Kintsugi: The Japanese Art of Transforming Shards into Treasures

Is your favorite tableware smashed to pieces? Don't worry, because with the Japanese art of Kintsugi you can repair it, make it even more beautiful and become very Zen. How? I will explain it to you in this blog post, so that you can get started with this repair technique yourself.

What is Kintsugi?

The Kin of Kintsugi (金継ぎ) means gold and Tsugi means to repair. With this Japanese technique you repair broken tableware by gluing the shards together with urushi, this is tree resin that is also used for Japanese lacquerware. The golden touch was added centuries later.

The history of Kintsugi goes back to the ^15th century when Japanese Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a damaged Chinese tea bowl to China for repair. It came back with simple metal staples to hold it together. Not quite to the Shogun’s taste, who ordered craftsmen to come up with something more beautiful. And so it was.

Wabi-Sabi meets Kintsugi

The idea behind Kintsugi that broken objects are not less valuable, but rather become more beautiful by repairing them and making the cracks visible, is closely linked to the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi. This comes from Zen Buddhism and emphasizes impermanence, emptiness and accepting the imperfect and changing nature of life.

Get started with Kintsugi yourself

All good reasons not to throw away your broken dishes, but to restore them with this restoration technique. You can do this in different ways; like a professional with traditional materials , there is even a kit with real gold , or easy peasy with epoxy .

Follow these steps to create your own Kintsugi project:

Step 1: Preparing the fractions
Make sure the broken pieces of your ceramic are clean and dry. If there are any sharp edges, you can gently sand them smooth with fine sandpaper. Think about how the pieces will fit back together before you start gluing.

Step 2: Mixing the glue and gold
Mix the epoxy resin or glue with the gold powder or metallic pigment, make small amounts not too much at once. Make sure the substance is well mixed and has a shiny gold color. It is now important not to wait too long, the glue will harden

Step 3: Applying the glue
Carefully apply the gold glue to the cracked edges of your ceramic. Use a fine brush to apply the glue neatly and evenly. Work slowly and precisely, so that the cracks are nicely visible and the glue does not run out too much.

Step 4: Putting the pieces together
Gently press the pieces together and make sure they stay firmly in place while the glue dries, wait about 10 minutes before putting the object down or putting it away. It will then take a day or 2 for the glue to harden properly. For larger objects it can be helpful to use rubber bands or tape to hold the pieces in place while the glue dries.

Step 5: Finishing touch
Once the glue has fully cured, you can carefully sand away any excess glue. Make sure the gold lines are neat and smooth.

You see, Kintsugi is really more than just a technique for repairing broken objects; it teaches you  to see beauty in imperfection and also to be patient and aware. Whether you are looking for a creative project or a deeper personal meaning, Kintsugi will help you look at fractures in a different way—both in objects and in yourself. So grab that broken dishware, get to work with gold, and discover the magic of Kintsugi!

The author: Ingrid Beyer

Ingrid from Happlify crew member Roppongi is a far too modest Japan expert who can tell you all the ins and outs. Roppongi is the webshop for lovers of Japan, design, good food, tea and DIY. Visit Roppongi and the blog regularly for the fastest trip to Japan. The blog posts from Ingrid >