In Japan, cranes have long been revered as mystical and auspicious creatures. They are believed to live for a thousand years, making them symbols of longevity and good fortune. In art and folklore, cranes are often depicted alongside pine trees, another emblem of long life. The crane's graceful appearance and lifelong pair bonding also make it a representation of loyalty, fidelity and marital harmony. Cranes frequently adorn wedding kimonos and other ceremonial garments and objects. Beyond weddings, the crane motif can be found in many aspects of Japanese culture, from sake labels to family crests to traditional paintings.
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In the wild, the Red-crowned Crane is the main species found in Japan, primarily in the marshes of Hokkaido. While its range has contracted due to habitat loss, the crane remains a potent and instantly-recognizable symbol throughout the country. Observing the elegant cranes in their natural habitat as they engage in pair-bonding dances is an unforgettable wildlife experience sought out by many.
The practice of folding a thousand cranes is said to have originated in the Edo period (-). The first known written instructions for how to fold a thousand origami cranes appeared in a book called Hiden Senbazuru Orikata(The Secret to Folding a Thousand Cranes) published in . However, the act of folding a thousand cranes is believed to have already been an established custom at this point.
Initially, folding a thousand cranes was an endeavor undertaken to wish for a long life for oneself or a loved one. Over time, the tradition has evolved to be associated with wishing for recovery from illness or injury, for happiness and good luck in marriage, for success in one's pursuits, or for world peace. Folding a thousand origami cranes requires patience, dedication and meditative focus, lending the practice a spiritual element as well. Today, senbazuru created for specific wishes or occasions are often given as a heartfelt, meaningful gift.
Senbazuru One Thousand Cranes
Folding an origami crane may seem daunting at first, but with practice it can be mastered by people of all ages. The basic steps are:
The story of Sadako Sasaki is perhaps the most famous example of senbazuru. Sadako was a young girl living in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped in . Though she survived the blast, at age 11 she was diagnosed with leukemia caused by radiation exposure. While in the hospital, Sadako's friend told her about the senbazuru legend. Sadako set out to fold 1,000 cranes, hoping to be granted her wish to recover.
According to a popular version of her story, Sadako only managed to fold 644 cranes before she became too weak and passed away. Her classmates then folded the remaining 356 cranes so she could be buried with a complete senbazuru. However, Sadako's family says she exceeded her goal and folded around 1,400 cranes. Sadako's story spread around Japan and the world, inspiring many others to fold cranes in her memory. Her story made the origami crane an international symbol of peace and hope during challenging times. A statue of Sadako holding a golden origami crane stands in Hiroshima Peace Park, and thousands of senbazuru are offered there each year.
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Many temples and shrines throughout Japan house displays of thousands of origami cranes, often draped from the ceiling or adorning special structures. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum has a permanent exhibition of Sadako's cranes and senbazuru donated in her memory. The iconic Peace Memorial in Hiroshima is draped in colorful chains of a thousand cranes, a stirring sight.
At Nikko's famous Toshogu Shrine, a beautiful display of origami cranes decorates the sacred stable. In Tokyo, the Yasukuni Shrine often exhibits large numbers of senbazuru. Displays of a thousand cranes can also be found at memorials, museums, in shopping malls and many other public spaces throughout the country, especially in August around the anniversaries of the atomic bombings and on Obon holiday.
The Nagasaki memorial is topped with a statue of a golden, folded crane
The senbazuru practice has spread globally, with people of all nationalities folding a thousand cranes for myriad reasons - as a symbol of support for disaster victims, a call for peace, to aid the recovery of a friend or relative, or in memory of a loved one. Students frequently fold senbazuru together as a team-building or fundraising project. The timeless symbolism of a thousand cranes resonates across cultures.
Senbazuru have been gifted to Japanese temples and memorials from foreign well-wishers as a gesture of friendship and unity. They are also commonly folded for cancer patients around the world. The meditative, hopeful act of folding a thousand cranes has brought comfort and purpose to many during health struggles. In the wake of the tsunami, senbazuru poured in from around the globe to the impacted areas as a show of solidarity. People often dedicate the act of folding a thousand cranes to a larger aspiration for world peace.
Beyond origami, the crane motif is ubiquitous in Japanese art and design. Crane imagery frequently adorns kimono fabric, ceramics, lacquerware, woodblock prints, paintings, stationary and more. The bird's distinctive red crown lends a striking pop of color. Cranes are a common subject for scroll paintings and ink wash artwork. They are also a favored symbol on family crests.
A Symbol of Hope and Peace
The paper crane became a symbol of hope and peace through the story of a little Japanese girl. Sadako Sasaki was exposed to radiation as an infant when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. Although she survived the bomb, she was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12. Some say she decided to fold 1,000 cranes, hoping that her wish to live would come true, but sadly, Sadako never reached her goal, and later passed that year. She was buried with a wreath of 1,000 paper cranes, and she became a symbol of hope and peace. At the Hiroshima Peace Park, where a statue of her holding a giant crane called the Children&#;s Peace Monument, Sadako is forever memorialized. Her story of hope spread throughout the world, and her paper cranes became known as a symbol of peace. These paper cranes bring hope to the world as every year, children from around the world will fold cranes and send them to Hiroshima where they are placed around a statue of Sadako.
Folklore
It is said that paper folding first began in China for ceremonial purposes. Later it was introduced to Japan when Buddhist monks from China carried the paper during their travel. Others believe that paper folding ran parallel in both countries. But it was the Japanese who first discovered thepossibilities of using paper as a medium for art and what is known today as origami (folding paper). In Japanese folklore, the crane (or Tsuru inJapanese) is a strong majestic bird that mates for life and is said to live for a thousand years. It symbolizes honor, good fortune, loyalty, and longevity. These formidable characteristics give the crane such special meaning and why the Japanese believed that anyone with the patience and commitment to fold 1,000 origami cranes would be given good fortune and granted a wish.
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