Breaking a treasured ceramic piece can be distressing. The first instinct would be to throw the damaged vessel away. Instead of discarding, an age-old Japanese technique known as Kintsugi can bring its restoration.

Kintsugi is the art of golden joinery, which involves the usage of lacquer mixed with gold dust to mend the broken pieces together. In addition to its primary purpose of joining sherds, this technique offers versatility beyond mere fragment reassembly. It allows for the creative incorporation of gold or lacquer fragments, even in cases where the original ceramic pieces are unavailable.

Though the origin of Kintsugi remains an enigma, a popular legend has its say. In the late 15th century, the Japanese shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa dispatched a damaged Chinese tea bowl to China for restoration. On its return, marred by unsightly metal staples, this event potentially spurred Japanese artisans to seek a more visually appealing method.

"Nothing is ever truly broken" is the central idea of Kintsugi, encompassing the Japanese concepts of Munishin( acceptance of change)  and wabi-sabi( embracing flaws). No effort is engaged to hide the blemish, but the repair itself is adorned. In a figurative sense, this art is a memoir of the artifacts' history.

The philosophy of Kintsugi is convincible in our lives as well. When we look at the broken pottery with its scars illuminated by gold, it may be elucidated that flaws and misfortunes in the vicissitudes of life are the sources of durability and beauty. This, indeed, is reminiscent of our resilience.