Kintsugi – Journey from Brokenness to Healing

Kin, meaning gold, and Tsugi, meaning joinery, is a traditional craft that focuses on repair as a celebratory restoration.

Kintsugi is the centuries-old art form of repairing broken pottery with a rare resin, from the Urushi tree that can only be found in Asia, that is mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum to form a lacquer.  The practice of Kintsugi dates back to the 15th century and is based on the Buddhist teachings of celebrating and admiring imperfections. 

The origin of this beautiful art is said to have been based on a tea ceremony bowl belonging to the Shogun, that had been broken.  The Shogun sent the bowl to China to be repaired, and after several months, it was returned with metal staples that the Shogun found terribly unsightly and was wholly displeased with.  The Shogun turned to Japanese craftsmen to offer him a more aesthetically pleasing solution.  The regard and reverence of the tea ceremony, that originated as a way for monks to stay awake in order to practice long periods of meditation in Japan, resulted in the emanation of a unique and masterful rejuvenation technique that is prized worldwide.

Mending brokenness with threads of strength is a beautiful metaphor for life. Embracing our fractures and finding strength in our scars allows our broken pieces to find new life. Kintsugi reminds us that our flaws do not define us, that even broken things have a place. When repaired with care and grace, they make us whole.

I hope you will join me in finding beauty in brokenness and mending the scars of life with a golden threading of strength, resilience and perseverance. Sign up for my newsletter to get more content like this delivered straight to your inbox! Subscribe

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