Today is when I found something profound for my life and my worldview. I found an technique with a long history called “Kintsugi”, originating from China, and evolved into a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by using gold or silver lacquer to restore the cracks and imperfections.

Kintsugi is the practice of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted with powdered gold. It brings the broken pottery back to life, turning the cracks into a symbol of strength and beauty, even better than a new one.

What does this mean for us and our lives? There’s a interpretation about it, which says

漆缮的本意在于，面对不完美的事物，用近乎完美的手段来对待。 每个器物都有生命，从被制作出来，到被人使用，难免磕磕碰碰，就好像一个人的生命历程里总会遇到一些事，难免伤害或者折损。 漆缮代表一种态度，用世上最贵重的物质与精神来面对缺陷，精心修缮，面对缺陷不去试图掩盖，坦然接受生命中的不完美，在无常的世界中恪守心中那份对美的向往，化残缺为美，在不完美中追求完美，由此获得升华，反而超越原有的层面，达到更高的境界。

When I saw this, I was totally shocked by the deep meaning of a simple technique. It’s the moment when I realized what I should do and what I should change to.

I must learn to be used to interacting with and utilizing the Garbage things. No need to expect the result. Just enjoy the process of recreation and transformation from ordinary to a miracle.

There are also some practical strategies to apply this philosophy in our daily lives. Such as making garbage art.

  • For coding: Write a “spaghetti code”
  • For writing: Write a “vomit draft”
  • For art/design: Create a quick, messy sketch or wireframe.
  • Play a musical instrument badly, draw a terrible doodle, or attempt a dance move and laugh at yourself.

Once we deliberately fail, we can lower our expectations and accept the outcome as it is. This is the moment of growth and learning. It’s not about perfection but about progress. It’s not about the superficial formalism or the hypocrisy and vanity, but the real nature of life itself.

Then we notice and seek for flaws and imperfections in our lives. We learn to appreciate the beauty in the imperfections and the lessons they teach us. We aware the potential of growth and transformation, knowing that it is through our imperfections that we become stronger and more resilient.