THE art of golden repair
Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken objects with gold, transforming fractures into beauty and scars into strength. More than just a restoration technique, it is a profound philosophy of life—one that teaches resilience, the power of transformation, and the importance of embracing imperfection.
Originating in the 15th century, Kintsugi honors the cracks rather than concealing them, fixing broken pottery with gold and accepting the flaws as part of an object’s unique history.
What if your fractures were not flaws, but the first golden strokes of a new, transformed path ?
Kintsugi, or Kintsukuroi ? While both terms are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle linguistic nuance. “Kintsugi” combines in Japanese kin (gold) and tsugi (join), referring to the golden joinery process that highlights breakage as part of the object’s history. “Kintsukuroi” combines kin (gold) and kuroi (to mend or repair), and tends to describe the act of repairing in a more technical or artisanal sense. In practice, however, Kintsugi is the most widely recognized term, used to describe both the technique and its deeper symbolism
EMBRACE A LIFE OF GOLDEN BEAUTY
What Are the Origins of Kintsugi?
The legend of Kintsugi
According to legend, the Kintsugi technique was born in 15th-century Japan when shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent his favorite tea bowl back to China for repair. It returned mended with unsightly metal staples—functional but unaesthetic. Disappointed, he asked Japanese artisans to find a more harmonious solution. Drawing from their own traditions, they used natural lacquer (urushi) and gold powder—materials they already mastered—to create a repair that didn’t hide the break but revealed it: Kintsugi was born. While the story remains unverified, it beautifully reflects the spirit of Kintsugi—turning disappointment into revelation. Curious about the myths behind this ancestral art? This article reveals more about the history of Kintsugi
A japanese philosophy of life
Deeply rooted in Japanese aesthetics, Kintsugi embodies the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection and impermanence.
Wabi (in Japanese: simplicity) and Sabi (beauty shaped by time) form the Japanese worldview that values imperfection, transience, and authenticity. Kintsugi is deeply rooted in this philosophy: instead of hiding flaws, it highlights them as part of an object’s unique story.
Interestingly, sabi is also the name of the natural bonding paste used in Kintsugi—an earthy, imperfect mix that, like the aesthetic concept, embraces age, texture, and transformation. The shared term may not be coincidental, even if it is not written with the same kanji character, as both reflect a reverence for the marks of time and the quiet elegance of things repaired rather than replaced. Dive deeper through this article exploring the connection between Wabi Sabi and Kintsugi
How is Kintsugi a Symbol of Resilience?
Fault lines into strength lines
Kintsugi is much more than an art form—it is a metaphor for life, healing, and emotional growth and a powerful Japanese mindfulness practice. Like a repaired Kintsugi bowl, we too can embrace our flaws, turn struggles into opportunities of growth, and transform brokenness into wisdom. This is the essence of Kintsugi – finding beauty and strength in imperfection > Learn more about this powerful art of resilience.
The mirror of our lives
Instead of hiding its past, the repaired object honors its journey, becoming more beautiful, stronger, and even more valuable than before. This philosophy mirrors our own healing process, reminding us that our scars are not something to be ashamed of but a testament to our survival and resilience. What if, through the creation of your own Kintsugi, you started your own healing transformation ?
A powerful self-help practice
With its symbolic echoes of healing and resilience, Kintsugi can feel like a mindful form of art therapy. Beyond mending objects, it may help mend the self and heal: inviting us to embrace our imperfections, transform them into strength, and rebuild our lives more beautifully than before. Curious about this more introspective path? Discover our Kintsugi books, workshops and private sessions
How Does the TRAdITIONAL Kintsugi Process Work?
Healing takes time
In the traditional Kintsugi method, the repair process is long and highly meticulous, unfolding over multiple steps and taking several weeks or even months to complete. It is said that the finest Kintsugi can take up to a year to perfect. The slowness and patience required mirrors an inner healing journey just as much as the restoration of the object itself.
The 6 Steps of Traditional Kintsugi
First, the broken shards are gathered, cleaned, and carefully glued back together using a natural lacquer (urushi) mixed with rice flour. Once dry, the object is sanded smooth. The cracks are then layered with multiple coats of lacquer, and finally dusted with powdered gold—or other metals like silver, brass, or copper. As the powder blends with the lacquer, it creates the illusion of molten metal flowing through the scars. After a final polishing, the piece shines with new beauty—stronger and more meaningful than before.
