The Art of Kintsugi: Finding Beauty in What Was Broken
There is a story — not of history, but of meaning.
An emperor once invited a wise monk to his palace. Wanting to impress him, he presented his most prized possession: a perfect, expensive vase. It stood tall and flawless in its display, gleaming under the light.
But the monk barely acknowledged it. He said nothing. Showed no reaction. The emperor, proud and eager for praise, felt quietly insulted.
After the monk left, the emperor, overcome with frustration, lifted the vase and shattered it across the floor. Its pieces scattered—sharp, broken, useless.
But the palace maids, gentle in spirit, gathered each shard with care. Rather than throwing it away, they mended the vase using lacquer mixed with powdered gold, sealing each crack with light. It took time, and patience, but the result was something entirely new — a vessel marked by its breakage, yet shining all the more because of it.
When the monk returned and saw it again, his eyes lingered. This time, he smiled.
“Now,” he said softly, “it is beautiful.”
The Heart of the Story
This story holds a quiet truth: that beauty does not lie in perfection but in the journey of breaking and healing.
Kintsugi teaches that our scars are not something to hide — they are part of our story. When we embrace our imperfections and honour the paths we’ve walked, we don’t just recover — we transform. We shine through the cracks.
