Word origami in japanese

Origami (折り紙, Japanese pronunciation: [oɾiɡami] or [oɾiꜜɡami], from ori meaning «folding», and kami meaning «paper» (kami changes to gami due to rendaku)) is the Japanese art of paper folding. In modern usage, the word «origami» is often used as an inclusive term for all folding practices, regardless of their culture of origin. The goal is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques. Modern origami practitioners generally discourage the use of cuts, glue, or markings on the paper. Origami folders often use the Japanese word kirigami to refer to designs which use cuts.

On the other hand, in the detailed Japanese classification, origami is divided into stylized ceremonial origami (儀礼折り紙, girei origami) and recreational origami (遊戯折り紙, yūgi origami), and only recreational origami is generally recognized as origami.^[1][2] In Japan, ceremonial origami is generally called «origata» (ja:折形) to distinguish it from recreational origami. The term «origata» is one of the old terms for origami.^[3][4][5]

The small number of basic origami folds can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. The best-known origami model is the Japanese paper crane. In general, these designs begin with a square sheet of paper whose sides may be of different colors, prints, or patterns. Traditional Japanese origami, which has been practiced since the Edo period (1603–1867), has often been less strict about these conventions, sometimes cutting the paper or using nonsquare shapes to start with. The principles of origami are also used in stents, packaging, and other engineering applications.^[6][7]

Etymology

The Japanese word origami itself is a compound of two smaller Japanese words: «ori» (root verb «oru»), meaning to fold, and «kami», meaning paper. Until recently, not all forms of paper folding were grouped under the word origami. Before that, paper folding for play was known by a variety of names, including «orikata» or «origata» (折形), «orisue» (折据), «orimono» (折物), «tatamigami» (畳紙) and others.^[5][8]

History

Distinct paperfolding traditions arose in Europe, China, and Japan which have been well-documented by historians. These seem to have been mostly separate traditions, until the 20th century.

Ceremonial origami (origata)

By the 7th century, paper had been introduced to Japan from China via the Korean Peninsula, and the Japanese developed washi by improving the method of making paper in the Heian period. The paper making technique developed in Japan around 805 to 809 was called nagashi-suki (流し漉き), a method of adding mucilage to the process of the conventional tame-suki (溜め漉き) technique to form a stronger layer of paper fibers.^{[1][2][9][10]} With the development of Japanese paper making technology and the widespread use of paper, folded paper began to be used for decorations and tools for religious ceremonies such as gohei, ōnusa (ja:大麻 (神道)) and shide at Shinto shrines. Religious decorations made of paper and the way gifts were wrapped in folded paper gradually became stylized and established as ceremonial origami.^[1][2] During the Heian period, the Imperial court established a code of etiquette for wrapping money and goods used in ceremonies with folded paper, and a code of etiquette for wrapping gifts.^[3]

In the Muromachi period from the 1300s to the 1400s, various forms of decorum were developed by the Ogasawara clan and Ise clans (ja:伊勢氏), completing the prototype of Japanese folded-paper decorum that continues to this day. The Ise clan presided over the decorum of the inside of the palace of the Ashikaga Shogunate, and in particular, Ise Sadachika (ja:伊勢貞親) during the reign of the eighth Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利義政), greatly influenced the development of the decorum of the daimyo and samurai classes, leading to the development of various stylized forms of ceremonial origami. The shapes of ceremonial origami created in this period were geometric, and the shapes of noshi to be attached to gifts at feasts and weddings, and origami that imitated butterflies to be displayed on sake vessels, were quite different from those of later generations of recreational origami whose shapes captured the characteristics of real objects and living things. The «noshi» wrapping, and the folding of female and male butterflies, which are still used for weddings and celebrations, are a continuation and development of a tradition that began in the Muromachi period.^[1][2][11] A reference in a poem by Ihara Saikaku from 1680 describes the origami butterflies used during Shinto weddings to represent the bride and groom.^[12]

Recreational origami

1500s－1800s

It is not certain when play-made paper models, now commonly known as origami, began in Japan. However, the kozuka of a Japanese sword made by Gotō Eijō (後藤栄乗) between the end of the 1500s and the beginning of the 1600s was decorated with a picture of a crane made of origami, and it is believed that origami for play existed by the Sengoku period or the early Edo period.^[5]

In 1747, during the Edo period, a book titled Ranma zushiki (欄間図式) was published, which contained various designs of the ranma (ja:欄間), an decoration of Japanese architecture. This included origami of various designs, including paper models of cranes, which are still well known today, and it is thought that by this time, many people were familiar with origami for play, which modern people recognize as origami. During this period, origami was commonly called orikata (折形) or orisue (折据) and was often used as a pattern on kimonos and decorations.^[5]

