origami 折紙

Lit. "folded paper."
1　An appraisal of an artwork written on paper usually folded in half and placed in the storage box with the art work. Also kantei origami 鑑定折紙. See *kiwamegaki 極書.
2　Fine quality paper, such as *hōsho 奉書, *torinokogami 鳥の子紙, or *danshi 檀紙, folded in half and used for formal writing. Although origami in the 12-13th century was used for catalogues and lists of names, from roughly the 16th century on, it was frequently used for official letters. In the 17-19th centuries, origami was used as stationery for a variety of purposes such as a letters to accompany gifts, shinmotsu origami 進物折紙, official communications, kōyō origami 公用折紙, appraisals of artwork (see 1), and records of names, myōji origami 名字折紙.
3　The paper craft of making various shapes, such as cranes or boats, by folding colored, square paper. Although known since the Heian period, folded paper craft, allowing no cutting dates from the Muromachi period. By the Taishō period it was established as the popular pastime it remains today.