Kintsugi 2 - History

Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese pottery technique in which broken ceramics are repaired and pieced together using beautiful metal wire. This technique is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and aesthetics, and below is a brief history of Kintsugi.

Root

Kintsugi dates back to the time when Japanese ceramics were first made. In the 14th century, the tea ceremony ceremony became popular in Japan, and the tea utensils used in this ceremony, such as tea bowls and flower vases, were considered extremely important. As a result, techniques for repairing broken tea utensils were developed.

Connection with tea ceremony

Tea ceremony practitioners found new value and beauty in restored tea utensils. Broken tea bowls were valued as having a new history and story because of their unique lines and patterns. This became the foundation of the Kintsugi aesthetic.

From the Muromachi period to the Edo period

Kintsugi began in the Muromachi period and further developed in the Edo period. During this period, techniques were refined, including the use of metal wire and the addition of additional patterns to the repaired area. Kintsugi works were highly valued by the aristocracy and the wealthy, and established their status as art.

Continuation into modern times

The technique of kintsugi is loved both in Japan and abroad, and continues to this day. Modern Kintsugi artists incorporate new ideas into traditional techniques and are valued as part of contemporary art. The aesthetics of kintsugi is also internationally accepted as a way of valuing broken things and respecting the scars of the past.

Kintsugi is thus deeply rooted in Japanese aesthetics and culture, and is a technique with its own history and tradition that gives new beauty and meaning to broken things.