Hiden senbazuru orikata (ja:秘傳千羽鶴折形), published in 1797, is the oldest known technical book on origami for play. The book contains 49 origami pieces created by a Buddhist monk named Gidō (:ja:義道) in Ise Province, whose works were named and accompanied by kyōka (狂歌, comic tanka) by author Akisato Ritō (秋里籬島). These pieces were far more technically advanced than their predecessors, suggesting that origami culture had become more sophisticated. Gido continued to produce origami after the publication of his book, leaving at least 158 highly skilled masterpieces for posterity. In 1976, Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture, Gido’s hometown, designated 49 of the methods described in the Hiden senbazuru orikata as Intangible Cultural Properties of Kuwana City. Kuwana City has also certified as qualified persons who are able to correctly produce these works and have in-depth knowledge of the art. Kuwana City has published some of the origami production methods on YouTube.^[13][14][15]

From the late Edo period to the Bakumatu period, origami that imitated the six legendary Japanese poets, rokkasen (六歌仙) listed in the Kokin Wakashū (古今和歌集) compiled in the 900s and the characters in Chūshingura became popular, but today they are rarely used as subjects for origami.^[13]

In Europe, there was a well-developed genre of napkin folding, which flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries. After this period, this genre declined and was mostly forgotten; historian Joan Sallas attributes this to the introduction of porcelain, which replaced complex napkin folds as a dinner-table status symbol among nobility.^[16] However, some of the techniques and bases associated with this tradition continued to be a part of European culture; folding was a significant part of Friedrich Fröbel’s «Kindergarten» method, and the designs published in connection with his curriculum are stylistically similar to the napkin fold repertoire. Another example of early origami in Europe is the «pajarita,» a stylized bird whose origins date from at least the nineteenth century.^[17]

Since 1800s

When Japan opened its borders in the 1860s, as part of a modernization strategy, they imported Fröbel’s Kindergarten system—and with it, German ideas about paperfolding. This included the ban on cuts, and the starting shape of a bicolored square. These ideas, and some of the European folding repertoire, were integrated into the Japanese tradition. Before this, traditional Japanese sources use a variety of starting shapes, often had cuts, and if they had color or markings, these were added after the model was folded.^[18] In Japan, the first kindergarten was established in 1875, and origami was promoted as part of early childhood education. The kindergarten’s 1877 regulations listed 25 activities, including origami subjects. Shōkokumin (小国民), a magazine for boys, frequently published articles on origami. Origami Zusetsu (折紙図説), published in 1908, clearly distinguished ceremonial origami from recreational origami. These books and magazines carried both the traditional Japanese style of origami and the style inspired by Fröbel.^[8]

In the early 1900s, Akira Yoshizawa, Kosho Uchiyama, and others began creating and recording original origami works. Akira Yoshizawa in particular was responsible for a number of innovations, such as wet-folding and the Yoshizawa–Randlett diagramming system, and his work inspired a renaissance of the art form.^[19] During the 1980s a number of folders started systematically studying the mathematical properties of folded forms, which led to a rapid increase in the complexity of origami models.^[20]

Starting in the late 20th century, there has been a renewed interest in understanding the behavior of folding matter, both artistically and scientifically. The «new origami,» which distinguishes it from old craft practices, has had a rapid evolution due to the contribution of computational mathematics and the development of techniques such as box-pleating, tessellations and wet-folding. Artists like Robert J. Lang, Erik Demaine, Sipho Mabona, Giang Dinh, Paul Jackson, and others, are frequently cited for advancing new applications of the art. The computational facet and the interchanges through social networks, where new techniques and designs are introduced, have raised the profile of origami in the 21st century.^[21][22][23]

Techniques and materials

Techniques

Many origami books begin with a description of basic origami techniques which are used to construct the models. This includes simple diagrams of basic folds like valley and mountain folds, pleats, reverse folds, squash folds, and sinks. There are also standard named bases which are used in a wide variety of models, for instance the bird base is an intermediate stage in the construction of the flapping bird.^[24] Additional bases are the preliminary base (square base), fish base, waterbomb base, and the frog base.^[25]

Origami paper

Almost any laminar (flat) material can be used for folding; the only requirement is that it should hold a crease.

Origami paper, often referred to as «kami» (Japanese for paper), is sold in prepackaged squares of various sizes ranging from 2.5 cm (1 in) to 25 cm (10 in) or more. It is commonly colored on one side and white on the other; however, dual coloured and patterned versions exist and can be used effectively for color-changed models. Origami paper weighs slightly less than copy paper, making it suitable for a wider range of models.

Normal copy paper with weights of 70–90 g/m² (19–24 lb) can be used for simple folds, such as the crane and waterbomb. Heavier weight papers of
100 g/m² (approx. 25 lb) or more can be wet-folded. This technique allows for a more rounded sculpting of the model, which becomes rigid and sturdy when it is dry.

Foil-backed paper, as its name implies, is a sheet of thin foil glued to a sheet of thin paper. Related to this is tissue foil, which is made by gluing a thin piece of tissue paper to kitchen aluminium foil. A second piece of tissue can be glued onto the reverse side to produce a tissue/foil/tissue sandwich. Foil-backed paper is available commercially, but not tissue foil; it must be handmade. Both types of foil materials are suitable for complex models.

Washi (和紙) is the traditional origami paper used in Japan. Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper made from wood pulp, and is used in many traditional arts. Washi is commonly made using fibres from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia papyrifera), or the paper mulberry but can also be made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat.

