About Origami Sailboats

The word origami literally translates to "folding" (oru) "paper" (kami). This intricate, beautiful, ancient art of folding paper into artwork has provided amusement and a hobby for millions of people, young and old, all over the world. Basic origami sailboats are one of the easiest models to fold, but they can range from simple to extremely complex, depending on the type of paper used, the time put into the project and the size.

History

Origami originated in Japan sometime during the early 1600s. There is evidence of ancient paper-folding traditions in China, Spain, Germany and the Middle East, as well. A significant component of Japanese ceremony and culture, origami mainly represents moving objects (birds, fish, sailboats, hands), those significant to beliefs (stars, gods) and various traditional symbols.

Function

Origami involves folding one piece of paper to create a representation of a geometric shape, an animal, a design or an object. Over the centuries, it has been used to create decorations, tribal gifts, rites of passage, good luck tokens, celebrations, gifts to neighbors and royalty, and sacred symbols. Origami sailboats are a direct representation of the ancient art of fishing and sailing, overseas trade and the power of the ocean compared to the courage of the fisherman who dared to challenge the sea gods. Today, origami sailboats serve as a creative, fun activity for children and can also be an intense profession for adults: There are contests, prestigious awards and recognition for the best origami sailboats.

Features

Origami sailboats are constructed out of one sheet of paper, usually a slick paper sold in packages specifically for origami. Glue, scissors and tape are never used. In the simplest form, an origami sailboat resembles a flat fortune cookie, with a trapezoidal base and two triangles emerging from the top of it. More complex sailboats usually consist of a wide base that is diamond shaped. A sharp upward point serves as the sail; this usually has a fold protruding down from it to create the bottom sail.

Types

Origami is all about the paper. The ideal paper for origami is white on one side and colored or patterned on the other. There are three main types: Kami paper is a slick, thick traditional Japanese paper. Foil-backed paper is very thin and has almost a tissue consistency; it is good for complex details. Washi paper, also traditional to Japan, is made from long fibers of wood pulp, so it is more tough; similar paper is made from hemp, rice and bamboo.
Origami paper comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. Other types of paper can be used, of course, but this paper is better because of its thickness and consistency. Sometimes the paper is soaked before the artist makes more intricate folds, making the model very stable when it dries.

Time Frame

Folding an origami sailboat can take anywhere from 5 minutes (for a small sailboat constructed by a person with quick hands who knows what he's doing) to many days (for a large model with intricate detail, folds and design).