Origami
The origins of origami are believed to have stemmed from origami tsuki, which means "certified". This was an old custom performed on special documents, like diplomas for Tea Ceremony masters or samurai. The paper was folded in a certain manner to prevent unauthorized copies from being made. The earliest traces of this custom can be found in the Heian period. It wasn't until the late 1800's that origami was recreational.
There are two basic types of folding: ceremonial and recreational. The ceremonial type. The ceremonial type, tsutsumi, is still used today, such as mecho and ocho butterflies for the Shinto wedding ceremony. There is another style of ceremonial folding called noshi, which is used to attach good wishes to gifts.
Several books have been printed throughout the centuries, cataloging several origami styles. The Senbazuru Orikata (1797) and the Kayaragusa (1850) are two more notable examples. Origami was introduced to Western culture at the end of the 1800's when traveling magicians would make flapping birds. The magician would have a piece of paper pre-creased. The spotlight would hide the light creases. With a few flicks of the wrist, the magician would produce a flapping bird out of thin air.
It actually wasn't until the 1950's that really creative origami was developed, mainly by Akira Yoshizawa. He called this style sasaku origami. Yoshizawa is the most popular origami artist today and many of his designs are very intricate. Many books have been made cataloging his designs.
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