— Overview
The notes tell the familiar tale as far as two questions, and they add that Ondal is recorded in the Samguk Sagi, then they stop.
— Contents and key concepts
A childhood threat, and a vow kept
Anyone from the country, the notes begin, already knows the story of foolish Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang. King Pyeongwon of Goguryeo used to frighten his daughter, who as a child would burst into tears at the slightest thing, by saying that if she kept crying he would marry her to Ondal, already rumoured to be a fool.
Time passed, and the princess grew old enough to marry. Proud of a daughter who had grown beautiful, the king was met with her sudden demand to be married to foolish Ondal. He was dumbfounded, but as king of a country he had to keep a promise, and he sent her out of the palace, weeping as if at a bitter draught.
Lessons, a hunt, and a general
The princess then asked her way among the villagers, found Ondal, explained what had happened, and they were married. She had him study letters and the martial arts, and she sent him out to a hunting contest. There he caught King Pyeongwon’s eye, and Ondal was raised from a fool to a general. That, the notes write, is as far as the tale people already know.
Two questions, and a record in the Samguk Sagi
From here, they say, a few doubts arise. In a Goguryeo where the order of status was strictly kept, was a marriage possible between a princess and a man called a fool, a person of low birth? And was it really only thanks to Princess Pyeonggang that foolish Ondal could go from being a fool as far as being a general?
The biographies of loyal subjects in the Samguk Sagi, they add, hold the stories of some ten meritorious men who had done great service to the country. Among them Ondal, who is taken as the very type of a fool, is recorded as a loyal subject. In the love story of Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang, they write, the change in Goguryeo society, and Ondal’s true figure, lie hidden. The notes leave the tale at those questions and that record, before a later recap. The same Korean report sits on CampusDown, written out more fully.
Sources
- The notes, a student reading of the tale of Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang: a king’s promise, lessons and a hunt, two questions about status, and Ondal recorded among loyal subjects in the Samguk Sagi.
Last updated: 15 November 2026
Frequently asked questions
How do the notes retell the familiar tale?
Anyone from the country, they write, knows the story of foolish Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang. King Pyeongwon of Goguryeo used to frighten his daughter, who burst into tears at the slightest thing, by saying that if she kept crying he would marry her to Ondal, who was already rumoured to be a fool. When she was old enough to marry, the princess, now grown beautiful, asked to be sent to Ondal. The king was dumbfounded, but as king of a country he had to keep a promise, and he sent her out of the palace in tears.
What happens after she leaves the palace?
The princess asks her way among the villagers, finds Ondal, explains what has happened, and they are married. She has him study letters and the martial arts, and she sends him to a hunting contest, where he catches King Pyeongwon’s eye and is raised from a fool to a general. That, they write, is as far as the tale people already know.
Where do they stop?
Two questions then arise: in a Goguryeo where status was strictly kept, could a princess marry a man called a fool and a person of low birth? And was it really only thanks to the princess that Ondal could go from fool to general? The biographies of loyal subjects in the Samguk Sagi, they add, tell of some ten meritorious men, and among them Ondal, the very type of a fool, is recorded as a loyal subject. The notes leave the tale at those questions and that record. Later recap about sixth-century wars is not used.
Refund policy
- Change of mind / refund requested after partial use / more than 7 days after purchase
◆ Exceptions
- File errors / cannot download or open the file
◆ How to request a refund: send a 1:1 inquiry via Customer Service at the top