Origami began approximately in the first century AD in China, where people discovered the simple thrill of folding paper into various shapes and forms. Many of these primitive methods survived to this day as basic origami shapes and moves. As the skill of making paper moved across the Eastern world the art became quite popular in Japan where it melded with the culture and religion at the time.At this time paper was an expensive and rare commodity, so to be able to "waste" it for origami was a hobby for only the rich. Many noblemen would create special boxes to include gifts in; combining an exhibit of skill and wealth at the same time. As the production of paper spread and it became cheaper and more available, more people began to fold and create shapes and forms. But the habit of conservation exists to this day where many Japanese can fold ornate creations out of the smallest slip of paper to avoid wastage.
One major problem of ancient origami was that the techniques and designs were all oral,passed on through the mother to the daughter much like the oral traditions in other parts of the world. While this was mostly due to illiteracy on the part of the majority of the people, it was also because of the methods and creations involved - many families treasured their skill with paper and didn't want outsiders to steal their creations. As a result, many techniques were lost over time as word of mouth proved insufficient to keeping these secrets alive.
In the late seventeenth century and the early eighteen hundreds the first manuals were published, including many traditional folding diagrams and creations for the reader. One major design was of a Crane, a sacred creature in Japan.
Origami has gained a widespread following as a hobby among adults Not only a hobby for some, it has become a forum for political and social causes. But in the end, it is still the simple art of paperfolding, open to anyone with a bit of patience and a lot of paper and time on their hands..
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