There are two major currents in the field of social sciences in regards to tradition
and modernity. The first one, which is accepted as an irrefutable theory,
is centered on the thesis that modernity destroys tradition. The second one,
asserted by Hobsbawm, is based on the thesis that modernity invents tradition.
Although they apparently oppose each other, they share the same presupposition,
since both of them perceive tradition as a substance. This paper
examines, in this regard, a third way of perceiving tradition, which is to look
at it from the perspective of the theory of tradition asserted by Kim Su-yeong.
For this, I will restructure his theory of tradition referring to concept of
“specter” created by Derrida and also concept of “rhizome” created by Deleuze
and Guattari. I will also examine the symbol of the symbolic space of bridge
where tradition and modernity communicate each other. Through this
process, I attempt to revive the possibility of thinking the tradition in a new
perspective.