Historical Review on the Korean Paper Folding Crafts

Abstract

ABSTRACT The history of paper folding had continued before that the paper manufacturing technique was spread in the 3rd century and it was used for witchcrafts and rituals. Fold means as was used with the word Cheop and Jeopji. In the Three Kingdoms period, the conical hat with fabric spread as customs, then it was made of the paper that led the popularization of paper folding form the early Joseon Dynasty. Paper crafts and living things with paper are mostly derived from fabrics except the pa-per written for saint’s name related God. In the period of the tribe nation, witchcrafts and rituals brought to Japan via the Korean Peninsula, as a result Kami which means God in Japanese that becomes the paper. The first folding fan was made to develop from the fan, Baekseopsun in the end of Goryeo Dynasty. It was an outstanding application of paper folding crafts. Since the early Joseon Dynasty, paper flower folding has considered as the virtue of savings and has developed one of the Korean traditional paper arts. Paper folding has also developed in the practical uses like the other Korean paper arts but paper folding that was developed as seasonal customs, playing or religious purpose showed a different trend from Korean paper arts.Keywords: Paper folding, paper crafts, folding fan, Kami, fabrics, paper folding crafts, paper flower folding