Origami is such an interesting art. The origins of this paper folding craft date back all the way to the invention of paper. This was during the 6th Century when Buddhist monks brought paper to Japan. This is the earliest recording of the art being taught to children in Japan. There is a poem from 1680, written by Ihara Saikaku which describes the use of origami during a wedding which places this around the Heian period which is 794 to 1185 AD. Since paper had become such a major part of society and culture, paper folding methods were used right away. These independent traditions started in Europe and East Asia. However, it is unknown if they started in unison with one another or one area inspired the other.
Origami is the combination of two Japanese words. The word" Ori" which means to fold and "kami" which is Japanese for paper are the primary components of the word, origami. Surprisingly enough up until recently all paper folding was not classified under the term origami. Before this, paper folding as an art was known under various other terms. It is unknown how the word origami was adopted as the main term but it is believed it was started by the young children who found the words easier to read and thus associated them with the art of paper folding.
The paper folding art of origami was taught to Japanese kindergarten children as early as the 6th Century. Samurai warriors would exchange gifts that were strips of folded paper with one another. In 1797 a Japanese origami book was published, the book was called "Senbazuru Orikata". Origami even turns up in Japanese culture in the art of children's stories. The first example of origami in Europe is a painting of a small folded boat. This picture dates back to 1490. Since there is no evidence of paper folding in London at this time it is widely believed paper folding originated with the Moors. Origami started coming into popular mainstream by the year 1954. There was even an origami social group in Zaragoza, Spain in 1940.
One of the most common origami designs is the Japanese crane. It is said that anyone who can fold 1000 of said cranes can have their wish fulfilled. There is a touching take of a Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki who was dying from radiation poisoning from Hiroshima during World War II. She was able to fold 644 canes until she died. The effort was picked up by her friends and family who completed the one thousand cranes and buried them all with Sadako.
Origami is the combination of two Japanese words. The word" Ori" which means to fold and "kami" which is Japanese for paper are the primary components of the word, origami. Surprisingly enough up until recently all paper folding was not classified under the term origami. Before this, paper folding as an art was known under various other terms. It is unknown how the word origami was adopted as the main term but it is believed it was started by the young children who found the words easier to read and thus associated them with the art of paper folding.
The paper folding art of origami was taught to Japanese kindergarten children as early as the 6th Century. Samurai warriors would exchange gifts that were strips of folded paper with one another. In 1797 a Japanese origami book was published, the book was called "Senbazuru Orikata". Origami even turns up in Japanese culture in the art of children's stories. The first example of origami in Europe is a painting of a small folded boat. This picture dates back to 1490. Since there is no evidence of paper folding in London at this time it is widely believed paper folding originated with the Moors. Origami started coming into popular mainstream by the year 1954. There was even an origami social group in Zaragoza, Spain in 1940.
One of the most common origami designs is the Japanese crane. It is said that anyone who can fold 1000 of said cranes can have their wish fulfilled. There is a touching take of a Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki who was dying from radiation poisoning from Hiroshima during World War II. She was able to fold 644 canes until she died. The effort was picked up by her friends and family who completed the one thousand cranes and buried them all with Sadako.
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