When Princess Pyeonggang turned sixteen years old, the King and Queen looked for a proper suitor for their daughter. They had chosen a man from a great noble family. The young man had proven himself a capable warrior and politician, so the royal couple was happy to proceed with the union.
Upon hearing the news, Princess Pyeonggang became distressed. She approached her father with a shocking statement.
“Your Majesty must withdraw this marriage edict. I cannot marry Lord Go for Your Majesty has already promised me to a name named Ondol. Since As a bole ruler, Your Majesty must not tell lies. Therefore, I must follow your wish and become Ondal’s wife.” The princess explained.
“Princess must not take heart of the words your father said in jest. Leave now and prepare yourself for your wedding to Lord Go.” The King replied.
“It would set a terrible precedent for Your Majesty to go back on your words. I ask you to find Lord Ondol, so that I may marry him.” The princess insisted.
The King grew upset at the princess’ refusal.
“This is not the behavior of a princess. It is your responsibility to listen to your parents in these matters. If you refuse to listen, you must leave this palace at once. From this day forward, you are no longer my daughter. Either marry Lord Go or leave this palace at once.” The King commanded in a fit of rage.
Princess Pyeonggang went back into her bed chambers in tears. She packed several pieces of her jewelry and some clothes. The Queen tried to stop her, but the princess left the palace.
Once the princess was out of the palace. She headed straight for the market. She asked the people where she could find Ondal.
“Are you looking for the Idiot Ondal? Why would a lady as fine as yourself look for a beggar like him?” asked the woman. The princess explained that she needed to speak to the young man and the woman reluctantly told her where to find him. The Princess asked few more people along her way to make sure she was going to the right place.
Princess Pyeonggang follow the directions she received the villagers and began her journey to Ondal’s house where he lived with his aging, blind mother.
After a difficult climb, she came upon a tiny shack. She saw an old woman sitting on the porch waiting for her son’s return. Princess Pyeonggang slowly walked towards the old woman, who lifted her head as she heard the approaching footstep.
Princess Pyeonggang gave a polite bow and asked after Ondal. The princess explained that she had arrived to wed Ondal. The old woman grabbed the princess’ hands and quickly released it. Feeling the soothe hands of the woman, the older woman realized that the lady was of high birth who has not seen a day of hard labor.
“You must be mistaken, my lady. We are not an important family and we live in poverty. We are not worthy of someone so noble as yourself.” The woman replied.
The woman explained that Ondal had gone out in search of food as they had not eaten anything for days. Princess Pyeonggang told that woman that she would go search for Ondal and explain her intent.
After searching for hours, Princess Pyeonggang saw a tall man of great stature. His clothes were ragged, and his face was dirty from the day’s work. Princess Pyeonggang walked towards him carefully and explained what she had said to his mother. However, Ondal refused to believe that a lady of such birth and position would seek someone like him.
“A noble lady must not behave in this manner. Please return to your home as I am not the person you seek.” Ondal said to the princess as he ran away.
Princess Pyeonggang continue to follow Ondal back to his shack, but the young man refused to listen. Princess Pyeonggang spent several more days trying to convince Ondal and his mother, but they maintained their positions.
Princess Pyeonggang realized that despite the harsh treatment Ondal had received from others, he was kind and gentle. He hardly raised his voice, and he didn’t pay much attention to the names the villagers called him. He cared for his mother deeply. The love of mother and son moved the princess.
Princess Pyeonggang was determined to become Ondal’s wife. She went back to the village and used her jewelry to buy a house, rice fields, and other necessary household items. She returned to Ondal’s shack to take the mother and son to their new house.
Ondal and his mother eventually accepted the princess. Princess Pyeonggang spent every night teaching Ondal, from writing to dealing with vendors at the market. Due to Ondal strength, he excelled in hunting and he learned to use the sword quickly.
It didn’t take long before the King heard about the great hunter and had Ondal brought to him in the palace. When the King heard his name, he thought it was curious as it was the same name he used to tease his young daughter.
The King commanded that Ondal join the troops as they fought against their enemies in Yondong. When the troop gather to get the King’s blessing before leaving for battle, Princess Pyeonggang arrive to give him a lucky talisman to keep him safe.
The King finally realized that the young man marching into battle was the same Ondal his daughter had insisted on marrying. Ondal proved to be a brave fighter and aided the troop in its victory. Upon the troop’s return to the Capital, the King acknowledged him as his son-in-law.
Ondal’s fearlessness on the battleground made him legendary. A man from humble backgrounds became a great general with guidance by his persistent and loving wife. Princess Pyeonggang looked beyond Ondal’s outward appearance and saw a kind and gentle man with great honor and humility.
When King Pyeongwon died and King Yeongyang took the throne, General Ondal volunteered to take back the Hand near Han River, which Silla had taken. The General promised the King that he would not return unless he was victorious.
However, General Ondal died on the battlefield in Achasanseong Fortress. During his funeral, the pallbearers had trouble lifting the coffin from the ground. No matter how hard they tried, the coffin remained on the ground.
Finally, the princess knelt down next to the coffin and whispered, “Time has come for you to journey to the afterlife. May you rest there peacefully until the day I join you.” With that the princess signal for the pallbearers to continue and the coffin left the ground with ease.
