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A (fairly) brief history of origami
"When you fold, the ritual and the act of creation is more important than the final result. When your hands are busy your heart is serene" - credited to Akira Yoshizawa, the grandfather of modern origami
Hero image: Badger, designed Matthieu Chicouène
If you have tried to turn a piece of thin, square paper into folded crane you may have not found this a calming activity. To the uninitiated paper folding can appear a mysterious art as one's previously reliable and capable fingers become strangely maladroit. Who would have thought folding a piece of paper exactly in half could be so hard?!
Origami has though, increasingly been recognised as being an effective way to practice mindfulness and to increase well-being. It possesses a meditative quality. It is slow and precise, each fold carefully made. It requires patience and a single-minded focus to follow the steps and gradually bring the model to life. And it has been shown that origami can aid relaxation, concentration, hand eye co-ordination and memory. Truly a remedy for our times.
But where and when did paper folding originate? Is it as old as the hills or this week's latest fashion? And how did this Japanese pastime come to be practiced across the globe?
Back to the beginning
For paper folding only one material is required. Paper. And paper is fragile which means that sadly no ancient origami models folded by Emperors of old exist to prove its heritage. It has often been assumed that China, where in 105 A.D. Cai Lun (also written Ts'ai Lun) is credited with the invention of paper, must have been the birthplace of paper folding. Much that is Japanese was indeed introduced from China - kanji characters, Buddhism, gyoza dumplings to name but three - but there is no firm evidence that the Chinese are the originators of paper folding. However, it seems unlikely that having invented paper nobody in China thought to fold it!
Earliest Japanese folds
The technology for manufacturing paper, was imported from China, via Korea into Japan in the 6th Century by Buddhist monks, thus beginning the Japanese love affair with paper. Over time production techniques were improved and perfected creating the beautiful washi paper that the Japanese are so famous for. But in our search for the earliest folds, there is no evidence that the monks folded paper or used it for anything other than writing on.
It is not until the late 17th century that we find the oldest unequivocal document of origami in Japan, a short poem composed by Ihara Saikaku in 1680. It reads: "Rosei-ga yume-no cho-wa orisue" - the butterflies in Rosei's dream would be origami. (1)
The reference here is to an origami model called Ocho Meccho (male and female butterflies) which even today are used to wrap sake bottles at Shinto wedding ceremonies. How far these models date back is unclear, but there is some evidence that as long ago as the Heian Period (794-1185) this fold was being used.
Whatever the precise date, ocho and meccho are historically important because they are the first known examples of representational origami, the forerunners of the ubiquitous origami crane which is the symbol of modern origami. (2)
Image - The Wedding Ceremony Sake Set shown on the right shows the butterflies attached to sake serving kettles (choshi) which look like tea pots. In contrast, similar models are attached to sake bottles which look like decanters during New Year celebrations. Above this are the diagrams for the paper fold for each one. (Origami Resource Center)
There are other ceremonial folds that date back at least to the Edo era and some historians claim as far back as the 12th Century. The Japanese are well known for their etiquette around gift giving, and paper adornments were folded in different ways to symbolise different things.
Noshi is a folded decorative element attached to gifts at times of celebration - weddings, births, coming of age day - as a token of good luck (3). "Tsutsumi" was a formal gift wrapper. And "origami tsuki" was a folded piece of paper that accompanied a valuable gift and it served as a certificate of authenticity. These ceremonial folds were simple and symbolized sincerity and purity.(4)
The first origami instruction manuals
The first book published about paper folding was the "Tsutsumi musibi no Ki" by Sadatake Ise (1764). This contained instructions to fold 13 ceremonial folds. Then, in 1797 'Sembazuru Orikata' - Folding of 1,000 cranes (image, right) - is considered to be the first book documenting recreational paper folding to be published, offering instructions on how to fold multiple interconnecting cranes from a single piece of paper, cut into smaller squares and connected at the corners. (5)
Whether these were traditional folk designs, or the creation of a single designer is unknown, but the very fact of its publications shows that there was a widespread interest in origami in 18th century Edo Japan.
Although not a published work, the 'Kan no mado', an encyclopedia compiled around 1845 and of which only one copy is in existence (in the library of the Asahi Newspaper in Osaka), includes a section featuring ten ceremonial folds and thirty 'pastime' models including a dragonfly folded from a piece of paper in the shape of a six-pointed star! (6)
Origami takes fold
It is no surprise that it is during the Edo era that recreational folding gained its foothold in Japan. During this long period of relative peace across the country, the Japanese economy grew apace and there was a dramatic flourishing of the arts as patronage broadened to include the newly affluent merchant class. Much of what we recognize today as the Japanese aesthetic dates from the Edo period.
