La Grue Japonaise, l'emblème du japon
The Japanese crane is a superb creature that has a great emblematic value for the country of the Rising Sun. The Japanese crane has wings of more than 2 meters, it is one of the largest birds in the world. It belongs to the family of the gruidae, that of the large terrestrial birds. This majestic bird is a real muse which has a great number of spiritual significance in Japan and throughout the world.
The Japanese crane: A creature of great beauty
The crane is a species known for its incredible seductive dance that it performs in spring during its breeding season. A graceful creature that parades with its long legs and slender figure, delicate neck and majestic wings. Cranes are monogamous birds that usually choose their partners to be together for the rest of their lives. They lay 2 to 3 eggs in each litter but unfortunately only 1 young will survive. This symbolic creature almost became extinct in the past, preservation measures were applied in time and today Japan counts more than a thousand cranes among its wildlife.
Symbolic representation of the crane
The crane has many symbolic meanings throughout the world and it very often has a positive meaning except in India where the crane is a sign of betrayal. In Japan, the crane is the symbol of peace, luck and longevity. Many beliefs and superstitions revolve around the Japanese crane considered as the bird of happiness called Tsuru. It is said that a crane can live for 1000 years and that a couple of cranes would be the omen of a happy marriage. It is also said that by folding 1000 paper cranes, one could have one’s wishes fulfilled and that the return of the migratory bird would represent the soul of the ancestors.
Meaning of Japanese crane tattoo
The crane symbol is a very trendy tattoo in the land of the Rising Sun. Indeed, many men and women proudly wear their crane tattoos in Japan whether on their back, shoulder or other parts of their body. This fashion is mainly due to the many spiritual meanings of the Japanese crane.
Meaning of the origami of the Japanese crane
Origami is a very widespread and well-known practice in the archipelago. This practice was once reserved to religious ceremonies, we can find several folding techniques in the Hiden Senbazuru Orikata, a manual dating from the Edo period.
How to make an origami crane?
The origami crane known as orizuru in Japan is quite simple to make. You need to start with a square paper. You can choose origami paper, tissue paper, crepe paper, etc. The paper can be colored or patterned. Fold the paper in half in one direction and then in the other to mark the folds on the sheet. As you unfold, you will get a cross. From there, fold the paper in half to make a triangle and fold again on the other side. When you unfold, you will have an asterisk that will help you with the rest of your design. Fold the paper in half again to make a triangle, and fold in half again to make a smaller triangle. Fold the top half down to make a square, this is the origami kite technique.
Then turn your work over and do the same on the other side to make a square again. Fold the tips of the upper part along the diagonal. Make a fold by folding and unfolding the top part. From the square previously obtained, lift the top corner upwards. Then follow the folds that were created in the previous step to flatten the sheet. Turn your work over and repeat the step. Take the outer corners and fold them over to the center line. Turn the origami over again and repeat the previous step. Fold the tips up to make two folds and then pull them in. Finally, pull the wings outwards, the crane will appear and you will have finished your origami.