The Public Paperfolding History Project
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Origami Moyo, Book One, by Kawarazaki Kodo, 1935 | |||||||
'Origami
Moyo, Book One', by Kawarazaki Kodo, was published by
Unsodo in Japan in 1935. It is the first of two books
which contain woodblock prints of paperfolding designs. Note that the characters on the cream pages refer to the full-colour prints. The drawings on the cream pages seem to be there just for decoration and are not identified in the book. It is possible that some of the prints are not accurate depictions of the paperfolding designs they represent. Some of the flowers seem to be multiple-sheet designs made by combining simple units. My grateful thanks to Andrew Dewar for translating the Japanese characters and offering helpful thoughts on the identification of the designs. A full copy of the work can be viewed here. ********** Print One Paper Crane / Minogame Right: Minogame (Ancient Turtle). The long point at the back of the design probably represents trailing seaweed. (The characters say 'tsuru' which means 'crane') *** ********** Print Two Left: Ayame (Iris) - The Lily Right: Unidentified butterfly (also in the coloured print) (The characters says'choucho' which means 'butterfly') *** ********** Print Three Swallow (Cut) / The Lily (The characters say 'ayame' which means 'iris') *** ********** Print Four Leaves / Leaf segments The two pictures in the top picture are probably intended to represent fallen leaves. (The characters say 'ochiba' which means 'fallen leaves') *** ********** Print Five Crab / Orchid (The characters say 'ran' which means 'orchid') *** ********** Print Six Dragonfly (Cut) / The Double Boat / The Kabuto (The characters say 'kabuto' which means 'helmet') ***
********** Print Seven Hina Dolls In the upper picture the female (empress) doll is on the left. In the lower picture the female (empress) doll is on the right. (The character says 'hina'.) *** ********** Print Eight Turtle (Cut) / Thread Container / Butterflies (The characters say 'chou' which means 'butterfly') *** ********** Print Nine Swallow (Cut) / Bellflowers (variant of the Lily) (The characters say 'kikyou' which means 'bellflower') *** ********** Print Ten Unidentified Bird / Kago / Young Bamboo (The character says 'sasa' which means 'young bamboo') *** ********** Print Eleven Kikuzara (Chrysanthemum Dish) / Tenjin Shrine / Incense Wrappers (The characters say 'tsutsumigami' which means 'wrapping paper')
*** Note that one of the wrappers includes a noshi, although it is not clear whether this is integral to, or added to, the design.
********** Print Twelve Unidentified bird (possibly Mandarin Duck?) / Unidentified bird / Tulips (The characters say 'churippu' which means 'tulip') ********** ********** Print Thirteen The Trousers / Yakko-san / Suzume (The characters say 'suzume' which means 'sparrow') *** ********** Print Fourteen Unidentified boat / The Chinese Junk / Dragonflies (The characters say 'tonbo' which means 'dragonfly') *** ********** Print Fifteen Unidentified cut butterfly / Cypress Fan (The characters say 'hinoki ougi' which means 'cypress fan') *** ********** |
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