It is through ukiyo-e that we can see how widespread in Japanese society paper folding had become. This most egalitarian of art forms often pictured scenes of everyday life. These provide evidence of kimono fabrics with origami designs and of ladies holding their folded creations.
The spread of origami was also aided by the flourishing of the paper-making industry during the Edo period, creating a plentifully supply of this essential raw material. (7) It is thought that by the end of the Edo period more than 70 shapes were known including the crane, frog and helmet (8) - all staples of any beginner folder today. However, at this time origami was still largely an oral tradition and as complex designs were hard to remember, those that proliferated were necessarily simple.
Images: right are three ukiyoe prints featuring origami.
Top - Parody of the Story of the Chrysanthemum Boy (Mitate Kiku Jido), 1765
You can clearly see the instantly recognisable folded crane design on the lady's kimono. (9)
Middle - Poem Number 84: Monk Shun'e (Hachijyuyon ban Shune Hoshi), from the series "100 Poems by 100 Poets" ("Hyakunin Isshu"), 1844
This close up section from a larger print shows the subject mid-fold with the finished model again a crane (10)
Bottom - Orizuru o tsukuru shojo (Making paper cranes), Isoda Koryusai, 1772
Two young women fold paper cranes (11)
Meanwhile, a long time ago in a continent far, far away…
The origins of origami may be mysterious but one thing we know for sure is it's Japanese, right? Think again! Attend a fancy restaurant and you may find upon your table an elaborately folded starched white napkin.
In 17th century napkin folding became extremely popular amongst the more well to do of European society, spreading from the courts of Italy to northern Europe. Increasingly elaborate folds were designed to create showy table decorations in the form of animals, birds, sailing ships and other impressive objects. These were created by joining many napkins together, but in his book of these elaborate table settings published in 1629, Matthew Geiger, included a few designs for the folding of individual napkins, of the sort that you might see at a restaurant today.
Twenty-eight years later, in 1657, this was translated into German and enlarged upon by Georg Phillip Horssdorfer to include more single napkin designs. Now cloth and paper are not the same thing! But Horssdorfer's is the first book of instructions for folding in a style that origami enthusiasts the world over would recognise today. (12) The image top right is of such folded napkin designs (Deutsche Fotothek via Wikimedia Commons{PD-1923})
Whilst the elites of Italy (or more likely, their servants) were folding napkins, it seems the Spanish were folding paper birds, known as 'pajarita' (design shown right) which comes from the Latin 'passer', meaning sparrow. Quite where this design came from nobody knows although Spanish origami historian Vicente Palacios has commented on the similarity of the pajarita pattern to the astrological square that was used for casting horoscopes as early as the 12th century. (13)
Perhaps the oldest evidence for European paper folding was also discovered by Vicente Palacios. In a 1490 edition of English mathematician and astrologer John Holywood's "Tractatu de Spaera Mundi" (Treatise on the Sphere of the World) is a wood cut illustration of the mechanism of a solar eclipse. Shown in the middle, floating on the sea are two boats which bear a striking resemblance to simple folded paper boats (also sometimes made as hats!). The intentions of the artist are lost in the mists of time, but this certainly could be the earliest known depiction of paper folding (14).
Whether it be designs for napkin folding, simple folded birds, or depictions of folded paper boats, there is reliable evidence that a European tradition of paper folding developed independently of that in Asia.
Where East and West collide
It was a German who perhaps had the biggest influence on the development of the modern origami when Friedrich Fröbel, the creator of the Kindergarten, included paper folding as one of his "gifts" to children in his early years curriculum. Paper folding was seen as a way children could discover for themselves the basics of geometry, and they were taught the traditional folded designs including the salt-cellar, windmill, sailing boat, the bird (possibly the Spanish pajarita), and the double boat - simple folds all well-known today. These were all mentioned in an 1859 French publication "Manual Pratique des Jardins d'Enfants".
