Vanishing Boundaries
I visited Tibetan regions twice, in 2013 and again in 2024. Over the course of a decade, the cultural atmosphere and ways of life there have undergone rapid transformation—changes that can be felt almost instantly. The traditional spiritual world and the rhythm of contemporary life now coexist and intertwine on the same land, creating a subtle and layered tension.
As an outsider, I cannot define the meaning of these shifts, but I can feel the pace at which time propels everything forward. Many everyday details I encountered during my first visit now appear in altered forms or have quietly faded away. They were not abruptly replaced; rather, they evolved gradually within the long arc of social development. This evolution gives the culture a sense of both continuity and fracture.
I understand that modernization anywhere involves an ongoing exchange between the old and the new, yet witnessing these transitions firsthand still evokes a quiet, indescribable sadness. Tradition is searching for new ground, modernity keeps expanding, and the boundary between them grows increasingly blurred. And in this very blurring, I find myself wondering: what does the idea of a “best era” truly mean for a people?