Analyzes why the West has developed more than the East since the Industrial Revolution and questions whether change is essential. It compares the advantages and disadvantages of change with historical examples, emphasizing that a harmonious acceptance of tradition and the new is key to social progress.
The Industrial Revolution, considered a revolution that changed the course of human history, began in 17th-century Europe, or the West. Most of the countries that established numerous colonies and showed off their power in the name of modern imperialism were also Western. This is because the West was significantly more advanced scientifically and economically than the East until the modern era. There are many reasons why the West was more advanced than the East. It made numerous scientific discoveries and subsequent technological advancements; it embraced money and the capitalist economic system before the East, and succeeded in making vast sums of money from the combination of the two; and it was able to accumulate capital through the development of commercial and financial systems, which helped fuel new industries and technological innovations. These economic conditions made it possible for the West to enact large-scale social change, which led to political stability, institutional development, and even military power. To summarize, the explanation for this is a willingness to admit ignorance and to accept current observations over past traditions.
However, can we say that the attitude of accepting new things only leads to good results? From a historical perspective, there are quite a few examples of how embracing a lot of new things has led to good results. The most prominent examples are the Yangmu Movement in China and the Meiji Restoration in Japan. In China’s Yangmu Movement, the motto was “China for the Chinese people” and only accepted weapons. Japan’s Meiji Restoration, on the other hand, not only accepted American weapons and military supplies, but also changed the names of administrative units. These differences would prove to be crucial in determining the fate of both countries. China lost several wars, lost territory, resources, and other interests to imperialist powers, and had parts of its territory colonized. Japan, on the other hand, developed into a major power with numerous colonies, including the Korean Peninsula, parts of Manchuria, and Southeast Asia, and fought in World War II. The Korean Empire also had a failed reform of its own, with the motto of “Gubon Shinchin”. Basically, change is a prerequisite for strengthening. Before the strengthening of Samsung Electronics, Chairman Lee Kun-hee said, “Change everything except your wife and children at home,” and Korea also went through a process of change from the past, including industrial structure and lifestyle, to become a modern economic powerhouse.
But does change always lead to good results? Of course not. ‘Critical acceptance’ is essential for the long term. Unconditional acceptance of newspapers is bound to have negative consequences. Each culture or society has its own style. Therefore, even if a foreign newspaper is based on advanced technology, it may not be suitable for the culture or lifestyle of the recipient. In the past, Korea had a great relationship with China and imported many things from China, such as the Chinese calendar and farm books. At that time, China was a much more advanced country than Korea, so you would think that the goods made with advanced technology would be better than those made in Korea. However, calendars must be made according to the time of day in each country because the sun rises and sets at different times, and it is natural that the climate and soil conditions in China and Korea are not the same, so farming based on Chinese farming books and farming methods was not suitable for Korea. Therefore, in the early Joseon Dynasty, the Chiljeongsan and Nongsa Jikseol were created, and they began to be used according to Korean conditions, and the results were much better than when they were used in China.
In addition, unconditional acceptance of newspapers can cause social disruption. When a society’s traditional values and belief systems are disrupted by rapid change, individuals and communities experience identity confusion, which can lead to social instability. Even in modern societies, we often see examples of conflicts arising when new technologies and cultures are rapidly introduced and clash with existing social structures. These conflicts often escalate into political and social problems that hinder the development of the society as a whole.
One of the most important things in the formation of a culture is identity. While it may be against the grain of modern social change to not change all past lifestyles in the name of tradition, adopting and changing things from other cultures just because you like them is nothing more or less than losing your own culture and identity. We need to change what we change while maintaining a certain amount of character and individuality to be more competitive in the future.
And of course, tradition is not without its lessons, and sometimes discoveries that surpass modern technology come from it. This is the case of Dr. Tuyuyu Tu from China, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015. Dr. Tuyuyu’s discovery of artemisinin, a treatment for malaria, was inspired by an ancient Chinese medical text, the Zhu Hui Bian, written around 340 AD. The Zhu Hui Bifang recommends drinking boiled water infused with ragwort as a treatment for dysentery, and since the symptoms of dysentery are very similar to malaria, Dr. Tou Yu Yu realized that ragwort could be a treatment for malaria, and he researched it, which led to his Nobel Prize.
Nothing succeeds without change. However, history has shown us that completely ignoring tradition can have significant side effects. By abandoning traditions, societies can lose their identity and competitiveness. It is the critical acceptance of change, not unconditional change, and the right balance of the old and the new that creates a successful society. This balanced approach will be the key to achieving both sustainable development and social stability.