Artisan papers such as unryu, lokta, hanji^{[citation needed]}, gampi, kozo, saa, and abaca have long fibers and are often extremely strong. As these papers are floppy to start with, they are often backcoated or resized with methylcellulose or wheat paste before folding. Also, these papers are extremely thin and compressible, allowing for thin, narrowed limbs as in the case of insect models.

Paper money from various countries is also popular to create origami with; this is known variously as Dollar Origami, Orikane, and Money Origami.

Tools

It is common to fold using a flat surface, but some folders like doing it in the air with no tools, especially when displaying the folding.^{[citation needed]} Some folders believe that no tool should be used when folding.^{[citation needed]} However a couple of tools can help especially with the more complex models. For instance a bone folder allows sharp creases to be made in the paper easily, paper clips can act as extra pairs of fingers, and tweezers can be used to make small folds. When making complex models from origami crease patterns, it can help to use a ruler and ballpoint embosser to score the creases. Completed models can be sprayed so that they keep their shape better, and a spray is needed when wet folding.

Types

Action origami

In addition to the more common still-life origami, there are also moving object designs; origami can move. Action origami includes origami that flies, requires inflation to complete, or, when complete, uses the kinetic energy of a person’s hands, applied at a certain region on the model, to move another flap or limb. Some argue that, strictly speaking, only the latter is really «recognized» as action origami. Action origami, first appearing with the traditional Japanese flapping bird, is quite common. One example is Robert Lang’s instrumentalists; when the figures’ heads are pulled away from their bodies, their hands will move, resembling the playing of music.

Modular origami

Modular origami consists of putting a number of identical pieces together to form a complete model. Often the individual pieces are simple, but the final assembly may be more difficult. Many modular origami models are decorative folding balls such as kusudama, which differ from classical origami in that the pieces may be held together using thread or glue.

Chinese paper folding, a cousin of origami, includes a similar style called golden venture folding where large numbers of pieces are put together to create elaborate models. This style is most commonly known as «3D origami». However, that name did not appear until Joie Staff published a series of books titled 3D Origami, More 3D Origami, and More and More 3D Origami.^{[citation needed]} This style originated from some Chinese refugees while they were detained in America and is also called Golden Venture folding from the ship they came on.^{[citation needed]}

Wet-folding

Wet-folding is an origami technique for producing models with gentle curves rather than geometric straight folds and flat surfaces. The paper is dampened so it can be moulded easily, the final model keeps its shape when it dries. It can be used, for instance, to produce very natural looking animal models. Size, an adhesive that is crisp and hard when dry, but dissolves in water when wet and becoming soft and flexible, is often applied to the paper either at the pulp stage while the paper is being formed, or on the surface of a ready sheet of paper. The latter method is called external sizing and most commonly uses Methylcellulose, or MC, paste, or various plant starches.

Pureland origami

Pureland origami adds the restrictions that only simple mountain/valley folds may be used, and all folds must have straightforward locations. It was developed by John Smith in the 1970s to help inexperienced folders or those with limited motor skills. Some designers also like the challenge of creating within the very strict constraints.

Origami tessellations

Origami tessellation is a branch that has grown in popularity after 2000. A tessellation is a collection of figures filling a plane with no gaps or overlaps. In origami tessellations, pleats are used to connect molecules such as twist folds together in a repeating fashion. During the 1960s, Shuzo Fujimoto was the first to explore twist fold tessellations in any systematic way, coming up with dozens of patterns and establishing the genre in the origami mainstream. Around the same time period, Ron Resch patented some tessellation patterns as part of his explorations into kinetic sculpture and developable surfaces, although his work was not known by the origami community until the 1980s. Chris Palmer is an artist who has extensively explored tessellations after seeing the Zilij patterns in the Alhambra, and has found ways to create detailed origami tessellations out of silk. Robert Lang and Alex Bateman are two designers who use computer programs to create origami tessellations. The first international convention devoted to origami tessellations was hosted in Brasília (Brazil) in 2006,^[26] and the first instruction book on tessellation folding patterns was published by Eric Gjerde in 2008.^[27] Since then, the field has grown very quickly. Tessellation artists include Polly Verity (Scotland); Joel Cooper, Christine Edison, Ray Schamp and Goran Konjevod from the USA; Roberto Gretter (Italy); Christiane Bettens (Switzerland); Carlos Natan López (Mexico); and Jorge C. Lucero (Brazil).

Kirigami

Kirigami is a Japanese term for paper cutting. Cutting was often used in traditional Japanese origami, but modern innovations in technique have made the use of cuts unnecessary. Most origami designers no longer consider models with cuts to be origami, instead using the term Kirigami to describe them. This change in attitude occurred during the 1960s and 70s, so early origami books often use cuts, but for the most part they have disappeared from the modern origami repertoire; most modern books don’t even mention cutting.^[28]

Strip folding

Strip folding is a combination of paper folding and paper weaving.^[29] A common example of strip folding is called the Lucky Star, also called Chinese lucky star, dream star, wishing star, or simply origami star. Another common fold is the Moravian Star which is made by strip folding in 3-dimensional design to include 16 spikes.^[29]

Teabag folding

Teabag folding is credited to Dutch artist Tiny van der Plas, who developed the technique in 1992 as a papercraft art for embellishing greeting cards. It uses small square pieces of paper (e.g., a tea bag wrapper) bearing symmetrical designs that are folded in such a way that they interlock and produce a three-dimensional version of the underlying design. The basic kite fold is used to produce rosettes that are a 3 dimensional version of the 2D design.

