One day, Emperor Taizong (唐太宗, 599-649, r.626-649) of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝, 618-907) in China got his hands on a good bow. He was proud that he had studied archery from a young age and that he had a good eye for a bow. Taizong boasted of his find to a master craftsman, but his pride was hurt when the man shook his head and pointed out the bow’s faults. “The crooked grain shows the wood is from a tree that is not straight. Such trees make strong bows, but the arrows do not fly straight,” the artisan explained.
Taizong understood and replied, “I have pacified the world with countless bows and arrows until now. But I did not grasp the fundamental principle of a bow and an arrow until today. As a recently enthroned emperor, how could I have accumulated enough knowledge about the way to rule the country?” he said. After that, Taizong decided to consult more with government officials in an effort to better understand the policies needed to rule the country. Taizong did not come to be regarded as the greatest emperor in Chinese history for no reason. Those peaceful, prosperous days in 7th century China were possible because Taizong understood how to govern. He well understood the saying, “Water keeps boats afloat, but it also overturns them,” and put it into practice.
Since this maxim was true even in times of an absolute monarchy, it is just as true in the democracies of today. In democracy, there exists the feeling of a period just as profound as the principle of the bow and arrow. The demands of the times state that sovereign power must come from the public. This is apparent even within the short history of Korean democracy.
During the administration of President Syngman Rhee (Yi Sung-man, 李承晩, 이승만, 1875-1965, p.1948-1960) the times demanded national foundation. For the first time in a history of 5000 years, a republic was established and democratic systems, which had never been heard of or seen in the country before, were introduced. Under President Park Chung-hee (朴正熙, 박정희, 1917-1979, p.1961-1979) the times demanded an escape from the state of poverty. Under the slogan, “Let us make our lives better,” Koreans saw a stretch of double-digit growth. When President Chun Doo-hwan (全斗煥, 전두환, 1931- , p.1980-1988) was in power, the times demanded democratisation, but that demand was only stomped on by military boots. It barely managed to resurface when former President Roh Tae-woo (盧泰愚, 노태우, 1932- , p.1988-1993) came into office.
Therefore, the demand of the era of President Kim Young-sam (金泳三, 김영삼, 1927- , p.1993-1998) was cleaning up the remnants of military culture. Reforms were carried out in the name of civilianising the nation. The Hanahoe (Group of One, 하나회), a clan of favoured military officers led by Chun, was broken up; it was made obligatory to use real names in financial transactions and local autonomy was implemented. The demand during the term in office of President Kim Dae-jung (金大中, 김대중, 1925-2009, p.1998-2003) was reconciliation. Reconciliation was sought between both South and North Korea and the eastern and western regions of the South. The extremes of the standoff between the two Koreas were alleviated to a certain degree by the Haetpyot Chongchaek (햇볕 政策, 햇볕 정책, Sunshine Policy) and the rays of sunshine also shone on the previously excluded Cholla (全羅道, 전라도) provinces. The demand of the times under President Roh Moo-hyun (盧武鉉, 노무현, 1946-2009, p.2003-2008) was breaking away from authoritarianism. Authorities with beer bellies and shiny faces from eating too much were discredited, one by one.
The demands of certain time periods do not pop up randomly like a lottery ball. Just like the Latin aphorism, “natura non facit saltum (nature does not make a sudden leap), the necessities of an era are the result of the demand of the times that precede it and it becomes the cause for what must be accomplished in the future. So, what are the demands of our times, the present day? This question is easily answered. Koreans just have to think about why voters elected the current president.
At present, the revival of the economy is at the forefront of the minds of the people. The CEO (Chief Executive Officer)-president also realised this, so he ran around busily, starting work early in the morning. He thought that all he had to do was to make the pie bigger and he was confident that he could do so. However, he was mistaken. It appeared as if he was keeping in step only with the rich and he seemed to get farther and farther away from the poor. In the meantime, the middle class gradually began to lag behind as well.
After being burned by candles of protest and called a 'murderer', the president seems to be deliberating on the principle of the bow and arrow again. He spoke of a middle road and talked about the working class. It seems that he has realised that unifying divided public opinion is more urgent than connecting between them the four main rivers of the country that are empty of water but overflowing with controversy. This means he has finally started to think about the right way to rule the country. If so, his desire to make the pie bigger is no longer a misunderstanding. He must have realised that although reviving the economy and improving national competitiveness is a must, he cannot move a single step forward if people feel that he will be handing out larger slices to the privileged.
