Today, origami is one of the most popular crafts in the world. It’s widely assumed that origami originated in Japan, but there is evidence that it may have begun in China. Origami also may well have started in European countries that practiced napkin-folding. However, Japan is the country that spread the art of origami around the world, and the country origami is most often associated with.
Origami started as orikata, which means folded shapes. In ancient times, it was a vital skill for aristocrats and high-ranking soldiers, and used for formal gift and ritual wrappings. The term later transitioned to origami in 1880 – ori meaning folded, and kami meaning paper. Scholars and historians still aren’t sure why the term was changed, but some believe that it was because the characters for origami were easier for schoolchildren to learn.
Back then, paper was considered a luxury, so origami was limited to the wealthy and formal ceremonies. Monks would fold origami figures for religious purposes, and folded gift wrappers and envelopes were used in important ceremonies. During the Edo period (1603-1868), paper became a lot cheaper, and commoners began making origami. This gave rise to the cultural practice of creating formal gift wrappers (noshi), envelopes/paper purses (tato), and letter folds. At this time, origami also became an educational tool because it relates to math.
There is no concrete evidence that origami existed before 1600, but a reference to origami butterflies in a 1680 poem suggests it may have been around for much longer than we know. The earliest known origami instructions appear in two books: Tsutsumi-no Ki (also called Haketsuki) by Sadatake Ise, written in 1764, and Sembazuru Orikata by Akisato Rito, written in 1797. The latter novel pertained more to cultural customs than folding instructions.
After sakoku (closed country; the isolationist policy of Japan) ended in 1853, origami became more widespread around the world. Additionally, Japanese origami practitioners started incorporating Western ideas, like napkin-folding patterns, patenbriefs (folded certificates), etc. Over time, origami became increasingly complex, and its applications greatly expanded. Origami can be used in furniture design, home decor, architecture, engineering, and even medical solutions.
Modern Origami
Akira Yoshizawa (1911-2005) is considered the father of modern origami. He learned origami as a child, and later used it in his 20’s to teach geometry concepts to his coworkers. Yoshizawa would inspire a national interest and international interest in origami, mainly through his publications. He wrote and published several books, the most famous being Atarashi Origami Geijutsu, which established the symbols and notation used today for diagramming origami instructions, and
Origami Tokuhon. Yoshizawa is estimated to have created over 50,000 designs in his lifetime, but only a few hundred were officially documented in his works. He avoided cutting and gluing in his designs, but he developed a wet folding technique by misting a paper with water, which created softer and more naturalistic lines. Yoshizawa was an extremely influential figure in Japan, serving as a cultural ambassador and even receiving the honor of Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun in 1938.
Another important person in the development of modern origami is Kosho Uchiyama (1912-1998). He was a Buddhist priest and origami master. Unlike Yoshizawa, he used cutting in some of his designs. Like his father, who was a novelist, Uchiyama wrote many books on origami, of which Origami Zukan, a children’s book, is the most well-known. His folds weren’t considered to be as elegant as Yoshizawa’s, but he was still a contemporary of Yoshizawa.
Today, the criteria for origami have been loosened somewhat, in that cutting and gluing is allowed for added stability in the design. In addition, origami is no longer limited to exclusively origami paper. People have been getting creative, using regular printer paper, Sticky Notes, and even dollar bills. Just remember to keep in mind the dimensions of the paper you’re working with!
Origami is a very popular craft because it is easy to find materials. The next time you want to make a gift for someone, consider origami! You can find many tutorials on the mYeBEAT site, all linked below. You can also find tutorials all over the internet, with a range of styles and difficulties.