The basic rosette design requires eight matching squares to be folded into the ‘kite’ design. Mathematics teachers find the designs very useful as a practical way of demonstrating some basic properties of symmetry.^{[citation needed]}

Mathematics and technical origami

Mathematics and practical applications

The practice and study of origami encapsulates several subjects of mathematical interest. For instance, the problem of flat-foldability (whether a crease pattern can be folded into a 2-dimensional model) has been a topic of considerable mathematical study.

A number of technological advances have come from insights obtained through paper folding. For example, techniques have been developed for the deployment of car airbags and stent implants from a folded position.^[31]

The problem of rigid origami («if we replaced the paper with sheet metal and had hinges in place of the crease lines, could we still fold the model?») has great practical importance. For example, the Miura map fold is a rigid fold that has been used to deploy large solar panel arrays for space satellites.

Origami can be used to construct various geometrical designs not possible with compass and straightedge constructions. For instance paper folding may be used for angle trisection and doubling the cube.

Technical origami

Technical origami, known in Japanese as origami sekkei (折り紙設計), is an origami design approach in which the model is conceived as an engineered crease pattern, rather than developed through trial-and-error. With advances in origami mathematics, the basic structure of a new origami model can be theoretically plotted out on paper before any actual folding even occurs. This method of origami design was developed by Robert Lang, Meguro Toshiyuki and others, and allows for the creation of extremely complex multi-limbed models such as many-legged centipedes, human figures with a full complement of fingers and toes, and the like.

The crease pattern is a layout of the creases required to form the structure of the model. Paradoxically enough, when origami designers come up with a crease pattern for a new design, the majority of the smaller creases are relatively unimportant and added only towards the completion of the model. What is more important is the allocation of regions of the paper and how these are mapped to the structure of the object being designed. By opening up a folded model, you can observe the structures that comprise it; the study of these structures led to a number of crease-pattern-oriented design approaches

The pattern of allocations is referred to as the ‘circle-packing’ or ‘polygon-packing’. Using optimization algorithms, a circle-packing figure can be computed for any uniaxial base of arbitrary complexity.^[32] Once this figure is computed, the creases which are then used to obtain the base structure can be added. This is not a unique mathematical process, hence it is possible for two designs to have the same circle-packing, and yet different crease pattern structures.

As a circle encloses the maximum amount of area for a given perimeter, circle packing allows for maximum efficiency in terms of paper usage. However, other polygonal shapes can be used to solve the packing problem as well. The use of polygonal shapes other than circles is often motivated by the desire to find easily locatable creases (such as multiples of 22.5 degrees) and hence an easier folding sequence as well. One popular offshoot of the circle packing method is box-pleating, where squares are used instead of circles. As a result, the crease pattern that arises from this method contains only 45 and 90 degree angles, which often makes for a more direct folding sequence.

A number of computer aids to origami such as TreeMaker and Oripa, have been devised.^[33] TreeMaker allows new origami bases to be designed for special purposes^[34] and Oripa tries to calculate the folded shape from the crease pattern.^[35]

Ethics and copyright

Copyright in origami designs and the use of models has become an increasingly important issue in the origami community, as the internet has made the sale and distribution of pirated designs very easy.^[36] It is considered good etiquette to always credit the original artist and the folder when displaying origami models. It has been claimed that all commercial rights to designs and models are typically reserved by origami artists; however, the degree to which this can be enforced has been disputed. Under such a view, a person who folds a model using a legally obtained design could publicly display the model unless such rights were specifically reserved, whereas folding a design for money or commercial use of a photo for instance would require consent.^[37] The Origami Authors and Creators group was set up to represent the copyright interests of origami artists and facilitate permissions requests.

However, a court in Japan has asserted that the folding method of an origami model «comprises an idea and not a creative expression, and thus is not protected under the copyright law».^[38] Further, the court stated that «the method to folding origami is in the public domain; one cannot avoid using the same folding creases or the same arrows to show the direction in which to fold the paper». Therefore, it is legal to redraw the folding instructions of a model of another author even if the redrawn instructions share similarities to the original ones, as long as those similarities are «functional in nature». The redrawn instructions may be published (and even sold) without necessity of any permission from the original author.

