Taebong was a state established by Gung Ye(궁예, 弓裔) on the Korean peninsula in 901, during the Later Three Kingdoms period.

Gung Ye was known as a bastard son of King Heonan or of King Gyeongmun. A soothsayer gave the King a prophecy that the new-born baby will bring disaster to the Silla, so the King ordered servants to kill him.

However, his nurse hid Gung Ye and raised him secretly; and joined Yang Gil's rebellion force in 892. Silla, after nearly a millennium of history, was declining fast and Gung Ye soon found his own rebellion in Songak (present-day Kaesong) in 898. He eventually defeated Yang Gil and other local lords in central Korea and claimed himself a king in 901.

Gung Ye named his state Hu-Goguryeo (Meaning "Later Goguryeo") or, in shorthand, Goryeo. It was changed to Majin (마진, 摩震) in 901, and to Taebong in 911. Taebong at its peak expanded to present-day provinces of North and South Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, South P'yŏngan and North Chungcheong.

In later days, Gung Ye claimed himself a Buddha and became a tyrant who sentenced death to anyone opposing him, including his wife Kang. Four generals of Taebong, Hong Yu(홍유, 洪儒), Bae Hyon-Gyong(배현경, 裵玄慶), Shin Sung-Gyon(신숭겸, 申崇謙) and Bok Ji-Gyom(복지겸, 卜智謙) overthrew Taebong and established Wanggeon(왕건, 王建) as the King in 918 and Goryeo Dynasty began.

Still, Taebong influenced Goryeo culturally. Gung Ye was originally a Buddhist monk. He encouraged Buddhism and changed the manners of national ceremonies to Buddhist way including Palgwanhoe (팔관회, 八關會) and Sukdeungrong (석등롱, 石燈籠). These influences survived after death of Gung Ye and fall of Taebong.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics