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Last updated 15/2/2024

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The Pavilion is the basic 3D form of the design. The Pagoda is made by stacking several Pavilions on top of each other. The Archway is made from a pictorial version of the Pavilion.

The Pagoda and the Archway are relatively early examples of multiple piece / modular design.

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The Pavilion / The Pagoda

In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1914

Diagrams for the 'Pavilion' appear in 'Zhe zhi tu shuo' (Illustrated Paperfolding), compiled by Gui Shaolie, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in Ming guo 3 (1914). There is no indication in the text that the author is aware that several of these Pavilions can be stacked to produce a Pagoda.

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1948

A multi-piece design in the form of a series of stacked, and successively smaller, Pavilions appears as the 'Chinese Pagoda Bookmark' in 'The Art of Chinese Paperfolding' by Maying Soong, first published by Harcourt Brace in New York in 1948. It is made in 9 pieces from squares of diminishing sizes, each square being a quarter inch smaller than the preceeding square.

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In Western Europe and the Americas

1928

As far as I know the first appearance of the Pagoda in the historical record is in 'Fun with Paper Folding' by William D Murray and Francis J Rigney first published by the Fleming H Revell Company, New York in 1928. It is made from 5 pieces folded from squares of diminishing sizes, each square being a half inch smaller than the preceeding square.

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1939

As 'A Chinese Pagoda' in 'Fun with Paper' by Joseph Leeming, which was published by Spencer Press Inc in Chicago in 1939.

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1956

As 'The Pagoda' in 'Paper Magic' by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne in London in 1956. The text says, 'Origin: Japanese.'

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1968

As 'The Pagoda' 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 Chinese design.

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1969

The 1969 Rupert Annual contains instructiomns showing 'How Rupert Makes a Paper Pagoda'.

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The Archway

1914

The 'Archway', of the kind that forms a ceremonial gateway, appears in 'Zhe zhi tu shuo' (Illustrated Paperfolding), compiled by Gui Shaolie, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in Ming guo 3 (1914). The final picture in these instructions shows a second pavilion, folded from quarter size paper, added to the first to produce the finished 'Archway' design.

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