Origami in various meanings

From a global perspective, the term ‘origami’ refers to the folding of paper to shape objects for entertainment purposes, but it has historically been used in various ways in Japan.
For example, the term ‘origami’ also refers to the certificate of authenticity that accompanies a Japanese sword or tea utensil. The people of the Hon’ami clan, who were the authority on Japanese sword appraisal from the Muromachi period to the Edo period, responded to the requests of the shogun, daimyo and samurai by appraising Japanese swords, determining when and by which school the sword was made, whether the inscription on the nakago was genuine or not, and what the price was, and then issuing origami with the results written on it. This has led to the Japanese word ‘origami tsuki’ (折り紙付き) meaning ‘origami is attached’ meaning that the quality of the object or the ability of the person is sufficiently high.^[39]

The term ‘origami’ also referred to a specific style of old documents in Japan. The paper folded vertically is called ‘tategami’ (竪紙), while the paper folded horizontally is called ‘origami’, and origami has a lower status than tategami. This style of letter began to be used at the end of the Heian period, and in the Kamakura period it was used as a complaint, and origami came to refer to the complaint itself. Furthermore, during the Muromachi period, origami was often used as a command document or a catalog of gifts, and it came to refer to the catalog of gifts itself.^[40]

Gallery

These pictures show examples of various types of origami.

• 

  Kawasaki cube, an example of an iso-area model

• 

• 

  Smart Waterbomb using circular paper and curved folds

• 

In popular culture

• In House of Cards season 1, episode 6, Claire Underwood gives a homeless man cash, and he later returns it folded into the shape of a bird.^[41] Claire then begins making origami animals, and in episode 7 she gives several to Peter Russo for his children.^[42]
• In Blade Runner, Gaff folds origami throughout the movie, and an origami unicorn he folds forms a major plot point.^[43]
• The philosophy and plot of the science fiction story «Ghostweight» by Yoon Ha Lee revolve around origami. In it, origami serves as a metaphor for history: «It is not true that the dead cannot be folded. Square becomes kite becomes swan; history becomes rumor becomes song. Even the act of remembrance creases the truth».^[44] A major element of the plot is the weaponry called jerengjen of space mercenaries, which unfold from flat shapes: «In the streets, jerengjen unfolded prettily, expanding into artillery with dragon-shaped shadows and sleek four-legged assault robots with wolf-shaped shadows. In the skies, jerengjen unfolded into bombers with kestrel-shaped shadows.» The story says that the word means the art of paper folding in the mercenaries’ main language. In an interview, when asked about the subject, the author tells that he became fascinated with dimensions since reading the novel Flatland.^[45]
• In Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword, Scooby and Shaggy learn origami, which proves crucial in finding the Sword of Doom.
• In Kubo and the Two Strings, the main protagonist Kubo can magically manipulate origami with music from his shamisen.
• In Naruto Shippuden, Konan, the only female member of the Akatsuki, uses origami jutsu, in which she uses her chakra to bring origami to life and use them as weapons.
• The 2010 video game Heavy Rain has an antagonist known as the origami killer.
• In the BBC television program QI, it is reported that origami in the form it is commonly known, where paper is folded without being cut or glued likely originated in Germany and was imported to Japan as late as 1860 when Japan opened its borders (However, it is confirmed that paper cranes using this technique have existed in Japan since the Edo period before 1860).^[46]
• Paper Mario: The Origami King is a 2020 Nintendo Switch game featuring Mario series characters in an origami-themed world.
• Origami Yoda is a children’s book series by Tom Angleberger about a group of middle school students who construct origami finger puppets resembling Star Wars characters.

See also

References

Further reading

• Kunihiko Kasahara (1988). Origami Omnibus: Paper Folding for Everybody. Tokyo: Japan Publications, Inc. ISBN 4-8170-9001-4

  A book for a more advanced origamian; this book presents many more complicated ideas and theories, as well as related topics in geometry and culture, along with model diagrams.

• Kunihiko Kasahara and Toshie Takahama (1987). Origami for the Connoisseur. Tokyo: Japan Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-87040-670-1
• Satoshi Kamiya (2005). Works by Satoshi Kamiya, 1995–2003. Tokyo: Origami House

  An extremely complex book for the elite origamian, most models take 100+ steps to complete. Includes his famous Divine Dragon Bahamut and Ancient Dragons. Instructions are in Japanese and English.

• Kunihiko Kasahara (2001). Extreme Origami. ISBN 0-8069-8853-3
• Michael LaFosse. Origamido : Masterworks of Paper Folding ISBN 978-1564966391
• Nick Robinson (2004). Encyclopedia of Origami. Quarto. ISBN 1-84448-025-9. A book full of stimulating designs.

External links

• GiladOrigami.com, contains many book reviews
• WikiHow on how to make origami
• Origami USA, many resources, especially for folders in the USA
• British Origami Society, many resources, especially for folders in the UK
• Between the Folds, documentary film about origami and origami artists
• Lang, Robert (February 2008). «The math and magic of origami» (video). TED ED. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
• Robert Lang (March 16, 2017). «See a NASA Physicist’s Incredible Origami» (video). YouTube. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
• Engineering with Origami, YouTube video by Veritasium about uses of origami for structural engineering

 

	JAPANESE SYMBOLS

Japanese word for origamiHere is how to say origami in japanese: Japanese symbols : 折り紙 Meanings : origami Kana reading: おりがみ Romaji reading (pronunciation): origami Here is how to say origami in japanese: Japanese symbols : 折紙 Meanings : origami Kana reading: おりがみ Romaji reading (pronunciation): origami

