Origami

Origami is the art of folding paper to make beautiful shapes. The word "origami" comes from Japan, but people everywhere have folded paper for a long time. No one really knows when origami began.

The goal of origami is to turn a flat square piece of paper into a sculpture just by folding it. Most origami artists do not cut, glue, or mark the paper. When cuts are used, it is called kirigami. There are two types of origami: ceremonial origami, used for special events, and recreational origami, which is for fun.

Even though origami looks easy, a few basic folds can make very detailed and pretty designs. One of the most famous origami models is the paper crane. Origami ideas are also used in real life, such as in making stents to help people’s bodies and in packaging to protect goods.

Etymology

The word "origami" comes from two smaller words: "ori," which means to fold, and "kami," which means paper. In the past, people used different names for folding paper for fun, such as "orikata" or "origata."

Today, many countries use the word "origami," but some places have their own special words, like zhe zhi in China, jongi jeobgi in Korea, and papiroflexia in Spain.

History

Main article: History of origami

Origami, the art of paper folding, has traditions in Europe, China, and Japan. In Japan, by the 7th century, paper was used for special ceremonies and decorations. The Heian period saw folded paper used for Shinto rituals and gifts.

During the Muromachi period, the Ogasawara and Ise clans made beautiful folded paper designs for important events. In the Edo period, origami became a popular hobby. Books showed how to fold paper cranes. The book Hiden senbazuru orikata from 1797 had advanced origami designs.

In the 1800s, Japan opened to the world, and European ideas about paper folding came in. Kindergartens used origami to help children learn. In the 1900s, artists like Akira Yoshizawa created new folding methods. By the 1980s, people began studying the math behind origami, which led to more complex designs. Today, origami is loved as art and for its science uses.

Techniques and materials

Main article: Yoshizawa–Randlett system

Origami uses many folding methods to make models. Common folds are valley folds, mountain folds, and reverse folds. There are special starting shapes, called bases, such as the bird base or the fish base, which help make origami animals and objects.

Origami is often done with special paper called "kami." This paper comes in squares and can be colored or patterned. Regular paper works for simple models, while heavier paper is better for detailed designs. Some people use paper made from natural materials like bamboo or hemp. Tools like bone folders or tweezers can help make precise folds for tricky designs.

Types

Action origami

Main article: Action origami

Action origami includes designs that can move. Some origami can fly, while others need to be touched to make parts move. A classic example is a flapping bird, and modern designers like Robert Lang create figures that move.

Modular origami

Main article: Modular origami

Modular origami uses many small, identical pieces that fit together to make a larger model. These pieces can be simple, but putting them together can be tricky. One popular type is decorative balls called kusudama.

Wet-folding

Main article: Wet-folding

Wet-folding is a method where the paper is slightly wet so it can be shaped into curves. When it dries, the model keeps its shape. This technique is great for making realistic-looking animals.

Pureland origami

Main article: Pureland origami

Pureland origami has strict rules: only simple folds are allowed, and they must follow certain paths. It was created to make origami easier for beginners or people with limited hand movement.

Origami tessellations

Origami tessellations are patterns that cover a flat surface completely without gaps. Artists use repeated folds to create beautiful, detailed designs. This style became popular after 2000, with designers like Robert Lang and Alex Bateman using computers to make new patterns.

Kirigami

Main article: Kirigami

Kirigami is the art of cutting paper as well as folding it. In the past, cuts were common in origami, but today most designers prefer to avoid them and call designs with cuts "Kirigami" instead.

Strip folding

Strip folding mixes folding with weaving. A well-known example is the Lucky Star, also called the Chinese lucky star or origami star. Another is the Moravian star, which has 16 points.

Teabag folding

Teabag folding was created by Dutch artist Tiny van der Plas in 1992. It uses small squares of paper, like tea bag wrappers, to make 3D designs by folding them into matching shapes. Teachers often use these designs to show patterns and symmetry in math.

Mathematics and technical origami

Main article: Mathematics of paper folding

Origami is connected to mathematics in many ways. One important question is whether a pattern of folds can make a flat shape. This idea is called flat-foldability.

Origami ideas have helped make new technologies, like better airbags for cars and stent implants for medicine.

Technical origami is a way to plan the folds before you start. Experts like Robert Lang use this method to make very detailed models, such as animals with many legs or people with full hands and feet. They use computer programs to help design new origami patterns.

Ethics and copyright

In the origami community, it is important to give credit to the person who created a design when showing origami models. With the internet, it is easy to find and share designs, but it is good to respect the work of artists.

A court in Japan decided that the way to fold an origami model is like an idea, not something that can be owned. This means people can redraw folding instructions and share them, even if they look similar, as long as they are just showing the steps.

Origami in various meanings

The word "origami" is best known for folding paper into fun shapes. In Japan, it has also had other meanings. Long ago, important families used "origami" as a special paper certificate. They attached it to valuable swords or tea tools to show they were of high quality.

Origami was also used for old letters and documents. Folding paper in a certain way showed the importance or purpose of the letter. Sometimes origami was used for important messages or lists of gifts.

In popular culture

Origami appears in many fun stories and shows. In the TV show House of Cards, a character makes origami animals. In Blade Runner, a special character folds origami to help tell the story. The children’s book The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger is about a student who makes an origami Yoda puppet from Star Wars to give advice to friends. The video game Paper Mario: The Origami King from 2020 lets players explore a world made of folded paper.