“DO you know why the Japanese picked Nov 11 as World Origami Day?” poses Kenneth Ch’ng, the founder of Malaysia Origami Academy, startling me with the question the moment I step into his cosy academy located in Publika mall, KL. A short pause to reflect and then I shake my head slowly in response.
Chuckling softly, he picks up a piece of paper from a pile that he keeps inside a box. “This is a typical origami paper measuring 15 centimetres by 15 centimetres. It’s a perfect square that’s not too large or too small,” he begins his explanation, before continuing: “And because it’s a square, it has four sides. When you trace the four sides, you get four ‘ones’. One-one-one-one makes Nov 11!”
This rather simple yet meaningful reason is why millions of Japanese and many others around the globe commemorate this intricate of traditional art form, origami, on Nov 11 every year. On this day, or the week leading up to it, origami designers will disclose one of their most guarded secrets - the crease patterns to their creations.
MORE THAN PATTERNS
A crease pattern is an origami diagram that comprises all or most of the creases in the final model, rendered into one image. Crease patterns are a quick and easy way to record how to fold an origami model. In the medical industry, origami knowledge is applied in the design of the artery stent, a tiny tube that can be inserted into a blocked arterial passageway and propped to keep it open. The blooming function of the stent while in the artery incorporates origami techniques.
“In Japan, before the Internet, each municipality that has an origami centre will organise a get-together with all the designers in the surrounding area,” shares Ch’ng eyes sparkling, adding: “It’s a very sacred day that everyone looks forward to. It’s a day when all the designers will reveal their most well-kept secrets!”
The art of origami goes way back in history, further than what’s recorded in Japanese literature where it was first referenced in the poem by Ihara Saikaku from 1680. The poem describes the origami butterflies used during Shinto weddings to represent the bride and groom.
It’s also believed that the roots of origami can be traced back to the time when the Chinese invented paper, around 105 AD. It has been said that it was the Buddhist monks, who carried paper into Japan during the sixth century, who started the tradition of origami. But due to the scarcity of paper and with it being considered a luxury item, paper folding was only done for religious ceremonial purposes.
In a nod to the Chinese for their contributions to the origins of origami, the Japanese words “ori” (to fold) and “kami” (paper) when written out in Kanji (adopted logographic Chinese characters used in the Japanese writing system) spells “Zhe Zhi” that can loosely be translated as “paper folding”. By the Edo period (1603-1868), origami became more widespread and recreational, mostly because of the advent of mass-produced paper, making it more affordable.
PROSPERITY IN EVERY FOLD
To be able to call something a piece of origami creation, the design has to be devised from a singular sheet of paper with no cuts and no glue used. The most basic shapes in origami are the traditional models which includes the crane, boat, water bomb/balloon, butterfly, rabbit and many others.
These shapes have been around for more than 150 years. Some of them are even found in the first known origami book, Senbazuru Orikata (thousand crane folding) by Akisato Rito, published in Japan in 1797.
“The most popular design till today is still the paper crane because of what it denotes – luck and good health in Asian cultures, and faithfulness in Western ones,” shares Ch’ng while gingerly picking up one from the many adorning his shelves.
According to legend, anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes will have their heart’s desire. This then led to the crane being known as a symbol of peace because of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima as an infant and who believed in the legend.
As a hibakusha (an atomic bomb survivor), her health inevitably deteriorated over time from radiation exposure. By the age of 12 (1955), she was diagnosed with leukaemia. When she heard of the legend, she decided to fold the cranes in the hope that she, as well as those suffering with her, will be spared from pain and death. However, as she realises that she was running out of time and will not survive, she wished instead for world peace and an end to suffering.
Before Sasaki’s death, she managed to fold 644 cranes; meanwhile, the remaining ones were completed by her classmates in her honour. She was eventually buried with a wreath of 1,000 cranes and while her effort couldn’t extend her life, it moved her friends enough for them to commemorate her dreams with a granite statue of Sasaki with her hands outstretched and a paper crane flying from her fingertips.
The statue can be found in the Hiroshima Peace Park today. Every year, in her memory, the statue would be adorned with thousands of wreaths of a thousand origami cranes, known as senbazuru,
LOCALISING CULTURES
Even with enough evidence to point to the fact that origami is important, many people in the country continue to view it as child’s play. It’s a sentiment that saddens Ch’ng. “People still don’t think it’s important to know how to fold origami,” he confides, tone sorrowful. Ch’ng adds: “Actually, it’s really beneficial. It has been proven to help with mental building and it’s a great tool for cognitive training. If you start them young, it can help children to learn and retain information better and faster.”
Origami is a cheap and easily accessible form of art today. “The Japanese believe that all possibilities are already ingrained in this 15 by 15 piece of square. It’s just waiting for us to discover it,” says Ch’ng with conviction.
Suddenly, a reminder on his phone pops up – it’s reminding him of his next appointment. Sheepishly he apologises before concluding: “I’m serious about making origami more widely accepted. I want this knowledge to be widespread and ingrained in our culture. If not for its beauty, then at least for its mountain of benefits.”
Something beautiful from paper
Andrew Tan, 40
1. WHEN DID YOU FIRST START?
I started origami around 7 or 8 years old when I got my first origami book. I saw the book in a bookstore and persuaded my dad to buy it for me. Just the idea of being able to turn a piece of paper into different things attracted me to it, especially when you can use different types of paper to create different results.
2. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Doing origami is a way for me to de-stress and relax. I feel good when I see a pretty origami. When I can put a story to it, even better!
3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGN?
I prefer simple designs of animals, monsters or humans. Essentially, I love folding things that have “life” which makes it easier for me to breathe “life” into them when I put them in a story-like setting.
Sam Yap, 35
1. WHEN DID YOU FIRST START?
It began when I was only seven or eight. My family was not well-to-do, so it was a hobby to pass time. But soon I fell in love with it and enjoyed the thrill of being able to create something beautiful from just a piece of paper.
2. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
At first, I was just copying other people’s designs. Then, I met Kenneth who persuaded me to find my own identity and create something more Malaysian and more me. That’s when I begin creating outrageous designs from scratch.
3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGN?
My favourite designs are mostly complex models. But ever since having my son, I’ve begun designing simpler ones to entertain him. Most of the things that I create now can be completed in a little over 20 steps and in a matter of minutes.
Kenneth Ch’ng, 45
1. WHEN DID YOU FIRST START?
I began folding origami since I was eight. Back in the days, without handphones or computers, and no money to buy toys, my mum taught me how to fold the paper crane.
I remember folding origami on the sly in the toilet because if my father were to catch me, he’d certainly be furious! But I made good money in school among my classmates when I folded objects that they wanted, such as tankers or airplanes.
2. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I always find it amazing to be able to fold different shapes and patterns from one simple paper. But at different stages in my life, different people inspired me to delve deeper into the art.
In the US during my degree, it was my professor who happened to be an geometric origami enthusiast. He had a lot of origami creations in his room that fascinated me. I also got easy access to many origami books in the library!
While in Japan for work, my interest grew deeper because I had access to “masters” that I actually looked up to. It was also in Japan that I learned that there’s more to origami than just folding paper into pretty shapes. I began amassing knowledge to teach origami because I believe its education will benefit everyone especially children.
3. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGN?
I’ve given up designing for now, and moved on to educating. I want to train the next generation to be 10 times better than I ever was. Guide them properly to harness their greatness. After all, origami is in everything that we do and if we know how to utilise it, big things can come off it.