| The Public Paperfolding History Project
Last updated 26/1/2024 x |
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| Fukusuke and similar figures | |||||||
| This
page is being used to collect information about the
history of representations of the Japanese character
named Fukusuke and similar figures. Please contact me if
you know any of this information is incorrect or if you
have any other information that should be added. Thank
you. ********** 1885 As far as I know a version of the Fukusuke figure first appears in 'Kindergarten Shoho' (Preliminary Kindergarten) by Iijima Hanjuro was copyrighted on October 4th Meiji 17 (1884) and published by Fukuda Senzo in August of Meiji 18 (1885).
********** 1892 The same design appears in 'Kani Shukogaku' (Simple Handicraft) by Tamotsu Shibue, which was published in Tokyo in 1892.
********** Simple Fukusuke - 1893 onwards
********** 1893 Diagrams for a Fukusuke which can be transformed into several other figures appeared in 1893 in volume 5 issue 15 of 'Shokokumin' magazine under the title 'Fukusuke with Seven Changes'.
********** 1912 A drawing of a simpler design which may also be intended to represent a Fukusuke figure appears in a monozukushi-e print, by an unknown artist, but said to be from the Meiji era. I have temporarily assigned it the date of 1912, the last year of that era, pending the discovery of more accurate information.
********** 1951 Two other simple designs which are not intended to represent Fukusuke but have similar design features appear in 'Origami to Kirinuki' by Saburo Ueda, which was published by Kokkado in Tokyo, most probably in 1951. (Both designs are named but I cannot read the characters.)
This design appears to have been cut to release the wings at the side of the head. but, if so, this cut is not shown in the diagrams. ***
********** 1961 A cut variation of the version with the head made by opening out a point appears in 'The Art of Origami' by Samuel Randlett, which was published by E P Dutton in New York in 1961.
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