Origami history under debate, the reason for that is the basic product to construct and produce Origami is paper who is a organic product!
As Paper is organic who is different with most other Art forms, what makes it’s easy degrade him self that by leaving any traces of artificial facts.
Facts what can suggest who has invented first Origami and where Origami is originating from.
Note further that all of the information list here after is a good overview of Origami but can not be seen as a authoritative analysis of “Origami”!
Chinese Paper Folding History – In nutshell!
Chinese paper folding history, as the most textbooks about Origami will say, that paper was first invent by Cai Lun.
The name Cai Lun sometimes written as Ts’ai Lun originate of China that in the period 105 A,D.
Textbooks will say that paper was first invent in China by Cai Lun (also write Ts’ai Lun) in 105 A.D..
Note further that there are archeological evidence who suggest a other and earlier date than above!
So you can imagine if there was paper earlier there will be folding paper earlier as well!
There is not find evidence about that, but take it was true, Origami would be have started in China!
After all above we can also say that in there are little examples in China about Origami or Paper Folding!
The oldest example of Origami in China is probably the “yuanbao”, who are in fact paper fold to look a like nuggets in gold.
After this golden nuggets are burn that as offering to decease people.
It is not clear when the “yuanbao” tradition is start in China and we guess near 1000 A.D., what is sure is that it is still exist and continue to exist on today!
Golden Venture Folding is an another example of paper folding in China (Chinese Paper Folding or 3D Origami).
In this case, little pieces of paper are fold into triangular units, what later will be assemble to become large models!
And also here no body knows when this large triangular units are first made!
But they seem to be of Chinese origin, because illegal Chinese immigrants per ship (Golden Venture 1993) have introduce them in USA! To learn more by Reading more !
Origami History – What BC and AD mean!
Origami history, the Origin and meaning of B.C. & A.D. …
“A.D.” Latin abbreviation who stands for “anno domini”,
What is Latin for “in the year of the lord,”
What refers specific to the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is common in English for “A.D.” to precede the year, the translation of “A.D. 2019” would read “in the year of our lord 2014.” January 24, 2019
“B.C.” stands for “Before Christ.” as like Jan 24, 2019!
If we refer the year just before the birth of Christ we use 1 BC.
As you can see there is no Year “0”…! And we recommend also to read Secrets Behind Japanese Origami Lucky Stars !
Brief History of Origami – Japanese Paper Folding!
Brief history of origami, the Buddhist monks, during the 6 century, have introduce Paper into Japan and Korea!
Some books talk about one particular monk with the name Dokyo!
So it is in Japan that the art of Origami is developed and further evolved till what we know on today about “Origami”!
The general public in Japan has not access to Paper because paper was very expensive! For that reason Paper and Paper Folding was just available for formal ceremonies and religious rituals!
The earliest examples of Origami with cutting are “Shide”!
What are zig – zag shaped paper only used for purification rituals.
To designate some sacred location (Shimenawa) “Shide” will be attached to straw ropes, attached to a wooden staff or attached to alters and used as Gohei or purification wands!
Origami Folded Paper – And there is more!
Origami folded paper, it is good to know that on that time “Shide” probably made by fabric and later on are switched to Paper!
To learn how to fold Shide here
As decoration for sake bottles (Japanese wine bottles) during traditional Shinto weddings, origami butterflies are use.
We called them “Mecho” and “Ocho” what are probably the earliest form representational Origami!
Mecho [female] and Ocho [male] are precede the paper crane when you compare the current day origami! .
If you wand to learn more about Mecho & Ocho here
There are rules of etiquette in Japan related to receiving of giving gifts!
To symbolize different thinks paper adornments are fold on different ways as example “Mecho” and “Ocho.
“Tsuki” is a origami that accompanied a valuable gift and simultaneous server as a authenticity certificate!
“Noshi” is a folded piece of paper that accompanied a gift and simultaneous served as a token of good fortune.
Learn more about noshi here.
“Tsutsumi” is a origami who is a formal gift wrapper. These ceremonial folds were simple and symbolized sincerity and purity. [Photo: Noshi]
Origami folded Paper Cranes – Kimonos Decorated!
Origami folded paper cranes, prior to the 1600’s there is very little evidence of recreational origami, but in the 17th century in Japanese culture play -origami was prevalent so much so it was easy to find kimonos decorated with paper cranes.
All that shows a ranma (wood paneling decorated) plus 6 origami models including the paper crane, plus a classic boat, and a modular cube (1734, the analysis by Koshiro Hatori). All that suggest that origami was already establish in Japan by the 1700’s.
Fold 13 Ceremonial folds – Author Tsutsumi-no Ki
Fold 13 ceremonial folds, “Tsutsumi-no Ki” written in 1764 by author Sadatake Ise was the first book published about Origami!
It’s include instructions to fold 13 ceremonial folds such as the noshi and Tsutsumi described above.
Folding of 1000 Cranes – Author Senbazuru Orikata
Folding of 1000 cranes, recreational paper folding came out in 1797 and was the first book who was documenting about Origami!
