Korean Memorial Day (Jesa) Calculator

Enter the date of passing (solar or lunar). This tool auto-computes the annual lunar memorial date, converted back to solar.

Disclaimer: This tool is for reference only. Actual memorial timing and customs vary by religion, family tradition, and region — always consult family elders for final decisions. Lunar conversions come from an open-source library and may differ from official records.

About Jesa / Memorial Day

Ki-il (忌日) is the lunar calendar date of a person's passing. In Korean tradition, jesa (ancestral memorial rite) is held on the lunar ki-il each year. Because lunar dates drift on the solar calendar, the equivalent solar date changes year to year.

This calculator takes a solar or lunar date of passing and computes the solar equivalent of the lunar memorial day for past 5 years, this year, and the next 10 years.

How to Use

1. Choose whether your input date is solar or lunar.

2. Enter the date of passing (YYYY-MM-DD).

3. Select 'Day of' or 'Eve of' timing.

4. Click Calculate to see yearly memorial dates.

FAQ

When should jesa be held?

Traditionally at midnight of the ki-il (from 11 PM the night before to 1 AM). Modern families often shift to the evening of the day for convenience.

Why does the solar memorial date change each year?

The lunar calendar tracks the moon (~29.5 days) while the solar year tracks the sun (~365.25 days), creating a ~10–11 day annual drift, corrected by leap months.

What if the passing was in a leap month?

Because leap months appear only 7 times in 19 years, most families observe the memorial in the regular month of the same number. Consult family elders for the accepted convention.

Eve of vs Day of — which is correct?

Traditional jesa starts at midnight, so preparation is on the eve. Modern families often observe on the evening of the day.

Difference between charye (Lunar New Year / Chuseok) and jesa?

Charye is a simplified rite held on major holidays for all ancestors together; jesa is the formal rite for one specific person on their memorial day.

Jesa Date Calculator — Korean Memorial Dates

Jesa is a Korean memorial rite for deceased family members, held on the lunar anniversary of the person's passing. Family members commonly convert the solar death date to lunar, then track each year's solar equivalent.

This calculator provides yearly solar dates for the past 5 years, this year, and the next 10 years, helping families plan travel and preparations ahead of time.

Results use the lunar-javascript library and may differ by up to 1 day from official Korean Astronomy and Space Science Institute tables. Cross-check important dates with official sources.

All calculators and tools on this site are based on the laws, tax rates, and policies of the Republic of Korea.

This calculator is provided for informational purposes only.

Results are estimates and may differ from actual amounts.

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