Today, as well as thousands of years ago, origami techniques involve making geometric folds to create certain shapes or figures out of sheets of paper. As is tradition, it is crucial that this is done without cutting or gluing anything together. The crane is a widely popular and well known example of a traditional Japanese, paper folding piece. Today, this art form is typically used in two instances. It is a fun hobby or craft for people who enjoy indulging their creative sides, yet serious artists also develop amazing pieces of art work.
In the 16th century, France and Spain discovered the beauty and wonder of paper folding and began practicing it with great enthusiasm. The people of Spain used it to fold baptismal certificate documents in the form of little birds called pajaritas. In a similar fashion, the people of France folded documents into forms called cocotte. It is common in today’s society for kids to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of this art form. The simpler forms are great for keeping children entertained, although the more complex forms can be too advanced for children. A ball or an airplane, for instance, are a couple of the easiest pieces to create, thus making them a good choice for children.
There are standard folds that help to create bases that can be used for a multitude of origami projects. When the base is constructed, then other folds are done that will create the final shape of a piece. The crane is one of the most famous and traditional shapes of Japanese paper folds because it is considered to bring luck. One legend pertaining to the crane is that if a person makes a thousand paper cranes, then all of their desires will come true. The children’s book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr is about a girl from Japan who develops leukemia after the bombing of Hiroshima. She sets out to make a thousand paper cranes in the hopes of bringing good luck and curing herself of her illness. The crane is also a peace symbol in Japan.
A ball and an airplane are very easy paper folding projects for beginners to learn how to make, and that is why they are probably a good first experience. After a person has learned the basic base folds, he or she can then move on to create more difficult structures and fascinating folds. The crane and swan are medium-difficulty pieces that are good projects for more experienced individuals or those who are up for a challenge.