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History of Origami

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The invention of paper folding followed soon after the invention of paper itself. The earliest known traditions of paper folding were of ritual origin. The earliest known Japanese origami is probably ceremonial paper folding, such as noshi, which started in the 14th century. In Korea, ancestral tablets made of paper, known as jibang, were folded in a prescribed manner handed down the family line for use in ancestral worship ceremonies. The earliest known European origami is probably the baptismal certificate of 16th century, represented by a little bird.

An origami design can be as simple as a party hat or paper airplane, or as complex as a model of the Eiffel Tower, a leaping gazelle or a stegosaurus that takes an hour and a half or longer to fold. Sometimes the most complex origami models must be folded from foil instead of paper; this allows more layers before the paper becomes impractically thick. Modern origami has broken free from the traditional linear construction techniques of the past, and models are now frequently wet-folded or constructed from materials other than paper and foil. With popularity, a new generation of origami creators have experimented with crinkling techniques and smooth-flowing, sensual designs used in creating realistic faces, nudes, and other traditionally artistic themes. Some inventors specialize in creating erotic origami designs, some of which can be found on the web.

Modern origami has attracted a worldwide following, with ever more intricate designs and new techniques such as wet-folding, the practice of dampening the paper somewhat during folding to allow the finished product to hold shape better, and variations such as modular origami also known as unit origami, where many origami units are assembled to form an often decorative whole.

One of the most famous origami designs is the Japanese crane. The crane is auspicious in Japanese culture. Japan has launched a satellite named tsuru (crane). Legend says that anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes will have their heart's desire come true.

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