Female teachers who studied the Fröbel method took paper folding all over the world. This was even adopted in Japan, where following the Meiji restoration of 1868 the country was looking to modernise along Western lines and adopted the Kindergarten model as their own for early years education. This in turn led to the widespread production of western style origami paper in Japan, the 15x15cm squares that we know today. (15)
Flapping birds and jumping frogs
Until the mid-19th century the designs seen in Europe were very simple. We are not sure exactly when, but some time in the 1860's and 70's, a time when all things Japanese were the height of fashion in western Europe, that Japanese conjurers came to Europe and entertained crowds with amazing new paper folds such as the flapping bird and jumping frog. This is when origami really found its legs in the West. Diagrams illustrated by French wood engravers were published in France, Germany and England, where they appeared in the Boys Own Paper on 26th June, 1886.(16)
For anyone who has ever folded the flapping bird, it is easy to understand the joy of pulling the tail and watching the wings flap.
It was the bases from which these models were folded that created a true revolution in paper folding.
Akira Yoshizawa – the Grandmaster of paper folding
Born in 1911, Yoshizawa was perhaps the first true origami model making genius. He learnt origami as a child before rekindling his interest in folding when he used it to understand and communicate geometrical problems in his job as a technical draftsman. (17)
In 1954 he published 'Atarashi Origami Geijutsu' (New Origami Art). This revolutionary work introduced a system of notation for origami diagrams (which is largely what is used today) as well as gifting to the world a huge number of new and highly realistic models of animals, insects, fish and birds. He devised ways to create multiple points through folding alone which removed the necessity of making cuts and opened up enormous possibilities as to what could be achieved through folding a single square of paper.
Yoshizawa also invented a brand-new origami technique called 'wet-folding'. This involved dampening thick washi paper first and molding the paper into soft folds to create rounded and incredibly lifelike models which are more akin to paper sculptures than traditional origami models. (18)
Yoshizawa's influence on modern origami cannot be overstated. He passed away in 2005 on his 94th birthday, living long enough to see the next revolution in origami take hold - the rise of the mathematicians.
The rise of the mathematician folders
As Friedrich Fröbel has recognised in Germany in the mid-19th century, paper folding is essential a physical expression of geometry and by extension, mathematics. In the 1980s origami enthusiasts such as Robert Lang in the US began to explore what was possible by applying mathematical principles to the creation of origami models.
Whereas Yoshizawa used his natural flair and knowledge geometry to create thousands of new models, Lang analysed the core mathematical principles of origami and used these to create a computer program, Tree Maker (free to download from his website), to help him design infinitely more complex models than had ever been seen before. His extraordinarily lifelike insects are a true coming together of art and science and Lang has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible through folding.
It is hard to comprehend when viewing his creations and those that have walked in his footsteps, that is possible to create such models from one single square piece of paper through nothing other than folding.
Images
The image top right is Robert J. Lang's Scorpion Varileg. The lower image is Lang's Pill Bug. Both are folded by Gilad Aharoni. To view more images of his stunning folding (and to purchase origami books) visit his website - https://www.giladorigami.com
Lang has specialised in applying his knowledge of folding to real world situations, including folding patterns for a German airbag manufacture and another out of this world engineering solution - assisting the designers of a powerful space telescope with folding the 100m (328ft) thin membrane lens into a small rocket in such a way that the lens can be unfolded in space and will not suffer from any permanent marks or creases. (19) A truly extraordinary application of the science of origami.
We highly recommend taking 18 minutes out to watch Robert Lang's extraordinary Ted Talk on origami. You will never look at a square piece of paper the same way again!
Origami takes over world!
Like so much of Japanese culture that has gradually seeped into our lives in the West in the last 50 years, origami is here to stay. Next time you are out and about look around and more than likely you will see some examples of origami. It is all around us. In advertisements, on posters in shop windows, on greetings cards, fabric prints, in the designs of lampshades and every now and again, you'll even come across a real life folded paper crane placed on your table in a restaurant or a bar.
And origami is increasingly being practiced by millions of people of all ages and backgrounds across the globe for the shear enjoyment and sense of achievement that comes from turning a humble 15cm x 15cm square of paper into a recognizable object merely by folding.
If you have never folded a paper crane, or a simple frog, why not give it a go and discover for yourself that life is better with folds.
Appendix
How origami got its name
The word "origami" used to refer to recreational paper folding is a relative newcomer. As long ago as the 12th century it was used to refer to a horizontal, rectangular sheet of paper called "tategami" which was folded in half latitudinally. These "origami" were used for lists and letters and are still used for lists of formal betrothal gifts today - back to the ceremonial routes of paper folding!
