Taego

Taego is a term with more than one notable usage, spanning religion and popular culture. In Korean Buddhism, it also names a distinct monastic lineage; in gaming, it refers to a limited-time mode in PUBG: Battlegrounds. Each usage has its own history and characteristics, but both share a connection to Korean modern culture.

In Korean Buddhism, the Taego Order (Taego-jong) is a reformist lineage that traces its origins to the monk Taego Bou. Emerging during the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods, the Taego Order sought to preserve monastic discipline while expanding lay participation and practice beyond traditional confines. It is one of the major monastic communities within Korean Buddhism, alongside other schools such as the Jogye Order. Today, Taego-affiliated temples and practitioners can be found in South Korea and in diaspora communities, continuing traditional meditation, study, and ritual practice.

In video gaming, Taego denotes a limited-time mode within PUBG: Battlegrounds that was introduced in 2021. The mode offers a variation of the core battle royale experience, featuring its own matchmaking, rules, and cosmetic systems, while using the same underlying game engine and map environments as other PUBG modes. Taego was designed to provide a fresh experience for players who were already familiar with the standard modes, expanding the game’s ongoing post-launch content.

Overall, Taego exemplifies how a single term can operate within both religious and entertainment contexts, reflecting broader aspects of Korean cultural influence.