Incredible Origami Models from Chinese Culture and Mythology

In addition to origami models inspired by Greek mythology and Japanese mythology there’s also some incredible origami inspired by Chinese mythology and culture.

The first model this time is this beautiful origami Luosheng, the Goddess of Luo River. Luo Sheng was the daughter of the mythical emperor Mi Xi. She drowned when crossing a river and was transformed into a beautiful river diety. This entire model is one sheet of paper!

Designed and Folded by 晓 陈

Instructions not available

Here’s this amazing model again but folded into a dancing pose.

Designed and Folded by 晓 陈

Instructions not available

This creature is a Qilin (sometime called a Kirin) and in Chinese mythology it’s said that they bring good fortune and often appear when a sage arrives or passes away.

I love the running pose Agnieska (Agne) Mackonyte folded this one into.

Kirin, Designed by Satoshi Kamiya and Folded by Agnieska (Agne) Mackonyte

Diagrams available in Works of Satoshi Kamiya 1995-2003

Here’s the Luo Sheng model again folded very small by a different artist.

Luo Sheng, Designed by Oblisk (晓 陈) and Folded by Xu Daniel

Instructions not available

Here’s a different origami Qilin design with some very beautifully coloured paper.

Qilin, Designed and Folded by paper in dream

Instructions not available

The next three models are 3 different versions, each one a completely different design, of the historical Chinese general Guan Yu.

Guan Yu was a general serving under Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty/Three Kingdoms period and had a significant role in the civil war which led to the collapse of the dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han.

If you’re familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story you should be familiar with this character.

Guan Yu 1.2, Designed and Folded by Leo Lai

Instructions not available

Guan Yu 1.5, Designed and Folded by Leo Lai

Instructions not available

Guan Yu 3.0, Designed and Folded by Leo Lai

Instructions not available

This next model is the Chinese goddess Chang’e. Chang’e is the goddess of the moon. Chang’e was the wife of the archer Yi. At the time there were ten suns in the sky which was causing a lot of problems for the people on the earth. Yi shot down nine of the suns and as a reward he received an elixir of immortality. He didn’t drink it right away because he didn’t want immortality without his wife Chang’e.

One day when he was out hunting people broke into their house and demanded that Chang’e give them the elixir. She refused and drank the elixir herself. She then flew up to the heavens and took up residence on the moon becoming the Chinese moon goddess.

Yi discovered what had happened and was sad and decided to offer the fruits and cakes she liked in the first Mid Autumn Festival.

Chang’e, Designed by Oblisk (晓 陈) and Folded by Xu Daniel

Instructions not available

I’m not 100% sure what this next model is but I think it’s an origami kung fu master. Possibly a master of Drunken Kung Fu since he’s holding that gourd.

Designed and Folded by Leo Lai

Instructions not available

Here is a cute little mini version of the goddess Luosheng.

Mini Luosheng, Designed by Mr. Tree and Folded by Xu Daniel

Instructions not available

Here’s a version 2.0 of 晓 陈’s moon goddess.

The Goddess of the Moon 2.0, Designed and Folded by 晓 陈

Instructions not available

This is another absolutely mind blowing version of an origami Qilin. There are various different ways that this mythological animal is represented which is why a lot of these origami Qilins look so different from each other.

Qilin, Designed and Folded by Leo Lai

Instructions not available

Here’s another mind blowingly awesome similar style origami Qilin. This entire model is one sheet of paper!

Qilin, Designed and Folded by Nguyen Nam Son

Instructions not available

This is a great little model Sebastien Limet designed for the Chinese year of the horse.

Go Forward, Designed and Folded by Sebastien Limet

Instructions not available

You often see creatures called Shishi or Lion Dogs guarding the front of Chinese buildings. Here’s a fantastic Shishi designed by Joseph Wu with a great robotic pattern drawn onto the paper.

Robotic Shishi/Komainu, Designed and Folded by Joseph Wu

Instructions not available

Just like the Qilin there are many different sort of designs for the Shishi. Here’s an incredible looking one by Kashiwamura Takuro.

Shishi, Designed and Folded by Kashiwamura Takuro (Photo by Evan Zodl)

Instructions not available

Finally we’ll take one more look at 晓 陈’s Moon Goddess. In this photo we have both versions 1 and 2 together so you can see the differences in the designs.

Goddess of the Moon 1 and 2, Designed and Folded by 晓 陈

Instructions not available

That’s pretty much all the Chinese mythology themed origami that I am aware of. If you know of any other great models from either Chinese culture, history or mythology post a link to them in the comments.

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