True washi paper can be expensive and many of the commonly seen ones are actually “washi style” regular paper with traditional washi patterns printed on it. Washi paper is handmade from local plant fibers, and paper mulberry is the most frequently used. However, today you will usually see these common origami squares colored on both sides. To begin with, kami was colored on only one side, because it was cheaper to make that way. Usually found in six- or ten-inch squares, it can be found in squares of as large as 15 inches or as small as one inch. Kami is a relatively new form of paper which was created in the early 20th century, specifically for use in schools. Kami is the Japanese word for paper, so if you are conversing with a Japanese speaker, kami can refer to any kind of paper. However, this is a distinctly Western use of the word. These “traditional” squares of origami paper are commonly referred to, in the west, as kami. There is no single specific “origami paper” although you often see packs of paper squares marketed as such. In theory, almost any piece of paper can be used for basic origami. Consequently, it is up for debate whether the word is strictly Japanese or was influenced by Frobel’s papierfalten. It was about this time the term origami first became used to describe paper folding as a pastime. Froebel used what became known as Froebelian folds to teach basic principles of geometry and this technique was introduced to Japanese schools in 1880. This theory arose because German educator and inventor of kindergarten, Friedrich Froebel, was a proponent of paperfolding. It could also be a direct translation of the German word papierfalten, which means to fold paper. First is ori which means to fold and second is kami, meaning paper.Īlthough this explanation is thought to be likely, it is by no means the only possibility as to why this craft got its name. The name origami is generally thought to originate from two smaller Japanese words. However, if you believe art is creation of something purely for the pleasure of creating it, then origami can be considered an art form. Great minds have debated about what qualifies as art. As origami is a Japanese word, it became primarily seen as a Japanese activity.
The term origami emerged in Japan in the late 1800’s. Here it was further developed into a practice known as papiroflexia. In the meantime, the Moors brought a form of mathematically-based paper folding to Spain.
However, in the 1600’s it became a popular artform in Japan and it is here that the first known written origami instructions were recorded in 1797.Īt this stage, the practice was called orikata, meaning “folded paper.” While it is assumed by many that origami is a strictly Japanese pastime, it is most likely to have originated in China (3). Origami was also used to teach some basic principles of mathematics.Īs paper became more widely available, origami was also practiced to create decorations and purely for the purposes of artistic enjoyment (2). These paper sculptures were made for ceremonial or religious purposes. It is thought that religious leaders and monks were the first to practice origami. Therefore, it was used primarily by royal households, monks, and religious leaders for recording important texts. Initially, paper was a rare and expensive item. Paper, as we know it today, was invented by the Chinese approximately 2,000 years ago (1). However, in many origami tutorials for children, the addition of a dot for an eye or a line for a mouth can often be found. True origami does not allow any marking of the paper. It’s essentially paper-folding for kids or adults. The sculpture must be made without making any cuts to the paper, nor can any form of sticky tape or glue be used. Origami is the art of making folds in a square of paper to create a sculpture.
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