The Japanese art of repairing a broken bowl, or any pottery, is called Kintsugi (金継ぎ), which translates to “golden joinery” or “golden repair”. It involves using a special lacquer (urushi) mixed with gold, silver, or platinum to mend the broken pieces. Instead of hiding the cracks, Kintsugi highlights them, emphasizing the object’s history and making it even more beautiful and valuable.
Kintsugi – the practice of golden joinery. – Ikigai Tribe
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Kintsugi (金継ぎ) or Kintsukuroi (金繕い):
These are the Japanese terms for this art form, with “kin” meaning gold and “tsugi” or “tsukuroi” meaning join or repair.
THE PROCESS:
Broken pieces are carefully joined back together using a special Japanese lacquer (urushi).
Gold (or other metal) as a feature:
The lacquer is dusted with powdered gold (or silver/platinum) and used to fill and decorate the cracks.
Highlighting Imperfections:
Instead of concealing the damage, Kintsugi celebrates it, transforming the bowl into a unique piece with a visible history.
More than just repair:
Kintsugi is not just a repair technique; it’s a philosophy that embraces imperfections, resilience, and the beauty of transformation. It can be seen as a metaphor for healing and finding strength in the face of adversity. It’s hard to see the purpose in the breaking.
When everything feels like it’s falling apart, the instinct is to hold tighter— to resist, to fight, to fix.
We want certainty.
We crave safety.
We want things to stay the same,because change is terrifying. But sometimes, the falling apart is the gift. The cracks that break you openare the places where the light can get in. It doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real. It doesn’t mean you don’t get to grieve for the things you’re losing. It just means that maybe— just maybe— life is clearing out what no longer fits so you can grow into something new. Maybe the friendships, and other relationships that ended were making you small.
Maybe the dream that didn’t work out wasn’t the one meant for you. Maybe the job you lost was keeping you from your purpose. Maybe the breakdown is actually the breakthrough. It’s okay to feel lost right now. It’s okay to be afraid. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to trust that there’s a bigger story being written— one you can’t see yet.
Let yourself be gentle in the undoing. Hold your heart tenderly. Remind yourself you are not broken, you are becoming.
It takes courage to let things fall apart. It takes faith to believe that in the rubble, you will find the foundation for something better. Because sometimes, life isn’t trying to destroy you. It’s trying to rebuild you. Stronger. Wiser. More aligned. More you. So if everything is falling apart, breathe. Trust the process. Maybe it’s all coming together in a better way.
