백성의 의례가 사례(관혼상제)라면, 국가와 왕실의 의례는 오례(길·가·빈·군·흉)로 구분되었다. 『국조오례의』는 ‘길례吉禮, 가례賓禮, 빈례嘉禮, 군례軍禮, 흉례凶禮’로 분류한 국가 의례의 진행 절차와 방식을 수록한 책이다. 유교적 사회질서를 확립하고자 한 조선에서 『경국대전經國大典』과 함께 기본 예전禮典으로서 역할을 했다. 1444년(세종 26)에 편찬 계획이 수립된 이후 30년을 거쳐 1474년(성종 5) 완성되었다.

While the rites of the common people were categorized as four rites (coming-of-age rite [gwallye], marriage [hollye], funeral rite [sangnye], and ancestral memorial rite [jerye]), the rites of the state and royal family were categorized as five rites (auspicious, congratulatory, hosting, military, and inauspicious). Gukjo oryeui (Five Rites of the State) is a book that outlines the procedures and methods of state rituals, organized into auspicious, congratulatory, hosting, military, and inauspicious rites. During the Joseon Dynasty, where the ruling class sought to establish a Confucian social order, this book served as a fundamental guide to traditional rites alongside Gyeongguk daejeon (National Code). It was completed in 1474 (the 5th year of King Seongjong’s reign), 30 years after the plan to compile it was established in 1444 (the 26th year of King Sejong’s reign).