Kusudama
Encyclopedia
The Japanese kusudama is a paper model that is usually (although not always) created by sewing multiple identical pyramidal units (usually stylized flowers folded from square paper) together through their points to form a spherical shape. Alternately the individual components may be glued together. (e.g. the kusudama in the lower photo is entirely glued, not threaded together) Occasionally, a tassel is attached to the bottom for decoration.
Kusudama originate from ancient Japanese culture, where they were used for incense
and potpourri
; possibly originally being actual bunches of flowers or herbs. The word itself is a combination of two Japanese words kusuri, Medicine, and tama, Ball. They are now typically used as decorations, or as gifts.
The kusudama is important in origami
particularly as a precursor to the modular origami
genre. It is often confused with modular origami, but is not such because the units are strung or pasted together, instead of folded together as most modular construction are made.
It is, however, still considered origami, although origami purists frown upon using its characteristic technique of threading or gluing the units together, while others recognize that early traditional Japanese origami often used both cutting (see thousand origami cranes
or senbazuru) and pasting, and respect kusudama as an ingenious traditional paper folding craft in the origami family.
Modern origami masters such as Tomoko Fuse
have created new kusudama designs that are entirely assembled without cutting, glue or thread except as a hanger.
Kusudama originate from ancient Japanese culture, where they were used for incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
and potpourri
Potpourri
Potpourri is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant material, used to provide a gentle natural scent in houses. It is usually placed in a decorative wooden bowl, or tied in small sachet made from sheer fabric....
; possibly originally being actual bunches of flowers or herbs. The word itself is a combination of two Japanese words kusuri, Medicine, and tama, Ball. They are now typically used as decorations, or as gifts.
The kusudama is important in origami
Origami
is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form...
particularly as a precursor to the modular origami
Modular origami
Modular origami, or unit origami, is a paperfolding technique which uses multiple sheets of paper to create a larger and more complex structure than would be possible using single-piece origami techniques...
genre. It is often confused with modular origami, but is not such because the units are strung or pasted together, instead of folded together as most modular construction are made.
It is, however, still considered origami, although origami purists frown upon using its characteristic technique of threading or gluing the units together, while others recognize that early traditional Japanese origami often used both cutting (see thousand origami cranes
Thousand origami cranes
is a group of one thousand origami paper cranes held together by strings.An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury...
or senbazuru) and pasting, and respect kusudama as an ingenious traditional paper folding craft in the origami family.
Modern origami masters such as Tomoko Fuse
Tomoko Fusé
Tomoko Fuse is a Japanese origami writer and artist who has written many books on the subject of modular origami and is by many considered to be the master of unit origami and one of the pre-eminent living Japanese Origami Masters.She has designed many modular boxes and containers, kusudama, paper...
have created new kusudama designs that are entirely assembled without cutting, glue or thread except as a hanger.
Further reading
- Unit Origami: Multidimensional Transformation Tomoko FuseTomoko FuséTomoko Fuse is a Japanese origami writer and artist who has written many books on the subject of modular origami and is by many considered to be the master of unit origami and one of the pre-eminent living Japanese Origami Masters.She has designed many modular boxes and containers, kusudama, paper...
, Japan Publications April 1990, ISBN 978-0870408526 - Floral Origami Globes (New Kusudama) Tomoko FuseTomoko FuséTomoko Fuse is a Japanese origami writer and artist who has written many books on the subject of modular origami and is by many considered to be the master of unit origami and one of the pre-eminent living Japanese Origami Masters.She has designed many modular boxes and containers, kusudama, paper...
, Japan Publications Trading May 18, 2007, ISBN 978-4889962130 - Kusudama Origami Tomoko FuseTomoko FuséTomoko Fuse is a Japanese origami writer and artist who has written many books on the subject of modular origami and is by many considered to be the master of unit origami and one of the pre-eminent living Japanese Origami Masters.She has designed many modular boxes and containers, kusudama, paper...
, Japan Publications, Sep 2002, ISBN 978-4889960877 - Kusudama: Ball Origami Makoto Yamaguchi, Japan Publications, Dec 1990, ISBN 978-0870408632
- Origami Ornaments: The Ultimate Kusudama Book Lew Rozelle, St. Martin's Griffin, 2000 ISBN 978-0312263690
- Origami Flower Ball (Origami Hana Kusudama) (in Japanese) Yoshihide Momotani, Ishizue Publishers 1994, ISBN 978-4900747029
- Marvelous Modular Origami Meenakshi Mukerji, A K Peters 2007, ISBN 978-1568813165