 정치사회에서 어떠한 기능을 하였는지를 밝히고자 하였다. 상고기 신라 국왕들은 즉위 후 의례적으로 시조 박혁거세의 陵廟에 제사함으로써 왕의 권위를 인정받았다. 지증왕이 즉위를 전후하여 『禮記』의 이념에 따라 시조가 태어난 나을에 신궁을 설립하여 하늘에 제사를 지내고 박혁거세를 配享하였다. 무열왕은 즉위와 함께 오묘제를 수용하고, 문무왕대에 당과 대결하는 과정에서 7묘제를 지향하였지만, 신문왕대에 당과 화해를 서두르면서 5묘제로 환원하였다. 중대 왕실이 설행한 종묘는 일종 家廟의 성격을 띤 것이었다. 김씨왕실은 혜공왕대에 그들의 家廟인 종묘를 국가 종묘제로 정립하고, 다시 선덕왕이 사직단을 정비함으로써 『예기』의 국가 종묘·사직 체계를 완비하였다. 애장왕대에 이르러 다시 전통적인 天子七廟制를 채용하고, 아울러 사직단도 祗祭에 맞추어 개혁하였다. 이는 祖功宗德의 이념과 宗法의 원리를 따른 것으로서, 황제국으로서의 위상을 천명한 것이었다. 신라 하대 종묘의 소목에서 祖考의 신위를 함께 遷徙하거나 祔廟하는 일이 빈번하였다. 이는 왕위 계승 쟁탈전으로 말미암은 것인데, 왕위계승쟁탈전은 원성왕의 손자인 인겸과 예영을 宗으로 하는 別子들간에 왕위 계승권을 두고 벌인 무력 충돌과정이었다.
During the early Silla Period, three families, Parks, Seoks, and Kims, took turns to succeed the throne. It was a great question how the Royal Ancestral Shrine system, which was installed based on the idea of single blood ties, was operated at the time. This paper noted the changes and principles of the Royal Ancestral Shrine system, which appeared in the ritual writings of the ancient China, as a starting point for solving such problems. The entries in the Jesaji of the Samguksagi about the Shrine of the Founders, Divine Palace, Five Shrine System, and the Altar of the Soil and Grain, which were recorded in the category of the Royal Ancestral Shrine system, were analyzed and the process of adopting the Seven Shrine System was compared and reviewed in relation to the changes of the Chinese ritual system. I also sought to find out the basic principles of the Kimsoperation of the Royal Ancestral Shrine in order to understand its function in Silla"s political society. The kings in the early Silla period ritually offered sacrifices to the shrine of Park Hyeok-geose, the founder of the kingdom, in order to openly acquire king’s authority. Established at Naeul, where the founding father was born, by King Jijeung at around his enthronement, the Divine Palace embodies the teachings of the Book of Rites (C. Liji 禮記). It was a place to perform rites for heaven and the founder of the kingdom right at the birthplace of Park Hyeok-geose. Along with the accession of King Muyeol, the Kims accepted the Five Shrine System. During the reign of King Munmu, the Seven Shrine System was adopted amid the process of confrontation with the Tang dynasty. But the Five Shrine System was soon restored during the reign of the King Sinmun while the kingdom was in hurry of reconciliation with the Tang dynasty. The Royal Ancestral Shrine, which was established by the royal family during the mid Silla period, had the characteristics of a family shrine of the Kims. In the era of King Aejang, the traditional Seven Shrine System of the Son of Heaven was adopted again, along with the reformation of the Altar of the Soil and Grain. This measure was based on the fundamentals of giving posthumous investiture to the preceding kings according to the meritorious deeds of the ancestors and the virtue of the clan, and it also followed the agnatic principles in order to declare his status as an emperor. During the late Silla period, it was common to move or enshrine spirit tablets of the deceased father and grandfather together in the ranges of spirit tables at the Royal Ancestral Shrine. This was due to the struggle for the succession of the throne at the time. The battle for the succession was a clash between Ingyeom, the grandson of King Wonseong, and the descendants of Yeyeong.