Kintsugi

Kintsugi is a traditional ceramic repair art unique to Japanese culture. This technical technique is based on reinforcing broken ceramic fragments with a natural resin called urushi and applying a mixture of gold, silver or platinum powder to the cracks. The term Kintsugi, meaning “joining with gold,” is not merely a method of repairing objects; it is an approach that transforms breaks, damage and the effects of time into aesthetic elements. This understanding seeks not to conceal flaws in objects but to emphasize the repair process and present the marks of experience as part of an aesthetic whole.

History

The origins of Kintsugi extend back to the 15th century and the Ashikaga period. According to legend, the Japanese Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa became dissatisfied with existing repair methods when his favorite tea bowl broke and was sent to China, where it was repaired with unsightly metal staples. This situation inspired Japanese craftsmen to develop the gold-joining technique not to simply fix broken pieces but to add an aesthetic dimension to the repair. The development of Kintsugi is also linked to the Japanese aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi, which embraces impermanence, simplicity and beauty found in imperfection. Wabi-sabi is a philosophy that highlights transience, modesty and the beauty inherent in flaws. In this context, Kintsugi is not only a repair technique but also a philosophical perspective on the transience of objects and life itself.

Application Techniques

Kintsugi practices vary according to the techniques employed. The most common method involves bonding broken fragments with urushi and adding gold powder to the adhesive. Traditionally;

• Urushi Resin: Urushi is a natural resin with strong adhesive properties. It serves as the primary bonding agent for reassembling broken pieces.

• Gold and Other Metal Powders: Gold, silver or platinum powder is sprinkled over the bonded areas. This application enhances both the durability of the repair and its visual appeal.

• Makienaoshi: In this technique, not only are the broken areas repaired but missing parts are also reconstructed. The surface treated with the gold powder mixture is shaped to continue the original patterns and decorative elements.

• Yobitsugi: In some applications, irreparable missing fragments are replaced with suitable pieces from another ceramic object to create a unified whole.

These techniques are applied both to preserve functionality and to transform the repair itself into an aesthetic expression.

Philosophical Background

Kintsugi is an approach that extends beyond the repair of ceramic objects to encompass metaphorical meanings related to human life. The technique is interpreted as a reflection on personal struggles, traumas and change processes, advocating not for the suppression of breaks but for their acceptance and reconfiguration. In psychology, Kintsugi is increasingly used as a metaphorical vehicle for post-trauma healing, supporting the view that personal fractures can be integrated into one’s growth and lead to renewed wholeness.

Today, Kintsugi has been embraced by artists and therapists. In the art world, works created using Kintsugi techniques demonstrate that flaws, cracks and deficiencies possess their own unique beauty. This perspective offers an alternative aesthetic to series production and mass consumer culture. In therapeutic contexts, the Kintsugi metaphor serves as a symbolic tool, helping individuals mend the fractures in their lives and emerge stronger from the process.

The Kintsugi approach asserts that fractures, whether in objects or in human life, do not diminish the value of the entity but instead grant it a new form of wholeness shaped by the processes it has endured and the traces it carries. This perspective offers an alternative to the prevalent ideal of perfection in modern societies. In Kintsugi, repair does not aim to restore an object or situation to its previous state but to enable it to attain a new form and unity. This approach has become the subject of diverse interpretations in aesthetic, cultural and psychological fields and is evaluated across multiple disciplines within the context of human experience.