| The Public Paperfolding History Project
Last updated 8/1/2026 x |
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| Yochien Onbutsu Zukei, 1878 | |||||||
| 'Yochien
Onbutsu Zukei' (Illustrations of Kindergarten Gifts) was
published in 1878 by the Tokyo Women's Normal School. It
seems to have consisted of a number of leaflets, possibly
20, about various kindergarten gifts and occupations, in
a wrapper. The work is now held at Ochanomizu University
Library in Japan. I have not seen a full copy of this work. Three of the leaflets appear to have been about Cutting Out, Verschnuren and Paperfolding. The only information I have about the first two of these leaflets comes from these photos which appear on the site of Ochanomizu University here.
The extra information on this page about the paperfolding leaflet is taken from 'Oru Kokoro', the catalogue of an exhibition on paperfolding history held in Tatsuno City History and Culture Museum in 1999. This source does not contain a key giving the (Japanese) names by which the various numbered designs could be identified. A translation into Chinese was published in Shanghai in 1906 under the title 'Kindergarten Gifts Atlas'. ********** Analysis Forms of Life The Forms of Life in this publication can be divided into three categories: Traditional Japanese designs: The Pinwheel / Thread Container, the Kabuto, the Sanbo, the Sanbo on Legs, the Kago, the Lily, the Paper Crane, the Blow-up Frog, the Crab, the Hexagonal Incense Packet and the various Japanese figures. Western kindergarten paperfolds that have been reproduced without alteration (although they may have been re-interpreted and renamed) : The Cigar Case, the Teacup (turned upside down), the Cross, the Pair of Boots, the Cocotte, the Jacket, the Trousers, the Newspaper Hat, the Double Boat, the Boat with Sail, the Shirt, the Steamship (also turned upside down), the Lotus. Previously unknown Japanese designs from blintzed squares: The Fox Face, the Kikuzara, the Winnowing Box. Although the illiustrations are numbered, there is no key to give us the names that they were known by in the Tokyo Women's Normal School at that time. ********** 97. The Cigar Case
********** 98. The Japanese House
********** 99. The Cross
********** 100. The Pair of Boots
********** 101. The Pinwheel
********** 102. The Cocotte / Pajarita
********** 103. The Jacket
********** 104. The Trousers
********** 105. The Newspaper Hat
********** 106. The Double Boat
********** 107. The Kabuto
********** 108. The Thread Container
********** 109. The Boat with Sail
********** 110. The Fox Face
********** 111.The Shirt
********** 112. The Steamship
********** 113. The Kikuzara
********** 114. The Winnowing Box
********** 115. The Sanbo
********** 116. The Sanbo on Legs
********** 117. The Kago
********** 118. The Lily
********** 119. The Lotus
********** 120. The Paper Crane
********** 121. The Inflatable Frog
********** 122. The Cut Frog-Base Crab
********** 123. The Hexagonal Incense Packet
********** 124-129 Various traditional Japanese figures.
********** Forms of Beauty The first four pages of designs are the same designs (redrawn) that appear in on the first two pages of the 1874 Edition of 'Der Kindergarten' by Hermann Goldammer.
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********* Selected Pages
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