Origami

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, and it is a way of turning a sheet of paper into a sculpture. The term "origami" comes from the Japanese words ori (to fold) and kami (paper).

Although the exact origins of the art are uncertain, paper came to Japan from China around the sixth century CE, and folding techniques may have developed soon after that. Early origami was often used in religious ceremonies, and it might have had symbolic meanings. Rumor has it that Samurai warriors exchanged folded paper tokens as a sign of respect and good fortune.

This craft relies on precise paper folds to create geometric shapes. Traditional origami is made from a single sheet of paper without cutting or glue, relying only on folds to create the shape.  While origami is often associated with fairly simple designs such as cranes and flowers, advanced designs use mathematical and engineering principles to produce highly complex structures.

Origami carries deep meaning, particularly in Japanese culture. The crane, one of the most famous origami designs, symbolizes longevity and good fortune. The tradition of folding senbazuru—a thousand cranes—comes with a legend that doing so grants a wish or brings healing. This practice gained international recognition through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl affected by radiation from the Hiroshima bombing. Her attempt to fold one thousand cranes in hopes of recovery became a symbol of peace.

So, you can see that origami is more than just paper folding. Whether used for amusement or symbolism, it turns an ordinary piece of paper into art. Creating an origami sculpture is a beautiful and meditative craft. I thought about trying to put a set of directions in here, but it was just confusing.  I think it is just better to see how to do it with illustrations. If you would like to know more about origami, there are a lot of books about this subject and many videos on the internet.