Meanings Of Origami Paper Animals

Everyone thinks origami paper originated from Japan. Origami really originated in China in the 1st century. The secret of Origami paper was later carried to Japan in the 6th century. The first Japanese folds date from that period. The only time they could use the origami paper was for ceremonial occasions because the origami paper was scarce. The figures made from origami were shaped like animals, costumed people, and ceremonial designs.

Meanwhile the Arabs who soon learned about origami brought it over to the North Africans. Soon enough the Moors shared this with the people of Spain. Because use of this now many people around the world now do origami.

But what does it mean?

Well, origami comes from the two Japanese words oru which means to fold and kami which means paper. Many people do origami during their spare time folding patterned papers especially made for folding. People could make many animals and objects just with a piece of paper.

In the late seventeenth century and the early eighteen hundreds the first manuals were published, including many traditional folding diagrams and creations for the reader. One major design was of a Crane, a sacred creature in Japan. Legend has it that 1,000 folded cranes will bring health and good fortune and it is customary to make 1,000 paper cranes for people who are ill with the hopes that they will recover. Each year millions of paper cranes are sent by people from all over the world to the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima as a symbol of peace and in memory of those who died as a result of the atomic bomb dropped on the city in 1945.

Another design was of a Frog, another welcome creature in Japanese folklore and popular with all. In the 1930's, a Japanese artist named Akira Yoshizawa began creating new origami designs and innovative techniques for folding paper never before seen. His work has greatly inspired not only Japanese people but paper-folders the world over. Today origami has become so popular that there are hundreds of origami associations and clubs in countries throughout the world including the U.S., England, Spain, Germany, Colombia, Israel and Singapore. It is not uncommon to find young American school children who know how to make one or two basic origami objects just like children do in Japan.