Origami

Origami (折り紙) means paper folding in Japanese. In Edo period, origami started being popular among common people. Then, it has become an art form which has been passed down through several generations.  The principal purpose is to change a flat square paper into a finished object by folding it.  Modern origami style doesn’t usually include cutting or markings on the paper.  The object can be animals, birds, fish, flowers or other shapes. Indeed, learning origami is mostly so easy that even very young children can make in a few minutes. In Japan, at one time origami was taught in schools but today, children are generally taught origami at home. 

Actually, origami can bring children mathematical interest because of its symmetric shape and develop insights along with passing down traditional art form. People celebrate national holidays with colourful origami decorations made by the family. On children's day, children make colourful paper carp as a carp recognized to swim upstream, against the current. This symbolizes vitality of children. On Tanabata day, The Star Festival is celebrated. Origami stars decorate bamboo branches. The most well-known and popular origami object is the crane. It has been created by several generations thanks to its ease. Almost every origami guide book has how to make the crane.  

Paper crane has become the international symbol of peace. In Japan almost every child has learned how to make the crane at least once. Some people try to make tiny paper cradle to show off dexterity. Interestingly, you will see a bunch of paper cradles at patient’s rooms in a hospital. It is called Senbazuru (千羽鶴) which means a thousand of cradles. It has the belief that senbazuru brings curing of illness. Therefore, a patient gets a thousand of paper cradles piled up created by his family or friends even though it takes much time to complete.

Shinto

Shinto Shrines

Shinto (神道) means the way of the gods. It is the ethnic religion of Japanese people rooted 6th century B.C.E. along with Buddhism. Shinto does not have a founder, sacred text like the bible nor official doctrine. It has contributed to develop unique Japanese attitudes and sensitivities as well as distinct Japanese consciousness. Shinto worshipers are supposed to get peacefully along with both nature and other humans. That’s why Shinto have existed in good balance with other religions. Gods of Shinto are called kami (神). They are sacred spirits which form nature, such as mountains, rain, wind, trees, rivers and even geographic regions. Therefore, people worship nature so that they think it has gods inside itself. Humans become kami after death and are admired by their descendants. In this regard, kami have the abstract forces in nature, not like the gods with human shapes having clear power found in Western religions. There are lots of Shinto shrines which are regarded as the homes of kami. Practitioners throw one coin like 5 yen toward wooden box called saisen (賽銭). Then, they have things to do, bowing twice, clapping hands twice and then bowing once again. 

This behaviour means that people show respect for kami by bowing twice and they summon kami to clap hands. Then, they prey or wish anything like good health or academic achievement. After that, they show appreciation and send kami back to nature by bowing once. Paper fortunes called O-mikuji (おみくじ) are available at shrines. People rely on O-mikuji to predict the chances of succeeding their dreams, of marriage, good health, etc. When they get bad prediction, commonly, they fold up the strip of paper and tie it to a pine tree or a wall of metal wires. Actually, pine tree (松 matsu) and the verb 'to wait' (待つ matsu) sound the same in Japanese, so the bad luck will stay at the pine tree attached the paper.

Good Fortune Note

For a more detailed inquiry into this topic visit these great sites:

• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2056.html 
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/
• http://www.patheos.com/Library/Shinto
• http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm