ORIGAMI AND KIRIGAMI

Origami e Kirigami folded by Gemma Turnone (member of the Executive Council of the Center Origami Diffusion)

SHORT ORIGAMI HISTORY

The word “Origami” comes from Japanese "Ori" = to fold and "Kami" = paper; it is a technique based on the fold of a sheet of paper, in order to obtain models of animals, flowers, objects, geometric figures, boxes, without the use of scissors or glues.

The word “Kirigami” comes from Japanese "Kiru" = to cut and "Kami" = paper; by using this technique, a single sheet of paper can be carved and folded, and it is possible to obtain three-dimensional figures without removing pieces of paper.

The Origami art has been developed in Orient, probably concurrently with the invention of the paper, that occurred officially in 105 A.D. in China, where the fold of this new material started. The paper has the property to be folded back several times on itself, without tearing but maintaining the fold perfectly.

In 610 A.D. the technique for the manufacture of the paper was brought to Japan by a Buddhist monk and the Japanese people were able to make the Origami “a real art ”. In Japan, the paper spread quickly, it was considered a noble material, refined and precious and for this reason it was used during religious ceremonies or during certain important occasions. The first figures made with the paper were exposed in temples with a ritual significance. One example, among the oldest, consisted of a pleated sheet of paper, used to cover the bottle of sake that, placed on the altar, had the meaning of propitiatory offer, during religious ceremonies.

Even during the Shinto wedding ceremonies it was customary, and it stays still, to apply on the neck of two bottles of sake, stylized models of paper, representing a male butterfly (o-cho) and a female butterfly (me-cho) and this is an auspicious ritual:

Between 1200 - 1500 A.D. some Buddhist sects, such as Zen, introduced the rules of etiquette; therefore the Origami, from the temples, reached the court, so that the letters were submitted to the king in a good form of folding. Tickets, in shape of butterfly, cranes or flowers, were sent to the friends as a sign of good luck and they were sent to dear people as a token of love and dedication. The knowledge of the Origami became a symbol of power and good education, for this reason several noble families used an Origami as a coat of arms. The most important figure of this period was the Noshi:; the name of this figure is an abbreviation of Noshi-Awabi, that is a strip of meat of a marine mollusk, dried under the sun. The original meaning of the Noshi is unknown, probably the offer of this food was a hope of good luck, because of its alimentary importance in medieval Japan. The Noshi is obtained by a simple folding, without the use of cuts; this tendency became predominant afterwards, in the so-called “modern Origami ”.

Between 1600 - 1800 A.D. gradually, the Origami lost the characteristic of being an art reserved to a few people and became a popular hobby. During this period, many models were created and afterwards they became classic models. The most famous model is the Japanese crane, a traditional symbol of long life, but it has become also a symbol of peace, after the atomic explosions that happened in Japan.

The folding techniques of various figures were handed down verbally from generation to generation, until the early eighteenth century; in this period, probably, the first books appeared about the fold instructions.

Between sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the folding of the paper was known also in Europe, particularly in Spain and in Italy. In those years, right in Italy, a particular type of pleating developed; it was used for the folding of the towels and the napkins, which embellished the tables of the Renaissance. Figures of folded paper were also used by the magicians, to impress the gullible public of that time.

Typical of the 1700 A.D. period is the routine, also known as "the magic fan": ; it consisted of a wide strip of paper accordion-pleated in both directions that, expertly manipulated, gave rise magically to the most varied figures.

Since the nineteenth century, the Origami developed also creatively, with the elaboration of more modern shapes, that led the simple basic rules of the classical models to extreme levels of sophistication and complexity.

The Origami developed rapidly after the Second World War, thanks to the work of several artists, first of all the maestro Akira Yoshizawa. He developed a new way of thinking about Origami, that is known as: "Creative Origami "; the aim was to create new models, out of the traditional schemes.

Look at the video: Akira Yoshizawa Origami Collections

Nowadays, the Origami artworks are an integral part of Japanese culture and they are used in many occasions; an example is the Kodomo no hi, that is the feast of children. Since 1948, this feast has become one of the national holidays, by a decision of the Japanese government; during this celebration, the children make paper flags that have the form of a carp and hang them out of the house door.

The carp is a fish that is considered good luck charm, it is a symbol of longevity and strength because of his long life and because it swims against the current. It is one of the most famous animals in Japan and frequently you can find it in the lakes and in the ponds of the Japanese temples and in the gardens.

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The Art of Origami and Kirigami meets Science

Insights on how the art of Origami and Kirigami is used in advanced scientific projects

In the history of the Origami, the images have been taken from: http://www.origami-cdo.it/articoli/storiadellorigami.html