Origami Crane Blue

White illustration of an origami crane on a blue background

The traditional paper crane is well-known in origami models. It’s designed after the Japanese red-crowned crane. In Japanese mythology, this crane is known as the “Honourable Lord Crane” and it wings carried souls up to heaven. The Japanese name for this model is “Orizuru” which simply means “Folded crane.” “Ori” is the same “Ori” that you find in the word origami. An ancient Japanese legend promises that if anyone folds a thousand paper cranes they will be granted a wish by the gods. In some tellings, the folder is granted happiness or good luck. In Japan, the crane is said to live for 1,000 years which is why one must fold 1,000 of them. You have to keep all the cranes to get the wish. If you fold one and give it away, that crane doesn’t count toward the 1,000 needed to make the wish.