The Origins of Origami

Origami has been around for hundreds of years in Japan where its use ranges from the religious to the traditional keep-the-kids-occupied-on-a-rainy-day activity. Origami is the art of paper folding.

But is it really an art or a craft? Does it refer to folding paper, or does it include other mediums such as sheet metal or paper-thin pancakes? According to Joseph Wu, origami is a form of visual/sculptural representation that is defined primarily by the folding of the medium.

The first use of the word "origami" in Japan did not refer to what we now think of as paperfoldings but instead to paper certificates.

"Origami Tsuki" meant certified or guaranteed. The phrase stems from ancient customs of folding certain special documents in such a way as to prevent unauthorized copies from being made.

Folding was then a ceremonial act. Origami for recreational use did not come until the end of the nineteenth century. Before that, paperfolding for play was known by a variety of names. It has been suggested that the word was adopted in the kindergartens because of the written characters were easier for young children to write.

Created by Looc My Lau
Last Updated 05/28/99