The Ryujin 3.5 (Dragon God), designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered one of the most complex origami models ever created, often taking master folders anywhere from 60 to over 200 hours to complete. Because it is a "Super Complex" model, there are no traditional step-by-step diagrams; instead, it is folded from a Crease Pattern (CP). Essential Preparations
Paper Size: A square sheet of at least 1.5 to 2 meters per side is recommended. While a 1-meter square is possible, the thousands of scales become nearly impossible to fold at that scale.
Paper Type: You need extremely thin but strong paper, such as Wenzhou, Single Tissue, or O-Gami. Many folders treat the paper with methylcellulose (MC) to add crispness and strength.
Time Commitment: Expect to spend roughly one month on the project. The Folding Process
The process is generally divided into four major phases: Pre-creasing, Collapsing, Connecting, and Shaping. 1. Pre-creasing (The Foundation)
This is the most time-consuming phase, where you mark every single line from the Crease Pattern onto your paper.
Grid System: Most of the model is based on a dense grid (often or higher).
Scale Pre-creasing: You must pre-crease over 2,000 scales. A common technique involves initiating the scale folds by establishing initial lines and then using a time-lapse-like repetition to finish the body.
Leg and Foot Units: Detailed work is required to pre-crease the leg scales and underbelly pleats. 2. The Collapse
Once pre-creased, you must "collapse" the paper, turning the flat sheet into a 3D form. Ryujin 3.5 FULL HEAD COLLAPSE Tutorial [Satoshi Kamiya] #8
Folding Satoshi Kamiya's Ryujin 3.5 is widely considered one of the ultimate challenges in the origami world. This complex Eastern dragon features over 2,000 individual scales and requires a massive grid, typically
. Because there is no single step-by-step diagram, most folders rely on a combination of crease patterns (CP) and specialized lesson series. 1. Preparation & Materials The most critical part of a Ryujin tutorial is the setup.
Paper Size: You should use a square sheet at least 1.5 meters per side. While a 1-meter square is possible, the paper thickness becomes unmanageable during the complex neck twist and leg transitions.
Paper Type: Choose thin, durable paper like Kraft or origami-specific foil. Foil helps the scales hold their shape and stand out, though some find it harder to narrow the sides of the scales compared to paper. origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial
Preparation: Redraw the entire crease pattern onto graph paper first to help locate folds once you move to the full-scale sheet. 2. Core Folding Modules
Tutorials generally break the model into these logical lessons: Grid & Pre-creasing: Initiating the grid and pre-creasing the basic scale lines.
Transition Units: These transform wide pleats into the smaller pleats needed for the body and limbs.
Scales & Belly Pleats: Folding the hundreds of scales. Techniques involve making valley folds and carefully manipulating layers so the scales lie flat.
Legs & Shoulder Scales: Managing the transition from the body into the detailed limbs. 3. Advanced Collapsing
The "collapse" is when the pre-creased flat sheet becomes a 3D dragon base.
Conquering the Dragon: A Guide to Folding Satoshi Kamiya’s Ryujin 3.5
The Ryujin 3.5, designed by legendary artist Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered the "holy grail" of origami. With its hundreds of individual scales, intricate head, and four-clawed legs, it is a masterclass in complexity. If you are ready to tackle this mythical beast, follow this structured roadmap to navigate the process. 1. Preparation: The Paper is Everything
You cannot fold a Ryujin with standard paper. You need a sheet that is both incredibly thin and strong to withstand thousands of creases without tearing. Size: A square of at least
cm (approx. 40 inches) is recommended for your first attempt.
Type: Professionals often use "Washi Deluxe" or "O-Gami." You can also learn how to make giant origami paper by treating thin paper with Methyl Cellulose (MC).
Supplies: Keep an X-Acto knife or toothpick handy for shaping Ryujin scales, and small pegs or clips to hold sections in place during the collapse. 2. The Pre-Crease Marathon
The Ryujin is built on a grid. Before you do any "real" folding, you must spend dozens of hours pre-creasing. The Ryujin 3
Grid Work: You will need to divide the paper into a massive grid (often or higher).
Scale Creasing: The bulk of the body is covered in scales. You can follow the Ryujin 3.5 Pre-Crease Tutorial Part 1 to start the initial lines.
Finishing the Foundation: Advanced tutorials like the Ryujin 3.5 Pre-crease Tutorial Part 5 walk you through the final creases needed for the bicep and head-neck connections before the collapse begins. 3. The Collapse: Bringing Form to the Flat
Collapsing is the process of pushing all your pre-creases together at once to create a 3D shape.
Body & Scales: This is a repetitive but zen-like process. Creators on TikTok often show the satisfaction of "clicking" these scales into place.
