Taebong
Encyclopedia
Taebong or Later Goguryeo (Hugoguryeo) was a state established by Gung Ye
(궁예, 弓裔) on the Korean peninsula
in 901
, during the Later Three Kingdoms period.
or King Gyeongmun
. A soothsayer prophesied that the new-born baby would bring disaster to Silla
, so the King ordered his servants to kill him. However, his nurse hid Gung Ye and raised him secretly.
He joined Yang Gil
's rebellion force in 892. Silla, after nearly a millennium as a centralized kingdom, was quickly declining, and Gung Ye instigated his own rebellion and absorbed Wang Geon's force in Songak
. In 898, He set up the capital in Songak. He eventually defeated Yang Gil and other local lords in central Korea to proclaim himself king of Later Goguryeo in 901.
He changed the state's name to Majin in 904, and eventually to Taebong in 911. Gung Ye transferred the capital from Songak to Cheorwon in 905. Taebong at its peak consisted of territory in the present-day provinces North Hwanghae and South Hwanghae, Gyeonggi
, Gangwon-do (South Korea)
/Kangwon-do (North Korea), Pyongyang
, North Chungcheong
and southern part of South Jeolla
.
In his later days, Gung Ye proclaimed himself a Buddha and became a tyrant who sentenced death to anyone opposing him, including his own wife Lady Gang. As a result, in 918 four of his own generals – Hong Yu (홍유, 洪儒), Bae Hyeon-gyeong (배현경, 裵玄慶), Shin Sung-gyeom
(신숭겸, 申崇謙) and Bok Ji-gyeom (복지겸, 卜智謙) – overthrew Taebong and installed Wang Geon
as king. Soon thereafter, the Goryeo
dynasty was proclaimed.
Taebong influenced Goryeo
culturally. Gung Ye
was originally a Buddhist monk
. He encouraged Buddhism
and changed the manners of national ceremonies Buddhist, including the Palgwanhoe (팔관회, 八關會) and Seokdeungnong (석등롱, 石燈籠). These changes survived the death of Gung Ye
and the fall of Taebong.
Gung Ye
Gung Ye was the king of the short-lived Hugoguryeo on the Korean peninsula. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power struggle among the royal family members during the late 9th century...
(궁예, 弓裔) on the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
in 901
901
Year 901 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* Abu 'Abdullah al-Shi'i leads the rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Aghlabid emirate in Ifriqiya ....
, during the Later Three Kingdoms period.
History
Gung Ye was known as a son of King HeonanHeonan of Silla
Heonan of Silla was the 47th king of the Silla kingdom of Korea. He was the younger half-brother of King Sinmu. What little we know of his reign comes from the Samguk Sagi....
or King Gyeongmun
Gyeongmun of Silla
Gyeongmun of Silla was the 48th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He was the grandson of King Huigang, and the son of the Achan Kim Gye-myeong. His mother was Lady Gwanghwa, the daughter of King Sinmu. Gyeongmun married Queen Munui, who was the daughter of King Heonan.Gyeongmun's reign saw...
. A soothsayer prophesied that the new-born baby would bring disaster to Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, so the King ordered his servants to kill him. However, his nurse hid Gung Ye and raised him secretly.
He joined Yang Gil
Yang Gil
Yang Gil was a head of rebel forces in Silla. Hugoguryeo King Gung Ye was once under his command. Historians are uncertain about his birth, death or family line. At the time, the monarch of Silla was Queen Jinseong. In 889, the state coffers of Silla were empty, so the queen sent envoys to the...
's rebellion force in 892. Silla, after nearly a millennium as a centralized kingdom, was quickly declining, and Gung Ye instigated his own rebellion and absorbed Wang Geon's force in Songak
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
. In 898, He set up the capital in Songak. He eventually defeated Yang Gil and other local lords in central Korea to proclaim himself king of Later Goguryeo in 901.
He changed the state's name to Majin in 904, and eventually to Taebong in 911. Gung Ye transferred the capital from Songak to Cheorwon in 905. Taebong at its peak consisted of territory in the present-day provinces North Hwanghae and South Hwanghae, Gyeonggi
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do is the most populous province in South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Suwon. Seoul—South Korea's largest city and national capital—is located in the heart of the province, but has been separately administered as a provincial-level special city since 1946...
, Gangwon-do (South Korea)
Gangwon-do (South Korea)
Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Gangwon and its North Korean neighbour Kangwŏn formed a single province.-History:...
/Kangwon-do (North Korea), Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, North Chungcheong
Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province...
and southern part of South Jeolla
Jeollanam-do
Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...
.
In his later days, Gung Ye proclaimed himself a Buddha and became a tyrant who sentenced death to anyone opposing him, including his own wife Lady Gang. As a result, in 918 four of his own generals – Hong Yu (홍유, 洪儒), Bae Hyeon-gyeong (배현경, 裵玄慶), Shin Sung-gyeom
Shin Sung-gyeom
Shin Sung-gyeom was a Korean general during the turbulent Later Three Kingdoms period in the early 10th century. Born in Gwanghaeju , he became a general in the kingdom of Taebong...
(신숭겸, 申崇謙) and Bok Ji-gyeom (복지겸, 卜智謙) – overthrew Taebong and installed Wang Geon
Taejo of Goryeo
Taejo of Goryeo was the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943.-Background:...
as king. Soon thereafter, the Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
dynasty was proclaimed.
Taebong influenced Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
culturally. Gung Ye
Gung Ye
Gung Ye was the king of the short-lived Hugoguryeo on the Korean peninsula. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power struggle among the royal family members during the late 9th century...
was originally a Buddhist monk
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. He encouraged Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and changed the manners of national ceremonies Buddhist, including the Palgwanhoe (팔관회, 八關會) and Seokdeungnong (석등롱, 石燈籠). These changes survived the death of Gung Ye
Gung Ye
Gung Ye was the king of the short-lived Hugoguryeo on the Korean peninsula. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power struggle among the royal family members during the late 9th century...
and the fall of Taebong.