Kintsugi as a Philosophy

Ever heard of Kintsugi? Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that uses golden resin joinery to repair broken ceramics, transforming otherwise discarded ceramic shards into beautiful and unique pieces. It is an ancient practice based on the principles of ‘wabi-sabi’ - ‘wabi’ meaning to appreciate the asymmetry or irregularity of things as they are found in nature, and ‘sabi’ describing the beauty of ageing, impermanence and natural decay.

Kintsugi as a philosophy is powerful. By treating breakage as a part of an object’s history, setbacks are not seen as shameful failures but rather as opportunities for profound transformation. The object’s history is not to be hidden but actually, when mended with care, displayed with pride because the repair makes the object stronger, more beautiful and character-filled than before.

As a practice, Kintsugi is a metaphor for embracing and accepting life’s challenges rather than striving for perfection. It is also a reminder that, with self compassion, one’s spirit can be restored after challenging times. There is a natural cycle of growth, decay and repair that can bring about resilience, value and enduring beauty.

I have worked with many clients over the years to encourage a similar mindset shift. There is value in honouring our life experiences for what they are and there is value in learning to identify the beauty that can come about as a result of our own repair.