Origami facts for kids

Origami cranes

A group of Japanese schoolchildren dedicate their contribution of senbazuru at the Sadako Sasaki memorial in Hiroshima.

Origami (pronounced oh-ree-GAH-mee) is the amazing art of folding paper. The word comes from two Japanese words: ori, meaning "folding," and kami, meaning "paper." It's all about transforming a flat, square sheet of paper into a cool sculpture, just by folding!

Even though the name "origami" is Japanese, people all over the world have been folding paper for a very long time. No one knows exactly where it started!

Modern origami artists usually don't use scissors, glue, or any marks on the paper. If a design needs cuts, it's often called kirigami instead.

There are only a few basic origami folds, but you can combine them in endless ways to make super detailed designs. The most famous origami model is probably the Japanese paper crane. Most designs start with a square piece of paper, which might have different colors or patterns on each side. The ideas behind origami are even used in cool inventions like stents (medical devices) and packaging!

Discover the World of Origami

What is Origami?

The word "origami" is a mix of two Japanese words: "ori" (to fold) and "kami" (paper). For a long time, not all paper folding was called origami. People used other names like "orikata" or "origata."

Many countries have their own names for paper folding. In China, it's called zhe zhi. In Korea, it's jongi jeobgi. And in Spain, it's known as papiroflexia.

A Journey Through Origami History

The folding of two origami cranes linked together, from the first known technical book on origami, Hiden senbazuru orikata, published in Japan in 1797

People have been folding paper in different ways in Europe, China, and Japan for centuries. These traditions mostly grew separately until the 1900s.

Origami for Special Occasions

Paper arrived in Japan from China around the 600s. The Japanese then created their own special paper called washi. This strong paper was perfect for folding.

Soon, folded paper was used for decorations and tools in religious ceremonies. Gifts were also wrapped in beautifully folded paper. This special, formal way of folding was called "origata."

A modern ceremonial origami (origata) that follows the ceremonial origami of the upper samurai class of the Muromachi period

During the 1300s and 1400s, rules for these ceremonial folds became very detailed. These early origami shapes were often geometric. They were different from the fun, playful origami we know today, which tries to look like real objects or animals. For example, special paper butterflies were used at weddings to represent the bride and groom. This tradition continues even today!

Fun with Paper Folding: Recreational Origami

Early Paper Fun (1500s-1800s)

It's hard to say exactly when people started folding paper just for fun in Japan. But we know it was happening by the late 1500s. A Japanese sword from that time had a picture of an origami crane on it!

In 1747, a book called Ranma zushiki showed many origami designs, including cranes. This suggests that many people already knew about recreational origami. During this time, people often called it orikata.

Hyakkaku (One hundred cranes) is one of the works featured in Hiden senbazuru orikata. It is made by folding a single sheet of paper. Its creation method is a special cultural treasure of Kuwana City.

The oldest known instruction book for fun origami, Hiden senbazuru orikata, came out in 1797. It had 49 amazing origami pieces created by a monk named Gidō. These designs were very advanced! Today, Kuwana City, Gidō's hometown, protects these folding methods as important cultural heritage.

In Europe, people also folded paper, especially napkins, in the 1600s and 1700s. Later, a teacher named Friedrich Fröbel used paper folding in his "Kindergarten" method to help children learn.

Modern Origami Takes Shape

When Japan opened its borders in the 1860s, they learned about Fröbel's Kindergarten system. This brought new ideas to Japan, like starting with a square, two-colored paper and not using cuts. Before this, Japanese origami often used different paper shapes and sometimes cuts.

In 1875, Japan's first kindergarten opened, and origami became a part of early education. Magazines for boys also featured origami articles.

In the early 1900s, artists like Akira Yoshizawa started creating and sharing new origami designs. Akira Yoshizawa invented new techniques, like wet-folding, and a system for drawing origami instructions. His work helped make origami popular around the world.

Since the 1980s, people have also studied the math behind origami. This has led to incredibly complex and detailed models. Today, artists use computers and new techniques like box-pleating and tessellations to push the boundaries of this ancient art.

Tools and Materials for Folding

Basic Folding Techniques

A list of nine basic origami folds: the valley (or mountain), the pleat, the rabbit ear, the outside reverse, the inside reverse, the crimp, the squash, the sink and the petal

Most origami books teach you basic folding techniques first. These include simple folds like valley folds (like a V shape) and mountain folds (like an upside-down V). There are also standard starting shapes, called "bases," that are used for many different models. For example, the "bird base" is the first step for making a flapping bird. Other common bases are the preliminary base, fish base, waterbomb base, and frog base.

Choosing Your Origami Paper

A crane and papers of the same size used to fold it

You can fold almost any flat material that holds a crease!

Special origami paper, often called "kami" in Japanese, comes in squares of many sizes. It usually has a color on one side and is white on the other. You can also find paper with two different colors or patterns. This paper is a bit lighter than regular copy paper, which makes it great for many models.

Regular copy paper works well for simple folds like the crane. For more advanced techniques like wet-folding, you might use heavier paper. Wet-folding lets you create rounded, sculpted shapes that become strong when dry.

Foil-backed paper, which is thin foil glued to paper, is also popular. You can even make your own "tissue foil" by gluing tissue paper to aluminum foil. These foil papers are excellent for very complex designs.

Washi is the traditional Japanese origami paper. It's usually stronger than regular paper and is made from special plant fibers like gampi or mulberry.

Some people even enjoy folding paper money from different countries! This is sometimes called Dollar Origami or Money Origami.