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Japanese symbols (C) 2009. Some Rights Reserved, Free Japanese Symbols

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The Japanese word “Origami” itself is a compound of two smaller Japanese words: “ori” (root verb “oru”), meaning to fold, and “kami”, meaning paper. Until recently, not all forms of paper folding were grouped under the word origami. Before that, paperfolding for play was known by a variety of names, including “orikata”, “orisue”, “orimono”, “tatamigami” and others. Exactly why “origami” became the common name is not known; it has been suggested that the word was adopted in the kindergartens because the written characters were easier for young children to write. Another theory is that the word “origami” was a direct translation of the German word “Papierfalten”, brought into Japan with the Kindergarten Movement around 1880.

Japanese origami began sometime after Buddhist monks carried paper to Japan during the 6th century. The first Japanese origami is dated from this period and was used for religious ceremonial purposes only, due to the high price of paper.

A reference in a poem by Ihara Saikaku from 1680, which describes the origami butterflies used during Shinto weddings to represent the bride and groom.Samurai warriors are known to have exchanged gifts adorned with noshi, a sort of good luck token made of folded strips of paper, which indicates that origami had become a significant aspect of Japanese ceremony by the Heian period (794–1185).

In 1797 the first known origami book was published in Japan: Senbazuru orikata. There are several origami stories in Japanese culture, such as a story of Abe no Seimei making a paper bird and turning it into a real one.

The earliest evidence of paperfolding in Europe is a picture of a small paper boat in Tractatus de sphaera mundi from 1490. There is also evidence of a cut and folded paper box from 1440. It is possible that paperfolding in the west originated with the Moors much earlier; however, it is not known if it was independently discovered or knowledge of origami came along the silk route.

The modern growth of interest in origami dates to the design in 1954 by Akira Yoshizawa of a notation to indicate how to fold origami models. The Yoshizawa-Randlett system is now used internationally. Today the popularity of origami has given rise to origami societies such as the British Origami Society and OrigamiUSA. The first known origami social group was founded in Zaragoza, Spain, during the 1940s.

The Chinese word for paperfolding is “Zhe Zhi” (摺紙), and some Chinese contend that origami is a historical derivative of Chinese paperfolding.

2. Interesting Origami Facts

Origami is a kind of art that you can trace in 500 AD. This popular art is included as part of Japanese and Chinese culture. This paper folding hypnotizes all people in the world. There are hundreds of shapes that you can create from the folding paper. Check the following post for detail info about origami:

Origami Facts 1: the origin

Let’s find out the origin of Origami. It came from Japan, not China. But Chinese people influenced al lot of the concept of paper folding. You have to know that paper was invented from China for the first time.

Origami Facts 2: Who brought origami to Japan?

The Buddhist monks introduced the origami art to Japan. The credit for the birthplace of origami was taken by Japanese people. But you can find many parts of oriental countries such as China like to do origami. This art is very popular among kids and adults. Check Japanese culture facts here.

Origami Facts 3: the largest origami

Many people think that origami must involve with small paper. It is not true. In 1999, the largest crane from paper was created. It was made inside a football stadium with the weight of 1,750 pounds and height of 215 feet.

Origami Facts 4: Akira Naito

Akira Naito was a Japanese person who created the smallest crane paper. He folded a 0.1-by-0.1-mm square of paper to make this crane paper. It is not easy to do it because Akira had to use a pair of tweezers and a microscope.

Origami Facts 5: 50th anniversary of Hiroshima

There were 25,000 paper cranes created during the 50th anniversary of Hiroshima bombing in Japan. It broke the record as the largest number of origami cranes ever made. People placed the origami cranes on the memorial place of the city.

Origami Facts 6: the oldest origami illustration design

The oldest origami illustration design was traced back in 1490. Johannes di Sacrobesco created the illustration in Venice. He illustrated paper boats floating on water.

Origami Facts 7: Christian Dior

Christian Dior was inspired by origami when he created his 2007 Haute Couture collection. Actually this art has inspired a lot of sectors such as fashion, architecture and food. If you visit Japan, you can find a lot of buildings created based on origami style.

Origami Facts 8: popularity

The art of origami also influenced the people in Spain. The moors brought the art in 1100 AD to Spain. But the Spanish people did not use it as an art. They used the origami to understand the geometrical and mathematical concepts.

Origami Facts 9: paper

The popular belief states that origami is created from paper. Actually you can have it made from foil, food, or even coarse cloth.

Origami Facts 10: books and museums

If you want to know the collection of origami masterpieces, you can check them on the museums and books in America and Japan.

Sources :

• Origins and the traditional designs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_origami
• 10 Interesting Origami Facts. http://www.myinterestingfacts.com/

Origami is a traditional Japanese art of making different beautiful creature by folding a piece of paper. People of Japan know how to worship and respect this art that has been practicing by the numerous unknown artists from a long time ago.

Origami is fun to learn, this is what I believe. What do you think of it? Have you ever tired to origami? There are few simple origami techniques you can learn online. In fact, I will show you the right path so that you could successfully make few origami.