The name of the book “Folding of 1000 Cranes” by author Senbazuru Orikata.
The content of this book are brief instructions on how to fold 49 interconnect cranes, see the originals here and here (Paula Versnick).
After a next series of books was print with the name “Window on Midwinter” (Kayaragusa, 1845)!
These books “Window on Midwinter” were about Japanese customs and there where two sections dedicate to origami.
Note, in these books due to an translation error, these books are called Kan No Mado mistakenly.
Further more there was only one copy made of this collection and it is currently the Asahi Newspaper in Osaka who is the owner!.
After this moment, Origami was well on its way in Japan.
Note further that the Europeans also practice paper folding: and ideas and methods start to be mixed and develop that until Origami is what we see on today!
History of Origami – European Paper Folding
History of origami, the history of Origami in Europe can be seen of a story on his own!
Note further that the most origami historians believe that early 0rigami in Europe is developed more and the less independently from that of Japan.
The origami models found in Europe tend to have a “grid” crease pattern as diagonals, squares and rectangle what’s the mean reason for that!
In contrast, the old Japan ceremonial folds are tending to have judgment folds where the exact location of the cease is not so clear and up to personal taste & interpretation.
Study Koshiro Hatori’s article, which is a comparison of the origami development in the East and the West concerning Origami 5 proceedings!
All the secrets of paper and paper-making left China through conquest and battle in 750 AD and began their own journey in Central Asia and after in to Europe.
The earliest published evidence of paper folding in Europe is probably from the 1490 printing of the book “De Sphaera Mundi” (On the Sphere of the World) by Johannes de Sacrobosco.
In this book is a woodcut print of two boats, one of the boats looks very much like the classic origami boat which is sometimes used as a paper hat.
Folded Paper Origami – And there is more!
Folded paper origami, this is a little picture of a boat.
Many historians are not agreeing that this is an origami or paper folded boat.
If mentioning picture is indeed a origami boat, than we can be sure that the paper folding in Europe has independent developed against paper folding development in Japan. All that because in 1490 Japan haven’t such recreational folds!
In act IV of theatre “The Duchess of Malfi” by Webster John from 1614, Bosola make refers to “Paper Prisons” which boys use to “Imprison Flies”.
“Our bodies are weaker than those paper-prisons boys use to keep flies in;”
Historians believe that this is in reference to the classic Waterbomb model.
Origami Paten Briefs – Sample for prove
Origami paten briefs, in Germany and other parts of Europe, baptism certificates call “Patenbriefs” were give to babies by their godparents. These Patenbriefs were fold in a 3 x 3 or a 4 x 4 grid.
Patenbriefs existed in the 17th, and 18th century; though, the oldest ones found on the internet are from the 1750’s. [Paten brief (1831) 3 x 3 fold with twist closure.]
Origami Traditional Chinese Junk – Sample for prove
Origami traditional Chinese junk, in the west they found next textual prove a origami in a picture-book of a little boy sitting in a paper boat that is floating in a tea cup!
Picture is originating from the book “Hanenpoot” written by Bilderchijk Willem in 1806. This boat is further identify as an traditional Chinese Junk.
Origami Paten Briefs – Sample for prove
Origami paten briefs, interestingly, historians think that the traditional Chinese Junk was not invent in China.
Because it is made with a 4 x 4 grid consistent with the other origami models find in European are develop with the same base of windmill. Note well, that further there is no evidence of Chinese Junk in the history of origami in Japan or China.
Traditional Chinese Junk from Origami From Around the World
Origami Pajarita – Sample for prove
Origami Pajarita, by this time, origami was quite common across parts of Europe. There is mention of people folding paper into various shapes such as kites, boats, and birds. One origami model which is almost definitely from Europe is “Pajarita” (little bird). Vicente Palacios a Origami historian, has after research, accumulated a mass of evidence suggesting that Pajarita was at first created in Spain. The same model exists across Europe under different names.
In European paintings, such as “The Merrymakers” by French painter, Carolus-Duran year 1870 you can see Pajarita!
Simply look to the lady in black, she is holding Pajarita! You can see more examples here.
To this day, Pajarita is use as the unique logo for Spanish Paper Folding Association, and in the Spanish language “Asociación Española de Papiroflexia”.
History of Origami Video – Related Video!
History of Origami Video, the mention YouTube video, we on Article-Writer.net may present our audience this video: Origami: Moon – Instructions in English (BR) – REMAKE, that with courtesy of Youtube.com
Contemporary Origami – Some last Words!
Contemporary origami, from Europe, origami then spread to South America and then to North America.
Sam Randlett and Akira Yoshizana in 1959 have developed a origami symbols standard set that to help to describe how to fold paper into models.
These symbols remain essentially all the same and are still use in origami diagrams on today.
Note further that David Lister have suggests that it was Robert Harbin and Sam Randlett and have formalized the use of the origami symbols.
On the moment, there are thousands of origami books, free origami diagrams and origami videos on the internet.
The art form “Origami” continues to evolve and develop.
Origami techniques and styles included:
- mathematical origami
- complex origami
- modular origami
- origami tessellations
- wet folding origami