In Japan, there is a Japanese technique that transforms both broken objects and people into something valuable and beautiful. In this article, we will talk about Kintsugi [金継ぎ], the Japanese art of healing scars with gold.
In reality, Kintsugi is an art that consists of restoring broken vases and ceramics with melted gold. To be more precise, a mixture of lacquer and gold powder. Sometimes this restoration makes the object as valuable as the original.
Symbolically, this shows that broken people can easily learn from these situations, becoming stronger and more valuable. It also shows that we should not be ashamed of our exposed wounds.
The word [金継ぎ] is derived from the ideogram for gold [金] and to connect [継ぎ], which literally represents the connection or repair using gold. Of course, the mixture is not entirely made of gold, but rather mixed with lacquer or resin.
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The Origin of Kintsugi
Lacquered objects [connected, joined] are quite traditional in Japan; there are various techniques involving lacquer that likely gave rise to the technique. One of these techniques is maki-e, which consists of using lacquer with gold or silver powder to make decorations with a brush.
The origins of Kintsugi are uncertain, but it is likely that the practice became common in Japan during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is probable that the tradition began during the rise of tea bowls, which were very valuable objects to their owners.
Some believe that Kintsugi arose when Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa broke his favorite tea bowl and sent it for repair in China in the 15th century, where it was returned all patched up with staples.
Dissatisfied with the result, he sought Japanese craftsmen who repaired it using a resin sprinkled with gold. The craftsmen, influenced by Buddhist ideals of detachment and acceptance, highlighted the scars by using this technique.
The first reference to Kintsugi speaks of a warrior in the 17th century who was breaking cheap tea bowls and using the repair technique to later sell them and generate a good amount of money.
The Philosophy of Kintsugi
Kintsugi has become a philosophy of life similar to wabi-sabi, which consists of accepting the imperfect and defective. Soon this technique became popular and spread to other objects and countries like China and Korea.
The Japanese constantly seek to remain perfect, but in reality, everyone makes mistakes; some try to hide them. The philosophy of Kintsugi consists of not hiding these flaws but considering them in a positive and valuable way.
Kintsugi is believed to be related to the Japanese philosophy mushin [無心], which means “no importance” and encompasses the concepts of non-attachment, accepting change, and fate.
Another philosophy, besides wabi-sabi and mushin present in Kintsugi, is the feeling of mottainai, which describes the regret of wasting something. There are many things we can learn from this art and apply in our lives.
Another interesting factor is in the Kintsugi process, which takes a long time (weeks and even months) for the resin to dry. This represents that the healing process can be slow and requires some patience.
While other forms of repair eventually deteriorate over time, Kintsugi is very resilient, as resilient as the original object. Thus showing that wounds make us stronger, which is why we should not hide them.
Types of Kintsugi Repair
There are three methods or types of repair that use the lacquer and gold technique:
- Hibi [ひび] – Consists of fixing cracks and attaching broken pieces with minimal overlap or filling in missing pieces.
- Kake no kintsugi rei [欠けの金継ぎ例] – When resin and gold are used to fill in missing pieces.
- Yobitsugi [呼び継ぎ] – When scraps or pieces from other objects are used to repair or create a new one.
The resin used in Kintsugi is called urushi and is made from the sap of a tree. This material has been used for about 9000 years as glue, putty, and paint. Some end up thinking that only gold is used, but sometimes silver is mixed in and used only on the surface.
The Influence of Kintsugi in the World
In the past, Kintsugi was seen only as a beautiful way to fix things, especially since using gold is quite valuable. Nowadays, the practice of restoration with gold is popular among leading Contemporary Artists.
There are even self-help and wellness courses and books that use these ceramics as a metaphor for embracing flaws and imperfections. These works of art often attract people from all over the world and are even used for marketing.
What do you think about this traditional Japanese vase repair? Did you know this term? Do you find its application in life interesting? What are your thoughts on the subject? We look forward to your comments and shares.
Kintsugi Course – Restore Your Ceramics with Gold
Do it yourself! Learn to see beauty in imperfections by restoring ceramics with the ancestral Japanese technique of Kintsugi in this Introductory course by Clara Graziolino.
The ceramist and Kintsugi specialist Clara Graziolino describes this Japanese restoration method as an active meditation that helped her find inspiration in difficult times.
In this course, you will learn about the history and philosophy of Kintsugi with Clara’s guidance at every step of the way. You will learn to create two restoration projects using the techniques of filling cracks and reconstructing parts.
To find out more information about Clara Graziolino’s Kintsugi course, just click the button below:
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