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Background Information
<br /> Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Origami Around the World
<br /> In Japan,cranes are symbols of good fortune and long The art of paper folding originated in China shortly after
<br /> life.There are many folk tales and legends about cranes 100 A.D.when paper was first made by Ts'ai Lun,who
<br /> in Japanese culture.According to legend, a crane can served the Chinese emperor.Origami(ori = paper, kami
<br /> live for a thousand years. It has also been asserted that if =folding)was introduced in Japan during the sixth cen-
<br /> a person succeeds in folding one thousand paper cranes, tury A.D.Since paper was scarce,at first it was available
<br /> as Sadako began to do when she became ill,the person only to the rich.Samurai wrapped gifts of dried fish or
<br /> will be granted a wish. meat in paper.These noshi were considered good luck.
<br /> Glasses of sake(rice wine)were wrapped in butterfly-
<br /> The story of Sadako has helped to make the legend of shaped paper for Shinto weddings.As paper became
<br /> the cranes well-known around the world.Sadako did not more affordable,the less affluent Japanese took up ori-
<br /> live to complete her thousand cranes, but her classmates gami.The Moors from Africa introduced paper folding
<br /> took action to finish them for her,and went on to create techniques to Spain in the eighth century when they in-
<br /> a monument to the hope that no child would ever again vaded that country.The Moors' religion did not allow
<br /> die from an atomic bomb.Students from more than them to depict animals,so their forms were geometric.
<br /> 3,000 schools contributed to help build the monument in In 1797,the first book on origami techniques was pub-
<br /> the center of Hiroshima Peace Park, not far from where lished (How to Fold 1000 Cranes). In 1845, Window on
<br /> the bomb fell.The Children's Peace Monument was com- Midwinter was released,depicting many different
<br /> pleted on Children's Day, May 5, 1958,two years after shapes of origami.This art gradually spread along trade
<br /> Sadako Sasaki's death. On the top of the monument is routes through Europe and to South America,and ar-
<br /> the figure of Sadako holding a huge paper crane above rived in the U.S.around 1900 A.D.Today, origami is
<br /> her head. Below is inscribed the hope of her classmates, practiced by thousands,with groups and conferences
<br /> "This is our cry.This is our prayer. Peace in the world." meeting all over the world.
<br /> Every year,thousands of children from around the world Obon
<br /> send paper cranes and write letters to be placed at the
<br /> Children's Peace Memorial in support of this prayer for Obon, celebrated
<br /> peace. in July or August,
<br /> is an important
<br /> Young People Taking Action Buddhist festival
<br /> in Japan to honor
<br /> David Heard was a 10-year-old boy from Easton, PA,who and show grati-
<br /> had cancer(neuroblastoma).After seeing a performance tude toward one's
<br /> of A Thousand Cranes, he was inspired to brighten the ancestors. In the
<br /> lives of other children with cancer by folding cranes for play,Sadako's
<br /> pediatric cancer centers.Together with students from family lights can-
<br /> Lafayette College, local school children,and others who dles to honor their forebears who have died, including
<br /> heard of David's project, his goal was to send 1,000 the grandmother lost in the bombing.Although it is not
<br /> folded cranes to every pediatric cancer center in the an official Japanese holiday, many people take vacation
<br /> country(220,000 cranes). Like Sadako, David was not at this time to be with their families. It is believed that
<br /> able to meet his goal. He died on Feb. 11, 2011. How- the spirits of the ancestors return to their relatives at
<br /> ever, like Sadako's classmates,others will complete the this time. Lanterns or fires are lit in or in front of houses
<br /> task for him.To participate in this National Crane Project, to guide the spirits home. Houses are cleaned in prepa-
<br /> contact Professor Mary Jo Lodge at(610)330-5662 or ration,and offerings of fruits and vegetables are placed
<br /> lodgem @lafayette.edu. on altars. Families visit the graves of their departed,
<br /> Information courtesy of http://thepapercraneorigami.com/animal-symbolism, where incense is burned at the cemeteries. Evening folk
<br /> www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/top_e.htmi,www.hiroshima-is.ac.jp/index.php? dancing(bon odori)accompanied by taiko drumming is
<br /> id=64,http://theater.lafayette.edu/nationalcraneproject/, popular at this festival.At the end of Obon, lighted lan-
<br /> www.origami-resource-center.com/origami-conventions.html,
<br /> http://library.thinkquest.org/5402/history.htm], terns are floated down rivers to the sea or on lakes to
<br /> http://gojapan.aboutcom/cs/japanesefestivals/a/obonfestival.htm, guide the spirits of the ancestors back to their world.
<br /> www.japan-guide.com/e/e2286.html
<br /> Character Counts;Foreign Languages:Culture,Connections,Comparisons;Health:Responsible Behavior,Advocate and Appreciate Healthy
<br /> Living;Science:Biology,Social Studies:History and Biography,Visual Arts:Cultural and Historical Connections
<br /> The Marcia P.Hoffman Performing Arts Institute,All Rights Reserved 2011 3
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