Origami – Word Meaning

The word “ORIGAMI” comes from the “Oru” which means “To fold” and Kami simply means “Paper”. If we aggregate both words in one form then we get this one “Folding paper”. This precious Japanese art shows you many cute objects that are made of paper only. It is not a miracle but a piece of real Japanese art!

Origami History

It is said that Japan is the birth place of Origami. Well, we can’t think of making origami without having its main material. Paper is the main material of making origami object, I think you all know this fact. History tells us that paper making technique first was invented in China then it was introduced to Japan. Here in Japan, origami art had began after Buddhist monks brought paper from China in the sixth century.

The use of paper was very expensive at that time. That’s for what only elite family group of people like Samurai used to practice this art. They used to make noshi (little good luck paper charm) attaching it with a gift as a sign of good luck fortune. It has fully developed during the Edo Period (1603-1868). At that time, mass production of paper had begun as a result origami was no longer an art for Samurai family but also for the general people.

The first book “Hiden Senbazuru Orikata” (Secret to Folding One-thousand Cranes) about origami was published in 1797. Once, one of my origami instructors from Tokyo told me this. Do you know who is the modern origami inventor? He is a Japanese called Akira Yoshizawa! He was the real artist of present origami and considered to be the grandmaster of origami art.

Thousands (1000) Origami Cranes (Senbazuru)

I have been fascinated looking at this Japanese art since a long time ago. I did learn the process of making origami crane, flowers, dog face, boat, box and cup. These are very easy to make even for a beginner. I have heard from my parents that 1000 cranes make wish come true and a signal of good luck. It is said that giving Senbazuru (1000 folded cranes) to a sick person means wishing him/her very fast recovery from illness.

To make Senbazuru, one has to use solid color of paper. The standard size of paper for making Senbazuru is 7.5 x 7.5 cm. You need total 25 strings where you will be assembling 40 cranes on each string. Here you have learned about the standard size of paper that is used for making cranes and the strings you need in total.

In fact, here in Japan every child learns how to make a folded paper crane as I did in the past. Children here make different form of objects during many festival times. It is a kind of tradition, no doubt about that. Lately, my little cousin has started making paper crane from my uncle and aunt. It does make me happy!

Why Origami Crane is Considered to be Good Fortune?

Crane is believed to be a popular theme for various Japanese art. Red-crowned crane/Japanese cranes (Tancho) are native to Japan, they usually live in Hokkaido region. In Japan, this graceful bird is associated with longevity, happiness and good luck.

Believing in this fact, people of Japan consider crane as a symbol of good luck. When we talk about Japanese legends and folklore then we would see this bird has been considered as one of the greatest legends in Japanese folklore. I have read so many Japanese folktale where I have found this aquatic bird such as in the famous Japanese folktale “Tsuru no Ongaeshi” where a crane appears to be a good fortune for a young man.

How to Make Origami: Origami Instructions (DIY Project)

Making origami has not always been easy for us such as owl and rose. It is really hard to make an origami owl! I myself needed to take a simple course to know how to make origami Japanese crane just by folding a square paper. I also had time to read few origami books before, that motivated me to make unique origami creation.

It remains to you difficult until you know the basic origami techniques. Please learn origami with step by step instruction visiting the following pages. Get ready with necessary origami paper before you start these courses.

How to Make Origami Crane

How to Hang Origami Cranes

Simple Origami Projects for Different Occasions

How to Make Origami Stars 

Origami Projects for Kids

How to Make Paper Airplanes 

Printable Origami Instructions

Easy Origami Wedding Instructions

Origami Making Guide Book

Origami is a Unique Form of Japanese Art Because:

It is created only by folding a piece paper.
The paper must be square not oval, rectangular or something like that.
Crane is regarded as one of the most popular folding objects.
There is no use of glue or scissors, it would be Kirigami if you use them to make an object.
Only a piece of paper is allowed to make an object.

Popular Object of Origami Are:

Cranes, Flowers, Balloon, Swan, Boat, Stars, Fortune Teller, Fox, Butterfly and Gold Fish.

Sadako Sasaki & My Thoughts

It is true that reading history might amuse you but sometimes it makes you cry and sad. Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl who was a victim of World War II. In her home town, Hiroshima, atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. She suffered from atomic bomb radiation and died from leukemia at the age of 12, on October 25, 1955. There is a true story book written based on her life called “Sadako and the Thousands Paper Cranes“.

Whenever I read this book, I feel pain in my heart. In this book, you will be reading, one of his best friends who often visits her, one day she says to Sadako that making 1000 origami cranes could bring good luck for her. So, Sadako tries to make 1000 cranes in order to get recovered from her illness.

She makes total 644 origami cranes before she dies, then her school friends intend to make rest of the paper cranes on behalf of her. It is a touchy true story!

The folded paper crane is considered as a symbol of peace in Japan. If you visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Nagasaki Peace Park you will see many folded cranes there as well as the statue of Sadako holding a golden crane with her two hands. I know history is just history, we can’t change it.

