The origami crane is one of the representative models of Japanese traditional origami practiced during

the Edo period (1603). Back then, the folding process were passed down through the generations
merely by demonstration.

Later in 1797, written instructions of the origami crane existed in the first known published
origami book Hiden Senbazuru Orikata (Secret to Folding One Thousand Cranes). Through this book, the
method for teaching shifted from exclusively direct instruction to text and diagram instruction.
However, the diagrams in this book were very unclear, and often only showed the end result of the
folding process, leaving the folder unsure how the model was created.

During the 1940’s and 190’s, the traditional folding process of the origami crane was now clear
through the use of a standardized system of origami symbols and diagrams called the Yoshizawa-
Randlett system. The use of this folding sequence of the crane is still being used by origami learners
today.