Kintsugi: The Art of Honoring Your Imperfections 

The art of repairing broken ceramics varies from place to place. In the West, the focus is to make the repairs invisible and restore the object, as much as possible, to its original condition. On the other hand, gold pigment and lacquer are used to repair the breakages in Japan. This changes the look of the object since the break is visible. This technique, called Kintsugi (golden joinery) or Kintsukuroi (golden repair), emerged nearly five centuries ago and held an important place in Japan’s cultural tradition. This technique is primarily recognized as the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery.   

In the modern age, most of us try to achieve perfection. However, the Japanese philosophy of ‘wabi-sabi’ stands directly in the face of that and advocates imperfection and espouses that it is okay to be broken and have scars. According to this philosophy, broken people are beautiful despite all the scars and blemishes.     

The Philosophy Behind Kintsugi 

The present world is obsessed with perfection. People focus on youth and beauty despite the fact these attributes are mostly unattainable and can be easily lost. However, the Japanese culture of repairing poetry does not value such qualities. Instead, Kintsugi art is all about highlighting imperfections. Kintsugi, with its strong philosophical implications, is a much-needed change in a world that worships perfection.  

The Kintsugi art is based on the ‘wabi-sabi’ philosophy that looks for beauty in imperfection and value simplicity. Japanese aesthetics values those wear marks as it justifies the reason for keeping such objects even if they cannot be used any longer.  

According to the ‘wabi-sabi’ philosophy, cracks and repairs are a natural aspect of any object’s existence. Hence, we must treasure them rather than end their service the moment they are fractured or damaged. This philosophy can also be linked with another Japanese philosophy of ‘no mind’ (mushin) that embraces fate, non-attachment, and acceptance of change as part of human life. Therefore, embracing your imperfections and celebrating your scars in the ruthless modern world become important lessons.  

Read Also: How to Change Your Mindset to Succeed in Life 

How It All Began  

According to historical sources, the 8th Ashikaga Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490), sent his treasured tea bowl to China for repairs. But he did not approve of it when it was returned with metal staples. The legend says that he ordered his subjects to change it, which is how Kintsugi began. In fact, this art became so popular that a number of collectors purposefully shattered their precious ceramics, hoping to get them repaired with Kintsugi.  

Kintsugi And Life  

The basic philosophy behind the Kintsugi art is that one should love not only the external beauty of an object but also value its imperfection. We must cherish our imperfections and learn to celebrate them instead of covering them up. If something is broken, it does not mean we should stop respecting or paying attention to it. It can be transformed from something imperfect into something beautiful.  

Similarly, in life, we all seek perfection. We are always looking for happiness and success, but things are never as simple as they seem. We often find ups and downs in life, leaving us damaged, broken, and imperfect. However, the truth is that such challenges and struggles make life worth living. Therefore, it is essential to remember the philosophy of Kintsugi during such situations. It can help us handle situations that do not go our way.  

Try to embrace your imperfections instead of hiding them away. Since they are a part of you as your positive qualities, you must not prevent them from showing up. If you can embrace them, they will also make you stronger. By accepting them, we can not only grow but transform into something that is beyond our wildest dreams.  

You must realize that your life will never turn out to be perfect. Our time on earth is limited and full of twists and turns. Therefore, on most occasions, things will not go as planned. While we may never control the external aspects of our life, we can always control how we react to those challenges and struggles. Hence, embrace your imperfections and understand that they are as important as the other aspects of your life.  

While embracing the battered and the old may seem odd in this age, the 15th-century practice of Kintsugi reminds us to stay optimistic even when things fall apart around us.