Origami Is Changing the World, One Fold at a Time

Did you know that origami did not originate from Japan? Origami has evolved as not just an art form, but as a way to bring people together and influence science and medicine. Here’s the story of how origami was created and how it has evolved over time into what it is today.

Origami has many uses in science and medicine. Scientists have found a way to create nanostructures inspired by origami. Doctors have used its principles to create “innovative medical devices” (“Origami in the Modern Day”). NASA even uses an origami-inspired design for a prototype starshade, a large folding contraption that acts like an umbrella for starlight; used for viewing new planets more easily. (National Geographic, “Origami is revolutionizing technology”) Overall, origami has significantly influenced the worlds of science and medicine.

In order to talk about the evolution of origami, you need to know the history of it. Origami was invented around the second or third century CE in China, when paper became more accessible to the public. It was brought with paper to Japan in the sixth century, but it took until the 1800s for it to really take off.  (Origami: A Timeless Craft) The first written record of origami is “Senbazuru Orikata” – “How to Fold One Thousand Cranes” in English – published around the year 1795. It is a large book of many origami designs. Soon, it came to the Western Hemisphere and took off immediately. (The Public Paperfolding History Project)

Now that you know the history of origami and how it is used today, it is apparent that this art is ever-changing and growing to impact many facets of our daily lives. Origami is revolutionizing things from science and medicine to fun activities to do in school. Origami could soon impact everything in our lives, and that’s a good thing! 

Works Cited

Origami: A Timeless Craft of Graceful Simplicity.

Origami in the Modern Day: A World of Creative Expression.

“Origami is revolutionizing technology, from medicine to space.” National Geographic, no. Feb. 2023, 27 January 2023, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/origami-driving-futuristic-technologies-feature. Accessed 10 October 2023.

The Public Paperfolding History Project. “History of the Senbazuru Orikata.” Origami Heaven, http://www.origamiheaven.com/senbazuruorikata.htm. Accessed 27 September 2023.