Origami Raven Tutorial

Yatagarasu: The Story of the Origami Raven

Making an Origami Raven

If you’ve done Origami before, you’ll see that the Origami raven, or Yatagarasu, uses many of the folds you are already familiar with. They are similar to some of the other Origami bird folds, like the popular Origami crane.

The bird base is one of these common folds. It is used to create all kinds of different Origami birds. Once you master this one you’ll be able to create just about any bird with ease and perhaps even design your own original Origami bird creation. If you’re an Origami pro you’ll probably recognize some of the other folds too, like the square base fold.

High-quality Origami paper is essential to the process of making any Origami creation. Origami Craze paper is designed specifically for creating Origami. It is lightweight and easy to fold, yet it is very difficult to tear and holds a crease well, so it’s perfect for Origami artists of all ages and skill levels. It comes in 35 vibrant colors, so you can use your imagination when it comes to making your Origami raven.

Our Origami raven tutorial video will walk you through the process of making your raven step-by-step. The tutorial will provide you with clear directions that are easy to see, understand and imitate.

If you are new to Origami, don’t worry if it takes a few tries to get it right. Though the raven is a fairly basic design, Origami does take a bit of practice. If you get mixed up while making the Origami raven, simply flatten your sheet of Origami Craze paper, smooth it out and start again.

The Symbolism of the Raven

Many different cultures have legends that involve the raven, and the Japanese culture is one of those. It is known in Japanese mythology as Yatagarasu. The name Yatagarasu refers specifically to a Crow-God that was sent from Heaven to guide Emperor Jimmu, Japan’s first Emperor, to the region which eventually became Yamamoto.

In some East Asian cultures the legend of the raven or Yatagarasu involves a 3-legged crow or raven, and if you research the Yatagarasu on your own you’ll probably run across numerous stories about and pictures of a 3-legged black bird. However, it appears that Japanese mythology regarding the Yatagarasu does not necessarily refer to a raven with three legs.

The Yatagarasu represents several different ideas in Japanese lore. It is often viewed as a symbol of freedom because it is able to roam both the skies and the earth. It is also seen as a symbol of eternal life. Because of the legend of the Crow-God, the raven is also seen as link between the heavens and the earth and is thought of as a kind of spirit-guide. To present someone with an origami raven, then, may be thought of as wishing the person spiritual guidance or eternal life.