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Last updated 21/4/2025

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The Iris can be folded from a hexagon or an equilateral triangle. The Lily is folded from a square and the Bellflower from a five-pointed star. Other variations are possible. I have included all the variations in a single chronology.

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In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1914

'Zhe zhi tu shuo' (Illustrated Paperfolding), compiled by Gui Shaolie, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in Ming guo 3 (1914), includes diagrams for a four-petalled version, titled 'Swallow Flower' and a five-petalled version, titled 'Bellflower'.

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In Japan (and in publications by Japanese authors)

1845

The earliest illustration of / diagrams for this design that I know of appear in the Kan No Mado, which is usually dated to 1845. The instructions on the left begin from a hexagon and those on the right from a square.

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1878

An illustration of the Lily appears in 'Yochien Ombutsu No Zu', a publication of kindergarten material issued by the Tokyo Women's Normal School in 1878.

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1885

A drawing of the Iris appeared in 'Kindergarten Shoho' (Preliminary Kindergarten) by Iijima Hanjuro, which was copyrighted on October 4th Meiji 17 (1884) and published by Fukuda Senzo in August of Meiji 18 (1885).

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1892

A drawing of the Iris also appears in 'Kani Shukogaku' (Simple Handicraft) by Tamotsu Shibue, which was published in Tokyo in 1892.

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1894

The Lily appears as 'Kakitsubata' (Swallow Flower) in issue 2 of the children's magazine 'Shokokumin' for the year 1894.

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The Iris (folded from an equilateral triangle) appears in issue 6 of the children's magazine 'Shokokumin' for the year 1894.

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1903

Diagrams for the Iris appear in 'Jinjo Kouto Shogaku Shuko Seisakuzu' (Handicrafts for ordinary higher elementary schools) by Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Rokushiro Uehara in Tokyo in 1903.

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1905

Diagrams for a version of the Iris folded from an equilateral triangle appear in 'Shukouka Kyohon : Liron Jishuu Souga Setsumei' by Kikujiro Kiuchi, Rokushiro Uehara and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Shigebei Takase in Chiba in 1905.

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A drawing of the Iris design also appears in 'Shukoka Kyoju Saian' by Gentaro Tanahashi and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Hobunkan in Tokyo in 1905.

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1907

Diagrams for the Iris appear in 'Shukou Tebikigusa : Kokumin Kyoiku Origami Yuihimo' by Ishin Nishigaki, which was published by Meguro Shoten in Nagaoka in 1907.

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1908

Diagrams for the Iris also appear in 'Origami zusetsu' (Illustrated Origami) by Sano Shozo, which was published in Tokyo in 1908.

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1931

Diagrams for the Lily appears in 'Origami (Part 1)' by Isao Honda, which was published in Japan in 1931.

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1935

'Origami Moyo, Book One', by Kawarazaki Kodo, which was published by Unsodo in Japan in 1935, contained a print titled 'ayame' (which means 'iris') showing the Lily and a second print titled 'kikyou' (which means 'bellflower').

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1944

'Origami Shuko' by Isao Honda, which was published in 1944, contains diagrams for three versions of the design, the Lily from a square and two variations of the Iris from an equlateral triangle.

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1957

As 'An Iris' in 'Origami: Japanese Paper Folding', which was published in English by Toto Shuppan Company Ltd in Tokyo in 1957.

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1959

As 'An Iris' in 'Origami: Japanese Paperfolding: Fuji Book' by Isao Honda, which was published in English by The Asahi Origami Club in 1959.

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1960

'All About Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published by Toto Bunka Company, Limited in Tokyo in 1960, contains diagrams for folding 'A Lily' from a square and 'An Iris' from an equilateral triangle.

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1962

As 'A Lily' in 'Living Origami Book 1' by Isao Honda, which was published by Charles E. Tuttle Co. Inc in Rutland Vermont in 1962.

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1964

'My Origami Flowers' which was published by Crown Publishers Inc, in New York in 1964, contains diagrams for both the Lily and the Iris and for a variation of each, called the Cactus Flower and Gladiolus respectively. The instructions for making the Lily include a six-petalled variant made by combining two three-petalled flowers.

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1965

As 'Lily' in 'The World of Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published in the USA by Japan Publications Trading Company in 1965..

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The same book contains diagrams for an 'Iris Blossom', ie the Iris made from an equilateral triangle.

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The same book contains diagrams for a 'Chinese Bellflower' (ie the Lily folded from a pentagon) which is attributed to Ryutaro Tsuchida.

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1967

As 'Lily Blossom' in 'Origami Festival' by Isao Honda, which was published by Japan Publications Inc in Tokyo in 1967.

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1970

As 'Lily' in 'Origami Nippon' by Isao Honda, which is a paperback book published by Honda Origami Studio in Tokyo in 1970.

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In Europe and the Americas

1901

A three-petalled design, called 'Fleur d'Iris' and folded from a square, appears in an article by Alber in the French children's magazine Mon Journal of 27th July 1901. The introduction says, roughly, 'I have already had the opportunity to teach you how to make a number of paperfolds, and I told you that most of these folds, absolutely unknown in France, but very familiar to young Japanese, had been communicated to us by Mlle Kavada. You will certainly be pleased to learn that Mlle Kavada has obtained for you from her friends in Japan a whole new, very curious, series which will be published in Mon Journal; today I want to show you how to make an Iris flower.'

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1908

The same diagrams appear in 'Les Petits Secrets Amusants' by Alber-Graves, which was published by Librairie Hachette in Paris in 1908.

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1914

The four-petalled Lily design appears in the American children's magazine St Nicholas, volume 41 part 1 of November 1913 to April 1914 in a letter to the editor by Horace J Rice. (Information from Oschene.) It is noteworthy that the letter-writer mentions learning it from 'a Japanese student'. The letter also explains how to make a six-petalled variation.

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The design also appears:

1932

As 'La Fleur D'Iris', in Booklet 4 of 'Images A Plier' (the fourth of a series of 6 booklets intended for school teachers) published in 1932 in Paris by Librairie Larousse.

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As 'un Iris', in Booklet 3 of 'Figuras de Papel', a series of 3 booklets published by B Bauza in Barcelona in 1932.

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1934

As 'L'iris' in an article by Alber in 'La Nature' Issue 2940 of 1st November 1934.

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1937

As 'Lily' in Margaret Campbell's 'Paper Toy Making', which was first published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons Ltd in London, probably in 1937, although both the Foreword and Preface are dated 1936, which argues that the book was complete at that date.

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1951

In the extended version of 'El Mundo de Papel' by Dr Nemesio Montero, which was published by G Miranda in Edicions Infancia in Valladolid in 1951, as 'La Flor'.

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1964

In 'Secrets of Origami', by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne Book Company in London in 1964, where it is said to be Japanese.

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1968

In the 1968 Rupert Annual as 'How to Make A Paper Lily'

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In 'Your Book of Paperfolding' by Vanessa and Eric de Maré, which was published by Faber and Faber in London in 1968, where it was is to be a traditional Japanese design.

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1970

As 'Lily' in 'Origami Compendium No 1' by Robert Harbin, which was published c1970.

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