Unfolding the Golden Nuggets of Early Chinese Paper Folding and the Art of Origami

Paper folding is a form of art that most people today associate with Japan. Indeed, Japanese origami is arguably the most well-known type of paper folding today. What is perhaps less well-known is that as an art, paper folding was also developed in China, Korea, and even Europe.

Some have even speculated that the Chinese (whose civilization has commonly been attributed with the invention of paper) were responsible for introducing the art of paper folding into Japan. Still, the history of paper folding is murky, and at present, there is no consensus as to how this art form began and developed over time.

Gold Nuggets of Chinese Paper Folding

According to one speculation, it was the Chinese who invented the art of paper folding. Today, this form of art is known as 折纸 (pronounced as ‘zhe zhi’), a term which may be literally translated as ‘folding paper’.

One argument supporting the claim that paper folding is a Chinese invention is that the material required for this art, paper, was invented by the Chinese. The invention of paper is traditionally attributed to Cai Lun, a Chinese eunuch and official who lived during the Han Dynasty. It follows that paper folding was invented shortly after this.