ORIG AMI S AMUR AI

HELMET PROJECT

The Samurai were prestigious social classes reigning from 12th century Japan, to around 1877. Trained in Bushido “way of the warrior,” they focused on ethical self discipline, loyalty, and education. Women and men were trained in martial arts, and prepared to give their lives for family and community. Warriors wore elaborate, highly functional uniforms, with distinctive helmets, the subject matter for this art project. Origami is the technique used here, an art of paperfolding which also began in Japan. You can see what the Samurai helmet and uniform looked like in this 1870 photo of a Samurai Commander.

Materials: One square or diamond shaped sheet of paper with equal sides, scissors, and markers.

STEP 1. Don’t have square paper? Use 11 1/2” x 17” or 8 1/2” x 11” sheet, folding one corner over to edge as below, cutting off excess rectangle to achieve a square or diamond.

STEP 2. Fold diamond shape in half to get inverted triangle shape.

STEP 3. Fold down left and right outer corners down to get another diamond shape.

Thank you for trying this project. To learn more about origami or the Samurai, try these great websites:

www.japan-guide.com/e/e2127.html

www.origamiway.com

www.origami.me.com

STEP 4. Fold bottom corners on front layer up, creasing halfway.

STEP 5. Fold same top corners outwards to form helmet’s horns.

STEP 6. Fold front layer of bottom corner flap up midway and crease.

STEP 7. Grab creased edge and fold up to form helmet’s rim.

STEP 8. Fold second bot tom corner up to top and crease.

STEP 9. Bring back down same front fold and tuck it into the helmet.

STEP 10. Now that you have the folding done, choose the colors to decorate your Samurai helmet.