Helpful Origami Tools

Bone folders

Many people fold origami with just their hands. But some tools can be very helpful, especially for tricky models. A bone folder helps you make super sharp creases. Paper clips can hold parts in place like extra fingers. Tweezers are great for making tiny folds. For very complex designs, a ruler and a special pen to score lines can be useful. After folding, you can spray your finished model to help it keep its shape.

Exciting Types of Origami

Origami That Moves! (Action Origami)

Action origami models can actually move! Some can fly, like paper airplanes. Others need you to blow into them to inflate. And some move when you gently push or pull a part of the model. The traditional Japanese flapping bird is a classic example of action origami.

Building with Many Pieces (Modular Origami)

A stellated icosahedron made from custom papers

Modular origami uses many identical pieces of paper, called "modules," to build one big model. Each piece is usually simple to fold, but putting them all together can be a fun challenge! Many modular models are decorative balls, like kusudama. Sometimes, you might use a little thread or glue to hold the pieces together.

A popular style called "3D origami" (also known as Golden Venture folding) uses many small, folded paper triangles to create large, impressive sculptures.

Making Smooth Shapes (Wet-Folding)

Wet-folding is a special origami technique. You dampen the paper slightly, which makes it soft and easy to mold into gentle curves. When the paper dries, the model becomes firm and holds its new, rounded shape. This is perfect for creating realistic-looking animal models.

Simple Folds for Everyone (Pureland Origami)

Pureland origami is a style that uses only very simple mountain and valley folds. All folds must be easy to find and make. This style was created to help beginners or people who might have trouble with very detailed movements. It's a great way to enjoy origami with fewer rules!

Creating Patterns (Origami Tessellations)

An origami tessellation is a pattern of folded shapes that fit together perfectly without any gaps or overlaps, covering a flat surface. Imagine a tiled floor, but made of paper folds! Artists use special pleats and twists to connect repeating shapes. This type of origami has become very popular since the year 2000.

Cutting Paper Art (Kirigami)

Kirigami is a Japanese term for paper cutting. In older Japanese origami, cuts were often used. However, modern origami usually avoids cuts. Most origami designers today consider models with cuts to be kirigami, not origami. This change happened around the 1960s and 70s.

Weaving with Paper Strips

Strip folding combines paper folding with paper weaving. A well-known example is the Lucky Star, also called the Chinese lucky star or wishing star. Another popular one is the Moravian star, which is a 3D design with 16 points.

Tiny Paper Crafts (Teabag Folding)

Example of folded "tea bag" paper

Teabag folding is a craft where you fold small, square pieces of paper, often from tea bag wrappers. These pieces usually have symmetrical designs. You fold them in a special way so they interlock and create a cool 3D design, like a rosette. It's a fun way to decorate greeting cards!

Origami in Science and Math

Real-World Uses of Origami

Spring Into Action, designed by Jeff Beynon, made from a single rectangular piece of paper

Origami isn't just for fun; it's also a fascinating topic for mathematicians! They study how paper folds and what shapes can be made.

These studies have led to amazing technological breakthroughs. For example, origami principles are used to design how car airbags unfold quickly. They also help create stents, which are tiny medical devices that expand inside the body.

Even large solar panels for space satellites use "rigid origami" designs. These designs allow the panels to fold up small for launch and then unfold perfectly in space. Origami can even help solve complex geometry problems that are impossible with traditional tools!

Designing Complex Origami Models

"Technical origami" is a way of designing origami where artists plan out the entire model like an engineer. Instead of just trying folds until something works, they use math to create a "crease pattern" first. This pattern shows all the folds needed to make the model.

This method, developed by designers like Robert J. Lang, allows for incredibly complex models. Imagine a centipede with many legs or a human figure with all its fingers and toes – these are possible with technical origami! Computer programs like TreeMaker also help designers create new origami bases and predict how a folded shape will look.

Respecting Origami Creators

It's important to always give credit to the original artist when you show off an origami model. This is a way to respect their creativity and hard work. Many origami artists reserve the rights to their designs. This means if you want to use their designs for commercial purposes, like selling models or photos, you should ask for their permission first.

Other Meanings of "Origami" in Japan

A Japanese sword authentication paper (Origami) from 1702 that Hon'ami Kōchū certified a tantō made by Yukimitsu in the 14th century as authentic

While "origami" usually means paper folding for fun around the world, in Japan, the word has had other meanings too.

For example, "origami" also referred to a certificate of authenticity for valuable items like Japanese swords or tea utensils. Experts would inspect a sword and then issue an "origami" document stating its history and value. This led to the Japanese phrase origami tsuki (折り紙付き), which means something is "certified" or "guaranteed" to be of high quality.

The term "origami" also described a specific style of old Japanese documents. Paper folded horizontally was called "origami," and it was sometimes used for official commands or lists of gifts.

Gallery

These pictures show examples of various types of origami.

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  Dollar bill elephant, an example of moneygami

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  Kawasaki rose using the twist fold devised by Toshikazu Kawasaki. The calyx is made separately.

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  Kawasaki cube, an example of an iso-area model

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  A wet-folded bull

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  A challenging miniature version of a paper crane

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  Two examples of modular origami

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  An example of origami bonsai

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  Smart Waterbomb using circular paper and curved folds

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  Flamenco dancers made using a wet fold and twisting/tying technique

• Origami swans.jpg

  Chinese Golden Venture swans

See also

In Spanish: Origami para niños