Kintsugi is a word which should be written
on everyone’s heart -- in gold.
(By the way, here’s a rough guide to the
pronunciation of Kintsugi:
Kint rhymes with hint or with the wint part of winter.
Su is like the su of super.
Gi is like the gi of give.)
For those who want to hear the word,
please click on the link below
to get an audio pronunciation:
(when you get to the forvo site,
click on the little blue arrow
in front of "Pronunciation by
strawberrybrown")
(when you get to the forvo site,
click on the little blue arrow
in front of "Pronunciation by
strawberrybrown")
Well then, let's continue. What is Kintsugi?
In general terms, Kintsugi is a method of repairing
broken things in such a way that the damage
is highlighted -- celebrated -- not hidden.
In more specific terms, Kintsugi is the art
of applying gold, lacquer, and glue
to repair broken pottery.
to repair broken pottery.
A type of art from Japan, Kintsugi means
“golden joinery”.
Further, this art form also has meaning
as a philosophy.
“As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair
as part of the history of an object,
rather than something to disguise.”
Kintsugi is “an embracing of the flawed or imperfect.”
It “encompasses the concepts of
non-attachment, acceptance of change
and fate as aspects of human life.”
Food for thought indeed. And speaking of food,
the holiday season is here: the time for reunions
and parties.
Some of your special plates or dishes may get broken.
If they do, there’s no need to throw them away.
Consider mending them with Kintsugi.
Or, if you’re planning to take a quiet moment
to look back on 2015, or indeed examine
the journey of your life up to now,
remember to keep the philosophy
of Kintsugi in mind.
of Kintsugi in mind.
Further, if you have a scar or other journeymark,
why should you hide it?
Highlight it. Blazon it with gold powder.
Highlight it. Blazon it with gold powder.
If you’re not yet ready to do it literally,
do it at least in your mind and in your heart.
Plus, instead of “Talk to the hand”
or “Talk to the tail,”
how about “Talk to the Kintsugi.”
Maybe, for short, “Talk to the Kint.”
Or, even shorter, “Talk to the K.”
Kintsugi says “So what?”
In such a golden, carefree way.
It says “Whatever”.
Such a gallant “Whatever”.
Such a gallant “Whatever”.
Kintsugi.
It can help us move on in life.
It can encourage us to continue our journey.
Bravely. Serenely.
Information link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi
Further links:
Kintsugi event, London, Jan 2014 - Images by Tony McNicol
Above from http://www.wedojapan.com/kintsugi/
Plus, here’s a very interesting article to read:
