Kintsugi: Is it a metaphor for our end-of-life journey?

Introduction

“Have you ever experienced the heartbreak of a beloved vessel or ceramic piece cracking or breaking apart? Kintsugi is the art of beautifully mending broken pottery and prolonging its life.”^[i] Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, may be a metaphor for end-of-life issues. These two concepts share a profound connection and can offer us valuable insights into how we perceive life, death, and the beauty that can emerge from brokenness and/or damage.

Understanding Kintsugi

Kintsugi, which translates to ‘golden joinery,’ is a centuries-old Japanese art form and philosophy. “It emerged out of the Japanese philosophy and aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which centres on the need to accept imperfection and embrace and make peace with a world that is intrinsically fluid and impermanent.”^[ii] When a ceramic object breaks, instead of discarding it or attempting to hide the damage, Kintsugi practitioners repair it using a special lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The result is a piece that not only functions again but is often considered more beautiful and valuable than the original.

“What an elegant, creative, yet obvious solution all at the same time! Most people who discover the art of Kintsugi for the first time have a real epiphany. Every repaired piece is unique, the ‘scars’ become part of the design creating a unique piece of art. But the Kintsugi philosophy goes well beyond a simple artistic practice. It is in touch with the symbolic of healing and resilience. Cared for, then honoured, the broken object assumes its past, and becomes paradoxically more resilient, more beautiful, and more precious than before the shock. This metaphor illuminates in a new way every step of any healing process, whether it is a physical injury or emotional. Kintsugi questions the tension between destruction and repair, fragility and resilience and thoughts about what it is to be human. The fractured work seeks to consider a critical engagement with the viewer, confronting fundamental questions of the inner self.”^[iii]

What can we take from this? Firstly, that Kintsugi embraces imperfection: It acknowledges flaws rather than trying to cover them up. It also speaks to our notion of resilience, whereby the repaired object becomes stronger and appears differently at the points of breakage. Finally, by transforming the object, it gains a new life and identity. The repairs, now proudly visible, tell the object’s story.

“If we recognise that we are all imperfect, a metaphoric repair could include acts of forgiveness, affection, validation, acceptance, or simply a warm embrace. Apology can be a particularly potent repair material. American philosopher Elizabeth Spelman says: ‘An apology is an invitation to share in a ritual of repair, in a dance that takes more than one dancer.’ Kintsugi’s metaphor works on the community level as well, and various organisations from disability groups to those answering the imperatives of global climate change have been using the metaphor to challenge our thinking.”^[iv]

End-of-Life Issues

End-of-life issues encompass a wide range of physical concerns that we need to deal with. Also important, and maybe not as obvious, are the psychological challenges and questions that may arise during the dying process. Some examples are:

• Spiritual and existential questions: What was my life all for? Why me? Why now? What difference have I really made? If I had my time over again, what would I do differently?
• Ethical considerations surrounding medical interventions, access to voluntary assisted dying, and so on.
• What happens if I get dementia but I’m otherwise physically well?
• How our loved ones will cope and manage during our journey and after our death. They don’t want to talk about it with me, they think I’m being morbid, but I need to discuss these things that matter to me!
• Issues that involve confronting our mortality, reassessing our values, and finding meaning in the face of what may seem insurmountable.

How May Kintsugi and End-of-Life Issues Intersect?

1. A chance to embrace our imperfections
   Just as Kintsugi celebrates the cracks or brokenness in objects, we can come to appreciate the imperfections in our lives, including the process of aging and dying. Rather than feeling that our inevitable decline is something to be hidden or ashamed of, we should see it as a natural part of the human experience, worthy of acknowledgment and perhaps even reverence. Although the metaphor may relate more to psychological scarring, those of us who form scars from surgery or from the effects of disease can see them as ugly and needing to be hidden. However, a scar means ‘I survived.’
2. Finding beauty in brokenness
   Our end-of-life journey involves physical and emotional brokenness, at least some of the time. The philosophy of Kintsugi encourages us to find beauty in situations where this might seem unlikely to us. It can manifest as appreciating moments of connection, finding grace in vulnerability, or recognizing the profound impact our life has had on others.
3. Resilience and adaptation
   Kintsugi reinforces broken objects, making them stronger. Similarly, facing end-of-life issues can foster resilience in individuals and families. Adapting to changing circumstances, finding new ways to connect, and developing coping strategies are all forms of human ‘Kintsugi’ that can emerge during this time.
4. Honouring our journey
   The visible gold seams in Kintsugi pieces tell the story of the object's journey and transformation. Likewise, the process of reflecting on our own life as it nears its end can be seen as honouring the unique path we have travelled, with all its highs and lows.
5. Transformation and legacy
   Through Kintsugi, broken objects are transformed into something new and often more valuable. End-of-life can also be a time of transformation, as individuals reassess their priorities, mend relationships, and consider the legacy they wish to leave behind.
6. Acceptance and letting go
   Kintsugi requires accepting that the original form is gone and challenges us to embrace a new reality. This mirrors the process of accepting mortality and letting go that is often a crucial part of end-of-life journeys. This is particularly poignant when reflecting on the inevitable physical changes that occur with many life-limiting illnesses and/or the treatment provided for them.

Practical Applications

1. End-of-life care
   It is possible for all caregivers, whether professional or social, to incorporate Kintsugi principles into their approach. We can focus on maintaining dignity, finding and remarking on moments of beauty, and honouring the individual's unique way of being.
2. Grief, bereavement, and healing
   Those of us mourning a loss and trying to make sense of our grief may find comfort in the Kintsugi philosophy. If we consider our grief as a metaphor for the golden seams of Kintsugi, we can honour our relationship with our loved one while allowing them to follow their highly personal end-of-life journey.
3. Legacy projects
   Those nearing the end of life might engage in projects that metaphorically ‘repair’ aspects of their lives, such as reconnecting with absent friends, documenting their life story in writing or film, or creating bespoke mementos that highlight the beauty of their life's journey.
4. Therapeutic interventions
   All end-of-life practitioners could use Kintsugi as a metaphor or even as a practical activity to help individuals process end-of-life issues, encouraging reflection on resilience, beauty, and personal growth.
5. Writing a eulogy
   These applications suggest that Kintsugi could be seen as a physical representation of some humanist principles, particularly in its celebration of human experience, resilience, and individuality. As a humanist funeral celebrant, I can weave these themes into a eulogy. This can create a touching tribute that honours the complexity and beauty of a life well-lived, with all that it involved.

Conclusion

The art of Kintsugi offers a powerful lens through which to view end-of-life issues. By embracing imperfection, finding beauty in brokenness, and honouring life's journey, we can approach this challenging phase with greater grace, meaning, and even a sense of transformation. As we navigate the complexities of mortality, the principles of Kintsugi remind us that our scars and struggles are not just inevitable – they are an integral part of our unique and precious human story.

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_{[i]Michiro Hori, 2018 A Beginner’s Guide toKintsugi – The Japanese Art of Repairing Pottery and Glass, p. 5, TuttlePublishing, Tokyo|Rutland, Vermont|Singapore
[ii] https://www.tedxmelbourne.com/blog/kintsugi-the-art-and-philosophy-from-broken-to-beautiful
[iii] https://www.zenvrapp.com/post/kintsugi-the-art-of-resilience
[iv] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/10/kintsugi-helped-me-to-understand-my-brothers-death
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/10/kintsugi-helped-me-to-understand-my-brothers-death}