The Head & Legs: These are the most difficult sections. The Ryujin 3.5 Full Tail Collapse and head tutorials by creators like FearlessFlourish on YouTube are essential for visualizing these multi-layered sections. 4. Shaping and Assembly
Once the "base" is collapsed, the dragon will look like a thick, zig-zagging stick. Shaping gives it life.
Connecting the Body: If you folded the dragon in sections, you'll need to fully connect the body using wire for internal support and glue to secure the dorsal spines.
Final Details: Spend time on the head shaping details to define the eyes, horns, and whiskers that give the Ryujin its fierce personality.
For a comprehensive deep dive into every step, you can find the complete Ryujin 3.5 tutorial series on YouTube, which covers everything from the first fold to the final scale.
Because Satoshi Kamiya (the designer) never published official, step-by-step diagrams for this legendary dragon, the community relies entirely on complex crease patterns (CP) and fan-made video guides. The most famous and widely used "complete" video series is by a prolific folder named Daniel Brown (known online as FearlessFlourish / MrOrigami) 🐉 The Challenge: What is the Ryujin 3.5?
The Ryujin 3.5 is widely considered one of the most complex origami models in human history. It features a fully scaled body (over 1,000 individual scales), a massive set of horns, a detailed tail, and four claws—all folded from a single, uncut square of paper. 📊 Tutorial Review Breakdown 1. Accessibility & Format
Video tutorials are an absolute lifesaver for this model. Reading a flat crease pattern (CP) for the Ryujin is an expert-level task that intimidates even veteran folders. Seeing a master physically manipulate the paper, shift layers, and execute the notorious "neck twist" in real-time is the only way many folders manage to complete it. Phase 2: The Scale Collapse (Hours 6–20) The
There is no single 15-minute video that can teach you this. Comprehensive playlists (like those by FearlessFlourish) span over 12 hours of raw instruction
broken into a dozen parts (covering the head, tail, transition units, legs, and scales). It requires extreme patience just to watch, let alone follow. 2. Instruction Quality Ryujin 3.5 Origami Instructions Guide | PDF - Scribd
The Ryujin 3.5, designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered the "Holy Grail" of origami. Folding this masterpiece isn't just a craft—it’s an endurance test that spans weeks or even months. Here is the "story" of a typical journey through a full Ryujin 3.5 tutorial. Phase 1: The Ritual of Preparation
The journey begins not with folding, but with the hunt for the right materials. To survive the thousands of creases required, ordinary paper won't work. Folders often spend days preparing a massive 2-meter square of Wenzhou rice paper or O-gami, treated with Methyl Cellulose (MC) to make it thin, crisp, and resilient. This stage is about patience; if the paper isn't perfect, the dragon will literally tear itself apart before completion. Phase 2: The Grid of Madness
Before a single scale appears, the folder must pre-crease a massive grid—usually 96x96 or even 128x128. This stage is hypnotic and exhausting. For hours, the folder does nothing but fold and unfold parallel lines, creating a geometric blueprint. This grid is the "skeleton" that allows the complex body and legs to eventually collapse into shape. Phase 3: The Rising Scales
This is where the dragon gains its skin. In many tutorials like those by Origambel, this is described as the most tedious yet rewarding part. Each of the hundreds of scales must be individually tucked and shaped. Some artists use "fast methods" involving tools like X-Acto knives or toothpicks to poke and tuck the paper into tiny, curved pockets. Phase 4: The Great Collapse
The most dramatic moment is the Leg Collapse. The folder must manipulate the pre-creased grid so that the flat paper suddenly bunches and transforms into three-dimensional limbs and a serpentine body. This step is "Making the Impossible," as the paper becomes thick and difficult to manage. Phase 5: The Soul in the Details
The story ends with the head—the most intricate part of the model, featuring eyes, teeth, and horns. The final "shaping" involves using tweezers and wire to pose the dragon in a dynamic, swirling position. When finished, the folder has transformed a single square of paper into a legendary beast, a process that represents the pinnacle of human patience and precision.
Watch these expert guides to master the preparation, scale shaping, and complex collapses required for the Ryujin 3.5:
The scale graft is a "twist" pattern repeated 50 times. You will perform an open sink on every single square intersection along the spine.
If you are serious about this tutorial, you need visual aids. Here are the legal and reputable sources:
Ryujin 3.5 is a highly complex, celebrated origami model of a dragon designed by Satoshi Kamiya. It builds on earlier Ryujin variants, featuring highly detailed scales, limbs, horns, and an articulated tail. The 3.5 version is notable for refined proportions, denser scale tessellation, and advanced shaping techniques that demand precision, patience, and experience with high-complexity models. This editorial explains preparation, tools, paper choice, folding strategies, step-by-step guidance for key sections, common pitfalls, and finishing tips to achieve museum-quality results.
If you attempt this with bare hands and a wet grocery bag, you will fail. For a successful Ryujin 3.5 tutorial session, you need:
Would you like a link to the official diagram book, CP breakdown, or list of easier Kamiya models to practice first?