Origami, a divine and therapeutic art

 Have you ever created any artwork? Are you fond of art but undecided about which form to practice? Are you looking for a new, satisfying hobby?

 Let me suggest: make origami!

 Where does “origami” come from?

 The etymology of the name derives from two  Japanese terms: ori, from the verb oru (折る), “to fold”, and kami (紙), which means “paper”.

A noteworthy aspect of this is homophony, a characteristic linguistic phenomenon: kami, written with another ideogram, 神, means “god”. So origami could mean something like “giving a concrete shape to divinity by folding paper”.

 What is its history?

 The story of the Japanese art of folding paper into certain shapes dates back to about one and a half thousand years ago, but it spread in Italy only in the 1970s. As with several aspects of Japanese culture imported from China (first of all the writing), paper and the first forms of folding also came from that country.

Nevertheless, the Japanese introduced some innovations: mainly, they strengthened and softened paper using rice. Moreover, they imbued origami with significant meaning. Indeed, origami represents the ever-changing process of reality in order to create something different and more elevated—a concept of oriental philosophy similar to Heraclitus’s panta rei.

 “Divine” origamis

 After arriving in Japan, and since origami paper was considered a precious material in this country at that time, origami folding was only done for religious reasons in decorating tables and so on.

The religious origin of origami is kept in today's commonest models, which most Japanese children and adults can realize…

 The crane

 

The origami crane is the one richest in meaning, a symbol of long life, health and after the atomic bombings in Japan, also a symbol of peace.

 There is a legend that whoever folds a thousand cranes will have their heart's desires granted!

There is an anecdote about this legend regarding Sadako Sasaki, a 12 years old girl exposed to radiation coming from the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Today there is a statue of her with a giant origami crane made of iron. 

Sadako Sasaki's monument

The frog  

The frog is also one of the most traditional origami, a fun game to entertain children with.

The Japanese term by which it is indicated is kaeru, which means not only "frog" but, with a different ideogram,  also "return home".  This means that the figure is considered a sort of lucky charm to be given to all those who are about to embark on a long journey, for a happy return home. 

The butterfly 

Butterfly origami is instead associated with weddings. During wedding ceremonies, it was customary, and still is, to attach paper butterflies to the cups of sake with which the spouses toasted to the happiness of their union. These paper butterflies had a profoundly auspicious meaning, and their preparation was considered a great honour, usually reserved for the closest relatives of the bride and groom.

 Why could you start making origami?

 A good reason could be to combine your Christmas or birthday gifts with something original and made by you, which will surely be appreciated as a sign of affection.

Another one is to decorate your daily spaces with something you like and that is the result of your work.

You could also impress your friends by extemporaneously creating an origami, even a difficult one, starting from a common sheet of paper (the result is almost always guaranteed, I say this from experience!). 

But there are also many mental and psychological benefits brought by this activity.

It helps children to

      1)    develop creative thinking;

2)    facilitate geometry learning, by recognising the geometrical shapes and working with them;

3)    build up one's self esteem by creating something with one's own hands.

 They also allow everyone to

1)    exercise visual memory, in fact it is better to remember the sequence of folds, rather than reading the instructions every time or re-watching the video tutorials;

2)    cultivate patience and concentration, essential qualities when dedicating one's self to activities that require precision;

3)    relieve emotional stress necessarily coming from everyday life.

 

Some tips from an intermediate “origamist”

I have practiced this activity for almost 10 years, since I was a child, and here are some tips I would give to my past self:

1. Prefer origami paper to A4 sheets or similar because, although it costs slightly more, it folds better and is more pleasant both in the process and in the result.

2. Try to compare different instructions and tutorials for the same model, as you may find another folding process easier, especially for origami that requires many preliminary steps.

3. Always try to reproduce the same origami in different scales; this is an excellent exercise to develop precision and to understand the real potential of the type of paper you are using.

4. Don't be discouraged if you don't get a model right or if you don't understand a step in the instructions. Simply take a break (even for weeks), and try again later. You will surely succeed!  

The chessboard with chess, the origami I'm most satisfied with.

Today's Blogger

I'm Luca Malagesi, a student in the 5th Liceo Classico. I have a deep passion for both mathematics and music, and I enjoy indulging in various hobbies, including reading books, listening to music, playing the flute, and even juggling with balls. I find great joy in sharing my interests with others, and I'm excited to contribute to this blog in the hopes of introducing you to new and beautiful discoveries