Paper Crane (Peace Crane)

One of the most famous paper models are the origami paper cranes, also called the Peace Cranes. Another popular model is the flapping bird - very similar except that the flapping bird can really flap its wings. Below you will find diagrams, photos, videos and stories about how to fold the peace crane.

Traditional Crane

  • Traditional diagrams here
  • Photo instructions here
  • Animation here
  • Video instructions here
  • Sadako's Story of 1000 Paper Cranes    
  • See senbazuru
    (a string of 1000 cranes)
  • new folding sequence here (Kaslunger/Sturm)


    • Crane Variations

  • Crane 2 (origami-club.com)
  • Red and White Crane 1
    (origami-club.com)
  • Red and White Crane 2
    (origami-club.com)
  • Chinese Flying Crane (G Vong)
  • Congratulations Crane (A Hudson)
  • Crowned Crane (A Barbour): pg 1 , pg 2
  • Crane in Flight pg 4 (S Spinolo)
      [password & username = neorigami]
  • Flapping Crane pg 6 (J Koppel)
  • Flying Crane (TP Kong)
  • 3-Headed Crane (TP Kong)
  • Four Legged Crane (N Miyajima)
  • Peace Crane with Stand
    (R Donachie)
  • Standing Crane pg 8 (J Koppel)
  • Tsuru Rose: (S Kamiya)
    Page 1, 2   help


    • Flapping Bird

  • Traditional diagrams here
  • Photo instructions here
  • Animation here
  • Video instructions here
  • How the flapping bird was created

    • Flapping Bird Variations

  • Flapping Bird (P Jackson)
  • Flapping Bird (J Smith)
    		•







    Interconnected Cranes



  • Imoseyama or here: pg 1, pg 2 (traditional)
  • Tsurifune; pg 18 (traditional)
  • Twin Cranes (TP Kong)
  • Multiple cranes (origami-club.com)
  • Crane Project (A Hans)
  • Mandala of Cranes (origamila.blogspot.com)
  • Tsuru Module (F Ow)
  • 12-Crane Ball with 6 windmill bases
  • Crane Kusudama (P Versnick)


  • see books about origami cranes in: USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France
  • see books about origami birds in: USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France
  • see free diagrams for other origami birds here




    Interesting TidBits about the Paper Crane/Bird

    • Over 2 million paper cranes were folded as a fundraiser after the March 2011 earthquake in Japan. Thousands of these were used to form a 36' x 40' mosaic. See more here
    • December 2009: Sadako Sasaki's brother, Masahiro Sasaki, donated one of Sadako's original paper cranes to the Tribute WTC 9/11 in New York City..



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