3.5 Tutorial: Origami Ryujin

While the body is a test of endurance, the head is a test of pure spatial reasoning and precision. The head incorporates the corner of the paper and utilizes dense, asymmetrical collapses.

If you cannot find a complete tutorial that works for you, try these stepping stones:

Cut a small 30x30cm sheet and practice folding just a 10x10 block of scales. If you cannot get the scales perfectly flat on a small scale, do not attempt the full model yet.

Bend the joints of the legs so the dragon appears to be crawling or floating. Pin the paper into place using clips or wire until it dries completely. Summary of the Journey Estimated Time Focus Area Preparation 2–4 Hours Cutting paper, mixing MC, treating the sheet. Pre-creasing 10–15 Hours Flawless 64x64 grid execution. Scale Folding 20–30 Hours Repetitive crimping of the body texture. The Collapse 15–20 Hours Forming the head, claws, and tail structures. Shaping 5–10 Hours Wet-folding, curving, and final presentation. origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial

Conquering the Dragon: A Guide to Folding Satoshi Kamiya’s Ryujin 3.5

Search "Ryujin 3.5 Collapsing Tutorial" on Flickr. Several origami artists have uploaded annotated CPs showing which angles become the head and tail.

Look for video tutorials on YouTube by skilled folders who have mapped out the 3.5, such as Quentin Trollip or Origami by Jo Nakashima (for intermediate models to build skills). Conclusion While the body is a test of endurance,

Below is a report detailing the rigorous process of mastering this "Dragon God." The Blueprint of a Masterpiece Unlike standard origami, the Ryujin 3.5 is folded from a single, uncut square of paper Paper Requirements

Once the grid and scale pre-creasing are done, you must collapse the paper. The Ryujin uses a "box-pleating" technique.

Due to the weight of the paper, you will likely need to insert wires into the legs and body to support the final pose. Lightly dampening the paper (wet-folding) and using a small amount of methylcellulose (MC) glue will help the paper hold its final shape. If you cannot get the scales perfectly flat

Collapsing is the process of pushing all your pre-creases together at once to create a 3D shape.

If using tissue or thin washi, laminate the paper using MC on a glass or Plexiglas surface. Let it dry completely before peeling. 2. Mastering the 96x96 Grid