One of my absolute favorite words in all the world, in any language or dialect, comes from the Japanese. Wabi-sabi. Not only is it a fabulous word to exclaim or to just let roll off your tongue…the meaning behind it speaks to my innermost soul. The philosophy itself embraces the beauty of the incomplete and finds the wisdom within natural simplicity. In art books, wabi-sabi is often synonymous with “flawed beauty.”
The philosophy of wabi-sabi dates back to the end of the 15th century and has roots intertwined with both a Zen monk and a tea master. There are so many pieces of this to love. A tea master is to tea what a sommelier is to wine…a person who can identify the origins and nuances of tea. There have been a number of famous tea masters throughout Japanese history, all of whom followed in the footsteps of Murato Shuko, the great visionary behind the “Way of Tea.”
An historical and rather exquisite extension of the wabi-sabi philosophy is an art technique known as kintsugi. You may have seen this in places or heard of the practice. In Japanese, the word kintsugi translates as “joining with gold.” The artform itself is the illustration of embracing human flaw. The tradition of kintsugi is one that takes broken pieces of ceramics and reconnects them using a mixture of lacquer and powdered gold. It can take up to three months to complete the entire process which is yet another metaphor embedded within, illustrating the expanse of time needed to reflect, process, repair, and reclaim your serenity. Time heals all wounds they say; wisdom which applies to broken ceramics as well as broken souls.
Many would argue that the shattered ceramic piece is all the more beautiful after it has been repaired.
Kintsugi highlights imperfections rather than trying to hide them. It teaches the us to remain calm when things break and to stay optimistic when things fall apart. It speaks to the wisdom of Voltaire when he coined the phrase Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien. Perfect is the enemy of the good. Kintsugi reminds us to find inner peace, to reflect, and to celebrate mistakes as being opportunities to grow.
I woke up this morning with a picture in my mind, and I did my best to create the vision as it appears in my imagination. Although it is in culinary form, the belief in highlighting flaws rather than covering them up is a philosophy worth embracing in multiple mediums…including the art form of baking. There certainly are imperfections when I compare my actual kintsugi cupcakes to the flawless creations in my mind, but isn’t that the point?
Thank you for reading each time I randomly post thoughts and bakes…and remember! Sunday, January 28, 2024, Straight from the Scullery begins a podcast journey! Find Maddy and me on Spotify every other week and join us to reflect on all kinds of topics through the fabulous lens of culinary creations.
Hillary Danaher 