Previously, I blogged about making lucky paper stars as gifts. For this blog, I would like to draw your attention to the folding of the crane from paper. The art of paper folding is called origami in Japanese and the people of this nation are often said to be gifted with skilled hands. Quite a number of Japanese would know how to make an Orizuru (folded paper crane).
Many Japanese girls like to make Senbazuru or One Thousand Cranes and then connect the folded cranes with a thread and hang them up. It is Japanese legend that folding 1000 cranes (senbazuru) so pleases the gods that the folder is granted a wish. Read the inspirational story of Sadako (see above picture) and the one thousand cranes below:
The Sadako Story
The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace in recent years as a result of it's connection to the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki born in 1943. Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. As she grew up, Sadako was a strong, courageous and athletic girl. In 1955, at age 11, while practicing for a big race, she became dizzy and fell to the ground. Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia, "the atom bomb" disease. Sadako's best friend told her of an old Japanese legend which said that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped that the gods would grant her a wish to get well so that she could run again. She also wished for world peace. She started to work on the paper cranes and completed 644 before dying on October 25, 1955 at the age of twelve. In hospital, she had plenty of free time to fold the cranes but she lacked paper. She would use medicine wrappings and whatever else she could scrounge up. This included going to other patients' rooms to ask to use the paper from their get-well presents.As she was unable to meet her target before her demise, her classmates folded the remaining cranes, and she was buried with her full 1,000 cranes.
The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace in recent years as a result of it's connection to the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki born in 1943. Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. As she grew up, Sadako was a strong, courageous and athletic girl. In 1955, at age 11, while practicing for a big race, she became dizzy and fell to the ground. Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia, "the atom bomb" disease. Sadako's best friend told her of an old Japanese legend which said that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped that the gods would grant her a wish to get well so that she could run again. She also wished for world peace. She started to work on the paper cranes and completed 644 before dying on October 25, 1955 at the age of twelve. In hospital, she had plenty of free time to fold the cranes but she lacked paper. She would use medicine wrappings and whatever else she could scrounge up. This included going to other patients' rooms to ask to use the paper from their get-well presents.As she was unable to meet her target before her demise, her classmates folded the remaining cranes, and she was buried with her full 1,000 cranes.
The point is that she never gave up. She continued to make paper cranes until she died. Inspired by her courage and strength, Sadako's friends and classmates put together a book of her letters and published it. They began to dream of building a monument to Sadako and all of the children killed by the atom bomb. Young people all over Japan helped collect money for the project.
In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in Hiroshima Peace Park. The children also made a wish which is inscribed at the bottom of the statue and reads:
"This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world".Today, people all over the world fold paper cranes and send them to Sadako's monument in Hiroshima.
References:In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in Hiroshima Peace Park. The children also made a wish which is inscribed at the bottom of the statue and reads:
"This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world".Today, people all over the world fold paper cranes and send them to Sadako's monument in Hiroshima.
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