ORIGAMI CRANES

Today, from our Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa blog, we would like to tell you about cranes, and how important they are in Asia and their tradition in origami.

It is said that cranes are the most ancient animal on Earth, as there is fossil evidence confirming their existence dating back to more than 60 million years.

Throughout Asia, cranes have represented happiness and eternal youth. However, in Japanese, Chinese and Korean traditions, these birds also symbolize good fortune and longevity.

There are 15 species of cranes living in five continents, but the Japanese one is said to be the most majestic, with a white neck and red crown.

In Asian traditions, it is believed that the wings of cranes carry souls to heaven, and elevate people, to the highest level of spiritual enlightment. For this reason, cranes play an essential role in Asian origami.

There is an ancient story about origami that has become a legend, the legend of “the 1,000 cranes”.

After the Second World War, cranes made of origami became quite symbolic and valuable representing hope and healing.

After the Hiroshima bomb, Little Sadako Sasaki was diagnosed with leukaemia and exposed to radiation. While she was in hospital, her friend told her an old story: “anyone who can make 1,000 paper cranes in origami, shall be blessed with a wish”.

In hearing this, Sadako was hopeful and began making paper cranes in order to get better. She only managed to make 644 before she died, but her classmates kept on making them until they reached 1,000. This gesture moved everyone in the area, and a statue was built in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park to pay tribute to strong spirits.

Cranes are magical animals cherished in Asian society, and, as we have already mentioned, they represent hope, strength and happiness.

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(Images by Creative Commons Flickr)