In the Edo era folded "origami" papers came to be used for certificates (such as that denoting the authentic manufacture of a Japanese sword). Curiously, this usage is much the same as the Greek word "Diploma", which means a folded document, and which is used today as a certificate of academic qualifications. (Lister, 2003)
In the Edo era recreational paper folding was called "Orisue" (literally "folded setting down) or "origata" (folded shape). Later this became the more prosaic "orimono" (folded thing) which persisted up until the 1930s. The much more literal "origami" (folded paper) began to be used towards the end of the 19th century (20)
Interesting origami facts
1. Paper folding can be traced back to its use in ceremonies in Japan some 1000 years ago
2. The models of European classic origami were largely based on creases of 45 degrees, making them ideal for teaching the principle of geometry, whereas Japanese ones such as the Crane or Frog were based on those of 22.5 degrees.
3. The now classic thin, square origami paper originates from Europe not from Japan
4. In Japan there were no hard and fast rules about cutting or sticking. This came later when European folding blended with Japanese folding
5. Origami was introduced into Japanese schools in the Meiji period shortly after 1868 when they adopted the German kindergarten system of early years education which included paper folding on the curriculum
6. Origami wasn't called origami until the late 19th century. Before then it was known as Orisue, Orikata and Orimono
7. The Spanish have their own word for origami - "papiroflexia"
8. Some people think Leonardo Da Vinci was a paper folder? but sadly there really is no evidence for this
Something to watch
Between the folds (2008)
This 2008 documentary chronicles the stories of 10 modern-day paper folders, a collection of theoretical scientists and fine-artists who are re-defining what is possible with paper folding. Whether you are a keen practitioner of origami or are new to the art, you will find this a fascinating journey into the space where science, art and philosophy meet.
Watch on Documentary Heaven
The math and magic of origami (2008) - Robert J Lang, Ted Talk
Robert Lang is the world's most preeminent practitioner of mathematical origami. His discovery in the 1980's of the four core mathematical principles of origami revolutionised the art form and re-defined what was possible from folding a single square sheet of paper. In this Ted Talk from 2008 Robert explains those core principles and how he has used them to create everything rom hyper-realistic models of insects, to assisting engineers with the design of a new space telescope.
Watch on YouTube
Something to try
The book of mindful origami - Samuel Tsang
Origami has been shown to aid relaxation, concentration, hand-eye coordination and memory. There is a soothing quality about following a pattern of folds and turning a flat piece of paper into a recognisable 3D object.
Origami teacher Samuel Tsang has authored this beautifully designed book with clear step-by-step instructions on how to fold 16 different models to encourage meditation, dispel negativity, and encourage the magic of mindfulness into your daily routine. If you haven't folded before, this is a good place to get started.
Order from Amazon
http://mindfulorigami.com/
Sources
The history of origami is a challenging subject to investigate. Most of the work in has been done by dedicated enthusiasts of which there are many, but we must reserve special mention for David Lister (1930-2013) who is rightly considered to have been the world's leading origami historian. Much of the material in this article is based upon his research which he conducted over a lifetime of promoting and advancing the cause of origami.
David was one of the founder members of the British Origami Society in 1967 and served as Chairman from 1971 to 1975 and as President from 1998-2002. It is impossible to overstate the contribution that David made to the understanding of the development of origami. Much of his work was published via the BOS as the Lister List. For anyone interested in learning more about the development origami would be advised to start here!
Below is a full list of the sources used in this article:
Wikipedia - History of origami
BOS - Notes on the history of Origami (John Smith)
BOS - The history of paperfolding : a German perspective (David Lister)
BOS - Old European Origami (David Lister)
BOS - Errors and misconceptions about the history of paperfolding (David Lister)
Origami Heaven - History of tsutsumi
Origami Heaven - Origami design history
Origami Resource Center - History of origami
Origami Resource Center - Noshi
Origami Resource Center - Mecho and ocho
Encyclopedia Britannica - History of origami
K's Origami - History of origami (Koshiro Hatori)
The Spruce Crafts - A brief history of origami
Origami USA - History of the "Kan no mado" dragonfly
My Modern Met - Origami: How the ancient art evolved over time
Joseph Wu Origami - Origami: A Brief History of the Ancient Art of Paperfolding
All about Japan - The history of origami
Inside Japan UK office
Inside Japan US office
Inside Japan Australia office
Inside Japan - Japan office
