The ability to recover, to heal wounds without hiding them, learn from them and rebuild ourselves can turn a crisis into a opportunity to build something even better. It’s what we are taught kintsugia japanese art to repair broken pottery that celebrates imperfections, and that can also be applied to life itself.

What is kintsugi?

the word kintsugi is derived from Japanese words kinwhich means gold (although it can also refer to other precious metals such as silver), and tsugimeans to unite or repair. So, Kintsugi could be translated as «golden repair» and that is precisely what this art form consists of to recover and give new life to broken pottery.

It is believed that kintsugi It was invented around the 15th centuryafter Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the eighth shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, your favorite teacup broke and sent it to China to repair it. The result was not to his liking and he decided to contact Japanese craftsmen to fix it. In fact, ceramics are very important in Japanese cultureespecially in the tea ceremony (chanoyu), with which kintsugi is closely related.

In kintsugui, a special lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum powder to join or glue the different parts of the broken ceramic. This lacquer, known as urushi, is obtained from the plant Rhus verniciflua and not only serves as an adhesive, but also fills cracks and reinforces the structure. The final result is a piece in which, instead of hiding or disguising the damaged parts, precious metals highlight them. In this way, cracks or breaks come to symbolize the history and resistance of the object.

Thus, more than a technique to repair ceramics, the Kintsugi is considered a form of artistic expression which is based on the idea that accept flaws and imperfections can lead to a unique and even more beautiful work of art. It embodies the idea that objects, (just like people), can become even more beautiful and valuable through their experiences and transformations.

Kintsugi: Philosophical Meaning

The kintsugi technique has a deep connection with Japanese philosophy and culture. It represents a very important concept in Japanese philosophy that consists of focusing on moments of despair and sadness as opportunities for healing and growth. The idea of ​​rethinking difficulties and emerging stronger from them.

Kintsugi teaches you to be kind to yourself, love yourself and love your own cracks“defects” and imperfections, while helping to rethink the difficulties and to come out of them stronger.

Kintsugi and wabi-sabi

The philosophy of kintsugi has similarities with japanese wabi-sabi philosophywhich is based on the acceptance and appreciation of transience and what is defective or imperfect and the natural cycle of growth and decay.

The term wabi-sabi is the combination of two interrelated aesthetic concepts: wabirefers to live in harmony with nature in a simple way and austere, and I knew alludes to the beauty or serenity that appears with the passage of time. Thus, this aesthetic principle or way of seeing the world so deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism appreciates the beauty and harmony of what is simple, imperfect or incomplete.

Kintsugi embodies this philosophy by celebrate the scars of an object like ceramics, seeing them as a integral part of its history and beauty.

Kinsugi and mottaini concept

He japanese mottaini conceptwhich refers to regret for wasting valuable resources and the value of living in harmony with the environment, is another spiritual aspect related to kintsugi.

The mottaini is based on the belief that everything deserves respect and gratitude and therefore it is important not to waste. It emphasizes the value of not wasting valuable resources and appreciating the inherent value of objects, even when they are broken or damaged.

Kintsugi aligns with this philosophy by honor craftsmanship and value the history of ceramics and appreciate their continued use, rather than dismissing them as useless once they have been damaged.

Kinsugi and mushin concept

Kinsugi also has links with the concept of mushin («state of no mind»), central to Zen and Japanese martial arts, referring to a state of mind in which there are no thoughts, desires, ideas, or assumptions. Both focus on detachment, acceptance of change and destiny as aspects of human life.