Welcome to "Unfolding the Secrets of Origami." Here, you can learn simple step-by-step tutorials and enjoy pictures of intricate-styled origami.
Often associated with the Japanese culture in the Edo Period (1603-1867), traditional origami ('Ori' means 'folding' and 'kami' means 'paper') is the elegant art of paper folding. The ultimate purpose of this activity is to transform a plain (typically square) sheet of paper into a delicate structure by means of sculpting and folding. The use of cuts, glue, and markings is discouraged. Origami is also traced back to Chinese and European roots---in China, there was the practice of burning folded paper in funerals; in Europe, napkin-folding was considered a noble art. The best-known origami model is the paper crane, especially because of its significance in Japanese history and culture.
There are a few different types of origami: action, modular, wet-folding, pureland, tessellations, and kirigami.
Some fun facts about origami:
- A Japanese myth says that if you fold one thousand paper cranes, one of your wish will be granted.
- The world record for the longest flight indoors of an origami plane is 22.48 seconds - held by Takuo Toda, the inventor of the paper airplane.
- There are dozens of national origami associations throughout the world, including: Unites States, Japan, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Russia, Poland, Canada, Italy, and Australia.
- During the 50th anniversary of the dropping of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, a total of 250,000 paper cranes (record for largest number of paper cranes created) were folded and displayed in the city's memorial. Each crane had a victim's name on it as well as a short, heart-felt message. An origami crane is considered as a symbol of world peace.
- Origami is strongly related to mathematics.
- Origami has been the subject of numerous copyright issues - designs have often been plagiarized and republished without the creator's permission.
- Japan has lots of buildings inspired by origami styles.
- Origami can be created by using foil, food, and coarse cloth.
