The lessons of Kintsugi are recurring and consistently illuminating. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was after filming and editing that I learned another version of the original tea bowl rumored to have started the Kintsugi practice.
The original story I had heard is the one I tell in the video tutorial (oops) about the Japanese shogun who sent his precious tea bowl to China to be repaired. It returned with staples. Here’s where the story diverges—in one version the shogun is mortified by the staples, and initiates a quest amongst Japanese craftsman to do better; thus birthing Kintsugi. In another (and my preferred version), the shogun is not upset about the staples, quite the opposite. He admires the repair.
I can see why the first version is more popular, it’s more linear and easy to follow. The second version leaves a bit of mystery as to how admiration of the staples then lead to Kintsugi… what do you think?
