A Thousand Cranes and How to Fold Them - Shimokōbe Shūsui

A page from the 1797 woodblock book 'Senbazuru Orikata', the earliest known publication dedicated to the art of paper folding.

Published in 1797, 'A Thousand Cranes and How to Fold Them' (Senbazuru Orikata) is widely recognised as the oldest known book dedicated to the art of paper folding. Authored by Shimokōbe Shūsui, this woodblock-printed volume provides instructions for creating connected crane figures from a single sheet of paper. The work reflects the cultural climate of the Edo period, where recreational activities and refined pastimes gained popularity among the urban population.

The illustration shows a scene featuring figures interacting with the crane motif, set against a backdrop of flowering branches. The composition is divided across two pages, a common format for Japanese woodblock books of the era. The line work is precise and functional, designed to convey both the narrative charm of the scene and the technical aspects of the craft. The figures are depicted in traditional attire, with the crane serving as a central symbolic element. The use of monochrome ink on paper highlights the clarity of the woodblock technique, which allowed for the mass production and dissemination of such instructional texts.

This print captures a moment in the history of paper craft, documenting the transition of origami from an oral tradition to a codified practice. The aesthetic is characteristic of late eighteenth-century Japanese illustration, prioritising clear outlines and balanced spatial arrangement. By preserving these early diagrams, the work offers insight into the social history of the period, where the mastery of such delicate arts was considered a mark of cultivation. The print serves as a record of the specific folding methods that have since become a global cultural phenomenon, maintaining its historical relevance through its role as the foundational text for the practice of senbazuru.