7/27/2023 0 Comments Folded paper monsters mythology![]() ![]() Sasaki soon developed leukemia and, at age 12 after spending a significant amount of time in a hospital, began making origami cranes with the goal of making one thousand, inspired by the senbazuru legend. The one thousand origami cranes were globally popularized through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who was two years old when she was exposed to radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. ![]() ![]() The Japanese space agency JAXA used the folding of one thousand cranes as one of the tests for candidates of its astronaut program. In this way, they are related to the prayer flags of India and Tibet. The cranes are left exposed to the elements, slowly becoming tattered and dissolving as symbolically, the wish is released. At these temples, school groups or individuals often donate senbazuru to add to the prayer for peace. Several temples, including some in Tokyo and Hiroshima, have eternal flames for world peace. Cranes are also a symbol of peace, and are thus often seen at war memorials along with its original meaning for wishing good health. Another common use is for sports teams or athletes, wishing them victories. They are usually created by friends, classmates, or colleagues as a collective effort, offered to a shrine on the person's behalf or directly gifted to. Nowadays, cranes are often given to a person who is seriously ill, to wish for their recovery. Origami, specially crafted and pattern-printed paper was invented in Edo period, and in the late 17th century books referring not only to "paper cranes" but also to "one thousand cranes" were published. Historically well-wishers offered a picture of a crane to shrines and temples as well as paper cranes. Here "a thousand" is not necessarily to designate the exact number, but a poetic expression of huge amounts. An old fix phrases says "cranes live a thousand years". In Japan, cranes have been thought a symbol of long life. In some stories, it is believed that the cranes must be completed within one year and they must all be made by the person (or group of people) who will make the wish at the end. That is why one thousand origami cranes ( 千羽鶴, senbazuru literally “one thousand cranes”) are made, one for each year. The crane is a mystical or holy creature (others include the dragon and the tortoise) in Japan and is said to live for a thousand years. ![]()
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