I used to hear the atomic bomb dropping story from my grandparents, the story scars me a lot, and it can’t bring smile on my face, never ever! I once made a many folded cranes with my friends just to feel that we can bring peace in this world.

Finally, I just wanted to share my thoughts and knowledge on this art with you. I will surly share my Origami paper works with you in the future, so just wait and see what I could bring for you. I would be happy if you just discovered something new here reading this post. Thanks a lot!

The History of Origami

For centuries humans have used art as a form of expression and there are many varieties of stunning artwork that tell the tales of tragic love stories and heroic feats.

Art is an essential part of our culture and is more than just a few colors put together; whether we realise it or not, art is a part of being human. One such extraordinary type of art is origami.

What is Origami?

The word “origami” originates from the Japanese word “ori” which means “to fold” and “gami” meaning paper. There were many terms for the art of paper folding in Eastern Asia and it is unknown why origami became the common term for it, one theory suggests that it was easier for children to spell at school and therefore the term became more commonly used. This particular form of art involves folding paper many times to produce intricate shapes and models.

The exact origin of origami is shrouded in mystery but it is believed that it began to be practiced not long after the invention of paper in 105 A.D. in China, it was then introduced to Japan in the 6^th century and was seen as a rarity; origami was only practiced for ceremonial purposes

Just as paper was invented in China, many Chinese people believe that Japanese origami is an imitation of Chinese paper folding called Zhe Zhi.

Origami in Japanese Culture

Due to the high price of paper, as it was very rare, origami was seen as a luxury and therefore, a perfect gift for a loved one. Shinto weddings in Japan involved making origami butterflies to represent the bride and groom; Samurai would gift people items adorned with noshi, a type of ceremonial origami containing a strip of dried which was meant to bring good fortune.

Although origami played a significant part in Japanese culture during the Heian period (794-1185), the first origami book in Japan was published in 1797 named Senbazuru orikata.

Origami in Europe

There are a few records of paper folding in Europe in the form of a paper box and boat in the 1400s before origami became well known. It isn’t known for sure how origami came to Europe but the most probable explanation is that it was brought by merchants from along the Silk Road.

Modern Origami

In 1954 a man named Akira Yoshizawa developed a format for the instructions of making origami and the Yoshizawa-Randlett system has been used internationally. There are now many organisations dedicated to preserving the art of origami, two notable international organisations are the British Origami Society and OrigamiUSA.

Freidrich Fröbel, a significant person who contributed to the spread of origami in Europe, was the man who invented the term and concept of kindergarten. He recognised the importance of folding, cutting, and other activities involving paper as beneficial teaching aids ultimately boosting a child’s learning.

The rising popularity of the kindergarten system led to the small, square-shaped coloured pieces of paper used for origami becoming the standard origami paper used by people all over the world to this day.

Different Types of Origami

Wet-folding – This type of origami involves the use of water to produce shapes that otherwise couldn’t be made using dry paper. It is used for models that will look better with soft curves rather than sharp edges.

Golden venture folding – Origami made in this form is absolutely stunning but very difficult to make. It is made using many sheets of paper folded into small triangles and put together to make a complex but intricate design.

Modular origami – A form of origami using more than one piece of paper called a unit.

Action origami – This form of origami has moving parts and is interactive.

Fabric origami – An innovative form of origami using fabric instead of paper.

Kirigami – Origami exclusively involves the folding of paper, kirigami on the other hand involves the cutting of paper.

Top 10 Origami Ideas

1. Crane — One of the most iconic origami designs, cranes play a significant part in Japanese culture and they are associated with good luck and longevity. The most famous story surrounding the paper crane is that of Sadako Sasaki, a little girl who was suffering from leukemia due to the radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It is believed that whoever folds 1000 cranes has their wish come true so she started folding them in hospital, sadly she passed away but the crane lives on to be a symbol of hope.

2. Butterfly – After the crane, the butterfly is another iconic origami design. The first known origami designs were the male and female (mecho and ocho) butterflies gifted to the bride and the groom at a wedding.

3. Samurai helmet – Remember the might of the samurai warriors with an origami samurai hat!

4. Heart – Spread some love with an origami heart.

5. Frog – A fun frog that jumps when pressed, great for children.

6. Chatterbox – Loved by school children, chatterboxes make a fun game.

7. Shuriken/star – A paper version of the deadly weapon once used by ninjas, take care not to throw it at anyone!

8. Lotus flower – A wonderful design, a lotus flower symbolises enlightenment as it is a beautiful thing that rises from the murky water.

9. Boat – Another great one for the children, help them to make the boats then set them afloat on a body of water, and watch them sail with satisfaction.

10. Basket – Getting a gift for somebody but you don’t know what to put it in? Make an origami basket or box which can hold chocolates or anything else depending on the size and the effort is sure to be appreciated.

Origami isn’t just about folding paper into shapes, each piece has a story to tell and there are also many legends surrounding origami such as the myth about a boy who was believed to be able to make birds out of paper that would come to life and fly away. Regardless of fact or fiction, the art of origami is a pleasurable pursuit nonetheless.