King Pyeongwon adored his young daughter, Princess Pyeonggang. The young princess cried so often that the King and Queen teased her and called her crybaby. Every time the princess cried, the King teased and said that he would marry her to the village idiot Ondal. The princess continued to cry despite her father’s threat.
When Princess Pyeonggang turned sixteen years old, the King and Queen looked for a proper suitor for their daughter. They had chosen a man from a great noble family. The young man had proven himself a capable warrior and politician, so the royal couple was happy to proceed with the union.
Upon hearing the news, Princess Pyeonggang became distressed. She approached her father with a shocking statement.
“Your Majesty must withdraw this marriage edict. I cannot marry Lord Go for Your Majesty has already promised me to a name named Ondol. Since As a bole ruler, Your Majesty must not tell lies. Therefore, I must follow your wish and become Ondal’s wife.” The princess explained.
“Princess must not take heart of the words your father said in jest. Leave now and prepare yourself for your wedding to Lord Go.” The King replied.
“It would set a terrible precedent for Your Majesty to go back on your words. I ask you to find Lord Ondol, so that I may marry him.” The princess insisted.
The King grew upset at the princess’ refusal.
“This is not the behavior of a princess. It is your responsibility to listen to your parents in these matters. If you refuse to listen, you must leave this palace at once. From this day forward, you are no longer my daughter. Either marry Lord Go or leave this palace at once.” The King commanded in a fit of rage.
Princess Pyeonggang went back into her bed chambers in tears. She packed several pieces of her jewelry and some clothes. The Queen tried to stop her, but the princess left the palace.
Once the princess was out of the palace. She headed straight for the market. She asked the people where she could find Ondal.
“Are you looking for the Idiot Ondal? Why would a lady as fine as yourself look for a beggar like him?” asked the woman. The princess explained that she needed to speak to the young man and the woman reluctantly told her where to find him. The Princess asked few more people along her way to make sure she was going to the right place.
Princess Pyeonggang follow the directions she received the villagers and began her journey to Ondal’s house where he lived with his aging, blind mother.
After a difficult climb, she came upon a tiny shack. She saw an old woman sitting on the porch waiting for her son’s return. Princess Pyeonggang slowly walked towards the old woman, who lifted her head as she heard the approaching footstep.
Princess Pyeonggang gave a polite bow and asked after Ondal. The princess explained that she had arrived to wed Ondal. The old woman grabbed the princess’ hands and quickly released it. Feeling the soothe hands of the woman, the older woman realized that the lady was of high birth who has not seen a day of hard labor.
“You must be mistaken, my lady. We are not an important family and we live in poverty. We are not worthy of someone so noble as yourself.” The woman replied.
The woman explained that Ondal had gone out in search of food as they had not eaten anything for days. Princess Pyeonggang told that woman that she would go search for Ondal and explain her intent.
After searching for hours, Princess Pyeonggang saw a tall man of great stature. His clothes were ragged, and his face was dirty from the day’s work. Princess Pyeonggang walked towards him carefully and explained what she had said to his mother. However, Ondal refused to believe that a lady of such birth and position would seek someone like him.
“A noble lady must not behave in this manner. Please return to your home as I am not the person you seek.” Ondal said to the princess as he ran away.
Princess Pyeonggang continue to follow Ondal back to his shack, but the young man refused to listen. Princess Pyeonggang spent several more days trying to convince Ondal and his mother, but they maintained their positions.
Princess Pyeonggang realized that despite the harsh treatment Ondal had received from others, he was kind and gentle. He hardly raised his voice, and he didn’t pay much attention to the names the villagers called him. He cared for his mother deeply. The love of mother and son moved the princess.
Princess Pyeonggang was determined to become Ondal’s wife. She went back to the village and used her jewelry to buy a house, rice fields, and other necessary household items. She returned to Ondal’s shack to take the mother and son to their new house.
Ondal and his mother eventually accepted the princess. Princess Pyeonggang spent every night teaching Ondal, from writing to dealing with vendors at the market. Due to Ondal strength, he excelled in hunting and he learned to use the sword quickly.
It didn’t take long before the King heard about the great hunter and had Ondal brought to him in the palace. When the King heard his name, he thought it was curious as it was the same name he used to tease his young daughter.
The King commanded that Ondal join the troops as they fought against their enemies in Yondong. When the troop gather to get the King’s blessing before leaving for battle, Princess Pyeonggang arrive to give him a lucky talisman to keep him safe.
The King finally realized that the young man marching into battle was the same Ondal his daughter had insisted on marrying. Ondal proved to be a brave fighter and aided the troop in its victory. Upon the troop’s return to the Capital, the King acknowledged him as his son-in-law.
Ondal’s fearlessness on the battleground made him legendary. A man from humble backgrounds became a great general with guidance by his persistent and loving wife. Princess Pyeonggang looked beyond Ondal’s outward appearance and saw a kind and gentle man with great honor and humility.
When King Pyeongwon died and King Yeongyang took the throne, General Ondal volunteered to take back the Hand near Han River, which Silla had taken. The General promised the King that he would not return unless he was victorious.
However, General Ondal died on the battlefield in Achasanseong Fortress. During his funeral, the pallbearers had trouble lifting the coffin from the ground. No matter how hard they tried, the coffin remained on the ground.
Finally, the princess knelt down next to the coffin and whispered, “Time has come for you to journey to the afterlife. May you rest there peacefully until the day I join you.” With that the princess signal for the pallbearers to continue and the coffin left the ground with ease.