What We Can Learn From Kintsugi
Start writing a post
Entertainment

What We Can Learn From Kintsugi

The Art of Treasured Scars

886
What We Can Learn From Kintsugi
Google Images

I have been fascinated by the Eastern World for as long as I can remember (India and Japan, especially). We can learn so much from the ways of life found there, such as how to value rest, and to treasure simplicity. What I want to talk about, though, is Kintsugi, a practice started in Japan.

Kintsugi comes from 'kin' which means "golden", and 'tsugi' which means "repair." Although it is not known exactly when this practice began, it is thought that General Ashikaga Yoshimasa sparked it unintentionally in the 15th century when he broke a cherished bowl.

He sent it off to be repaired, but it was sent back to him with a poor excuse for a mending so local Japanese craftsmen tossed around ideas for their own solution. What they came up with has continued to this day. Instead of trying to mask the cracks of Yoshimasa's bowl, they bonded the bowl together with gold, making the cracks art. This directly contrasts the Western world's value of symmetry, smoothness, and the uniform by employing wabi-sabi, a philosophy that celebrates the imperfect and broken.

Once that one beloved bowl was repaired and celebrated, cracks and all, more pottery and broken things were restored, even to this day. Showing your struggles and flaws will have the same effect on the people around you. More people will not break before your eyes, but you will see that they already were broken, and that they are still beautiful. We should learn this art of treasuring our scars and flaws so we can see the beauty in the flaws of others as well.

We, who were whole and then broke into shards that would cut and bleed and scar, were pieced together as many instruments in a symphony. We will continue to hold and carry, not letting anything slip through to be lost. These treasured scars shimmer in the light that we wanted to hide them and their reflection will pierce the jaded that ever said, "it is broken" instead of, "it is whole."

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

No Sex And Upstate New York

A modern-day reincarnation of Carrie Bradshaw's classic column

622
Pinterest

Around the age of 12, when I was deciding whether or not to be gay, Satan appeared on my left shoulder. “Ramsssey,” he said with that telltale lisp. “Come over to our side. We have crazy partiessss.” He made a strong case, bouncing up and down on my shoulder with six-pack abs and form-fitting Calvin Kleins. An angel popped up on the other shoulder and was going to warn me about something, but Satan interrupted- “Shut up, you crusty-ass bitch!’ The angel was pretty crusty. She disappeared, and from that moment forward I was gay.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

To The Classes That Follow

I want you to want to make the most of the years that are prior to Senior year

1791
To The Classes That Follow
Senior Year Is Here And I Am So Not Ready For It

I was you not that long ago. I was once an eager freshman, a searching sophomore, and a know-it-all junior. Now? Now I am a risk taker. Not the type that gets you in trouble with your parents, but the type that changes your future. Senior year is exciting. A lot of awesome things come along with being the top-dog of the school, but you, right now, are building the foundation for the next 4 years that you will spend in high school. I know you've heard it all. "Get involved", "You'll regret not going to prom", "You're going to miss this". As redundant as these seem, they're true. Although I am just at the beginning of my senior year, I am realizing how many lasts I am encountering.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

The Power Of Prayer Saved My Best Friend's Life

At the end of the day, there is something out there bigger than all of us, and to me, that is the power of prayer.

2911
Julie Derrer

Imagine this:

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

Why Driving Drives Me Crazy

the highways are home

2250

With Halloween quickly approaching, I have been talking to coworkers about what scares us. There are always the obvious things like clowns, spiders, heights, etc. But me? There are a number things I don't like: trusting strangers, being yelled at, being in life or death situations, parallel parking. All of these are included when you get behind the wheel of a car.

Keep Reading... Show less
Baseball Spring Training Is A Blast In Arizona
Patricia Vicente

Nothing gets me more pumped up than the nice weather and the sights and sounds of the baseball season quickly approaching.

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments