Use modern origami software like Orihime or TreeMaker to analyze the Ryujin 3.5 crease pattern digitally. Zooming into complex intersections on a screen helps clarify ambiguous line groupings.
At least 1m × 1m (recommended 1.5m to 2m for the first attempt). Time Commitment: Anywhere from 50 to over 100 hours.
Once the base is formed, the model looks rough. turns the paper into a creature.
A standard Ryujin 3.5 usually requires a grid of roughly 50cm x 50cm (approx 20 inches). Cutting your paper to a perfect square is non-negotiable, as any imbalance will distort the dragon's symmetry. origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial
Consistency: The consistency of these folds dictates the final appearance. Phase 3: The Claws and Arms The Ryujin 3.5 has detailed four-clawed arms.
The Ryujin is a design that has evolved over years. Version 3.5 is the most famous iteration, striking a balance between the earlier 3.0 and the impossibly complex 4.0.
Do not follow a video blindly. Follow this strategic order: Use modern origami software like Orihime or TreeMaker
(horns, snout, mandibles, teeth) – extremely intricate
Video tutorials are an absolute lifesaver for this model. Reading a flat crease pattern (CP) for the Ryujin is an expert-level task that intimidates even veteran folders. Seeing a master physically manipulate the paper, shift layers, and execute the notorious "neck twist" in real-time is the only way many folders manage to complete it.
: Use a square sheet that is at least 1 meter wide. Time Commitment: Anywhere from 50 to over 100 hours
(tapered, can be curled)
| Resource | What it helps with | |----------|--------------------| | (in Works of Satoshi Kamiya 2 book) | Full 200+ step diagrams for base + shaping | | YouTube – Mariano Zavala B. (Ryujin 3.5 full series) | Step-by-step video of whole folding process | | YouTube – Tadashi Mori (Ryujin 3.5 head tutorial) | Detailed head folding from CP | | Origami Forum (e.g., “Ryujin 3.5 help thread”) | Problem-solving common mistakes | | CP + photo diagrams (online image searches) | Alternative visual aid |
Once the entire crease pattern is successfully collapsed, you will be left with a blocky, rigid, accordion-like dragon. The final phase turns this geometric structure into a lifelike sculpture.
Designed by the Japanese origami master , the Ryujin (Japanese for "Dragon God") is widely considered the Mount Everest of paper folding. It is a complex, bipedal, horned dragon with scales, claws, whiskers, and a spine that curves with serpentine grace.