The Japanese tradition of repairing something with gold is known as "kintsugi" or "kintsukuroi."
It is a centuries-old art form that involves repairing broken pottery or ceramics by mending the cracks and fractures with a special lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
Rather than disguising or hiding the damage, kintsugi embraces the brokenness and celebrates the beauty of imperfection.
It highlights the history of the object by transforming the cracks into gold-laden seams, turning the mended areas into unique and striking features.
This practice embodies a profound philosophical concept centered around resilience, acceptance, and the beauty of impermanence.
It teaches that acknowledging flaws and scars can enhance the object's beauty, adding value through its history and transformation.
Moreover, kintsugi symbolizes the idea of embracing change, resilience, and the journey of healing and growth.
In a broader sense, the philosophy of kintsugi extends beyond the physical act of repairing objects.
It serves as a metaphor for embracing life's challenges, acknowledging personal growth through adversity, and finding beauty in one's imperfections and scars.
This tradition has gained global recognition for its profound message of resilience, acceptance, and the appreciation of life's unique journey.
What elements of your life or business have been broken and are now that much more beautiful and intriguing because of an element of kintsugi?
Whatever that thing is and however it’s been repaired, celebrate it for the joyful thing it’s become.
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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … The Japanese philosophy of omotenashi
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