To explore the process in depth and discover how each phase can resonate with your own healing journey, read this dedicated article on the 6-step Kintsugi method on our blog dedicated to Kintsugi, or delve into the book Kintsugi, Finding Strength in Imperfection.
An invitation to contemplation
The kintsugi is now complete. This is the moment to step back and take it all in—contemplate it, not just an object, but a story of resilience. Just as the bowl has been restored with the kintsugi technique, we too emerge stronger, our scars no longer hidden but honored. And now, like those before us, we can become a guiding light for others still navigating their own fractures > Kintsugi is like a visual poetry… Explore more about the power of contemplation in this dedicated article about the silent wisdom of Kintsugi.
A modern take on kintsugi
Not everyone has access to the traditional Kintsugi technique—whether due to time, cost, materials, or the complexity of using urushi lacquer. Fortunately, modern interpretations inspired by the original process offer a more accessible path. Using non-toxic, quicker-drying materials, they preserve the spirit of healing, patience, and transformation. Click here to explore how modern Kintsugi can still hold deep meaning for you.
FROM PIECES TO MASTERPIECE
Kintsugi, Finding Strength in Imperfection
Why Does Kintsugi Matter Today?
A timeless practice
Though rooted in the 15th century, Kintsugi resonates more than ever in the 21st. In an age marked by acceleration, trauma, and a deep yearning for reconnection and resilience, this ancient art offers a powerful antidote—inviting us to slow down, heal, and embrace our imperfections. Discover why Kintsugi rises—and shines—in our modern world in our dedicated article about how Kintsugi resonates in our modern world.
Kintsugi in Corporate Resilience
It is also worth noting that beyond personal reflection, Kintsugi can also resonate as a collective tool for renewal and transformation in the corporate world, helping teams and organizations turn challenges into opportunities and foster meaningful change > Find here information about our Kintsugi-inspired corporate programs.
How Can You explore Kintsugi?
Kintsugi is not just a concept—it is an experience. Whether you are drawn to its artistic beauty, its powerful philosophy, or its healing process, there are many ways to explore Kintsugi further:
Read about it
Explore the international award-winning self-help book, Kintsugi: Finding Strength in Imperfection, available in 12 languages. A golden thread of wisdom, it offers profound insights into Kintsugi and serves as a guide to understanding the resilience woven through your own life journey.
Experience it
Connect with the wisdom of Kintsugi, and feel its transformative power…A Kintsugi spiritual healing session, whether private or in a group retreat, uses the golden thread of Kintsugi to guide you through six stages: Break, Assemble, Wait, Repair, Reveal, and Sublimate. These steps lead you on a journey of introspection and resilience, allowing you to transform your inner wounds. All materials are provided to create your own Kintsugi piece, symbolizing your healing process.
Embrace the Kintsugi Spirit
You do not need to break all your belongings to embrace Kintsugi. Its philosophy can guide you through your own journey of resilience, helping you transform challenges into opportunities and scars into wisdom.
Mend your life with gold: embrace the Kintsugi spirit today.
Contact us
If you have any questions, or would like more information, feel free to reach out. You can call us at +33 (0)6 63 00 19 71 or write to contact@esprit-kintsugi.com, we will be glad to assist you on your Kintsugi journey.
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FAQ About The Kintsugi Philosophy
What is Kintsugi ?
Kintsugi is a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold. Instead of hiding the cracks, it highlights them. Over time, this practice has become a powerful symbol of resilience, showing that what has been broken can be repaired with care and meaning.
Why is Kintsugi often linked to resilience?
Because it shows that breakage is not the end of the story. The repair does not erase the damage but integrates it. Applied to life, Kintsugi echoes key principles of psychology, offering a way to live with what has been fractured, without denial or false optimism.
Is Kintsugi an artistic technique or a philosophy?
Both. Kintsugi belongs to a precise Japanese craft tradition, but it also carries a deeper philosophy. The slowness of the process and the attention to the gesture create space for reflection, far beyond the object itself.
Who is Kintsugi relevant for today?
For individuals, teams or organisations going through change, rupture or transition. Kintsugi speaks to those who are looking for meaning, without prefabricated answers or miracle solutions.
How does Kintsugi relate to personal growth?
Kintsugi offers a symbolic, non-verbal language to explore vulnerability and inner repair. It moves away from performance-driven self-help and invites a more grounded, embodied experience.
Why does Kintsugi resonate so strongly today?
Why does Kintsugi resonate so strongly today?
And if you want to start your journey and try it yourself, find also here other Frequently Asked Questions about the Kintsugi practice.