Aligning oneself with the demands of the times is a difficult task, but one can do anything when one remember that “water keeps boats afloat, but it also overturns them”. President Lee Myung-bak (李明博, 이명박, 1941- , p.2008- ) should also keep in mind the words of John F. Kennedy (1917-1963: “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
Taizong understood and replied, “I have pacified the world with countless bows and arrows until now. But I did not grasp the fundamental principle of a bow and an arrow until today. As a recently enthroned emperor, how could I have accumulated enough knowledge about the way to rule the country?” he said. After that, Taizong decided to consult more with government officials in an effort to better understand the policies needed to rule the country. Taizong did not come to be regarded as the greatest emperor in Chinese history for no reason. Those peaceful, prosperous days in 7th century China were possible because Taizong understood how to govern. He well understood the saying, “Water keeps boats afloat, but it also overturns them,” and put it into practice.
Since this maxim was true even in times of an absolute monarchy, it is just as true in the democracies of today. In democracy, there exists the feeling of a period just as profound as the principle of the bow and arrow. The demands of the times state that sovereign power must come from the public. This is apparent even within the short history of Korean democracy.
During the administration of President Syngman Rhee (Yi Sung-man, 李承晩, 이승만, 1875-1965, p.1948-1960) the times demanded national foundation. For the first time in a history of 5000 years, a republic was established and democratic systems, which had never been heard of or seen in the country before, were introduced. Under President Park Chung-hee (朴正熙, 박정희, 1917-1979, p.1961-1979) the times demanded an escape from the state of poverty. Under the slogan, “Let us make our lives better,” Koreans saw a stretch of double-digit growth. When President Chun Doo-hwan (全斗煥, 전두환, 1931- , p.1980-1988) was in power, the times demanded democratisation, but that demand was only stomped on by military boots. It barely managed to resurface when former President Roh Tae-woo (盧泰愚, 노태우, 1932- , p.1988-1993) came into office.
Therefore, the demand of the era of President Kim Young-sam (金泳三, 김영삼, 1927- , p.1993-1998) was cleaning up the remnants of military culture. Reforms were carried out in the name of civilianising the nation. The Hanahoe (Group of One, 하나회), a clan of favoured military officers led by Chun, was broken up; it was made obligatory to use real names in financial transactions and local autonomy was implemented. The demand during the term in office of President Kim Dae-jung (金大中, 김대중, 1925-2009, p.1998-2003) was reconciliation. Reconciliation was sought between both South and North Korea and the eastern and western regions of the South. The extremes of the standoff between the two Koreas were alleviated to a certain degree by the Haetpyot Chongchaek (햇볕 政策, 햇볕 정책, Sunshine Policy) and the rays of sunshine also shone on the previously excluded Cholla (全羅道, 전라도) provinces. The demand of the times under President Roh Moo-hyun (盧武鉉, 노무현, 1946-2009, p.2003-2008) was breaking away from authoritarianism. Authorities with beer bellies and shiny faces from eating too much were discredited, one by one.
The demands of certain time periods do not pop up randomly like a lottery ball. Just like the Latin aphorism, “natura non facit saltum (nature does not make a sudden leap), the necessities of an era are the result of the demand of the times that precede it and it becomes the cause for what must be accomplished in the future. So, what are the demands of our times, the present day? This question is easily answered. Koreans just have to think about why voters elected the current president.
At present, the revival of the economy is at the forefront of the minds of the people. The CEO (Chief Executive Officer)-president also realised this, so he ran around busily, starting work early in the morning. He thought that all he had to do was to make the pie bigger and he was confident that he could do so. However, he was mistaken. It appeared as if he was keeping in step only with the rich and he seemed to get farther and farther away from the poor. In the meantime, the middle class gradually began to lag behind as well.
After being burned by candles of protest and called a 'murderer', the president seems to be deliberating on the principle of the bow and arrow again. He spoke of a middle road and talked about the working class. It seems that he has realised that unifying divided public opinion is more urgent than connecting between them the four main rivers of the country that are empty of water but overflowing with controversy. This means he has finally started to think about the right way to rule the country. If so, his desire to make the pie bigger is no longer a misunderstanding. He must have realised that although reviving the economy and improving national competitiveness is a must, he cannot move a single step forward if people feel that he will be handing out larger slices to the privileged.
Aligning oneself with the demands of the times is a difficult task, but one can do anything when one remember that “water keeps boats afloat, but it also overturns them”. President Lee Myung-bak (李明博, 이명박, 1941- , p.2008- ) should also keep in mind the words of John F. Kennedy (1917-1963: “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
Giorgio Olivotto
Seoul, Korea
October 10, 2010
Seoul, Korea
October 10, 2010
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