What is Kintsugi?

Kintsugi (金継ぎ) is a centuries-old Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Rather than disguising the breakage, kintsugi illuminates it — treating the repair as part of the object's history, not something to hide. The practice is believed to have originated in the 15th century when a Japanese shogun sent a damaged tea bowl to China for repairs. When it returned with ugly metal staples, Japanese craftsmen sought a more aesthetic solution, leading to the birth of kintsugi.

Kintsugi is deeply connected to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi (侘寂) — finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence. It also embodies the concept of mushin (無心), the acceptance of change. Instead of throwing away broken things, kintsugi teaches us that: • Scars and repairs are part of the story • Imperfections can become beautiful • What was broken can become stronger and more valuable • There is no need to hide our damage

In this app, your profile shows a "vessel" — your personal kintsugi bowl. As you engage with the therapy modes: • Cracks appear when you face difficulties or miss days • Golden repairs form when you complete sessions and take action • Over time, your vessel becomes uniquely beautiful — a map of your journey The goal is not a perfect, crack-free vessel. The goal is a vessel that tells YOUR story, with golden seams that prove you've lived, struggled, and grown.