Loosely translated as “golden joinery,” Kintsugi, or Kintsukuroi, “golden repair” is the Japanese art of fixing broken ceramics. It seems that people in the West are used to replacing broken ceramics with new items, but in Japan, broken poetry is treated differently. Instead of hiding the breaks with a camouflage adhesive, or simply purchasing a new item, Kintsugi masters use lacquer dusted or mixed with gold, silver, or platinum powder, to simultaneously embellish and mend a broken item.
By using the art of Kintsugi, pottery is not only repaired, but is also improved. Instead of hiding, the scars are emphasized and used to improve the overall look of the piece, thus making them a part of the unique history of the object. The Japanese are appreciative of old, enduring things that stand the test of time.
The concept comes from the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi that teaches people to accept growing old and embrace scars that come with age. The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi teaches us that everything has flaws and these imperfections only increase with age. But rather than rebel against them, we should embrace and celebrate our scars and the transitory nature of life. Kintsugi also expresses the feeling of mottaini, loosely translated as regret for things that are wasted without deriving their value. All of these philosophies were a fruitful…
