This stage involves marking every single fold before the final "collapse."
The Ultimate Guide to Folding Origami Ryujin 3.5 Origami Ryujin 3.5 is the pinnacle of modern paper folding. Designed by master folder Satoshi Kamiya, this legendary Eastern dragon features thousands of individual scales, a complex moving jaw, and four fully articulated claws. Folding it requires extreme patience, precise geometry, and advanced shaping techniques.
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.
Guides often dedicate entire videos to specific high-difficulty sections like the neck twist Requirements & Commitment
Because the official crease pattern requires hundreds of hours of precise execution, this guide breaks down the preparation, techniques, and phase-by-phase roadmap you need to successfully conquer this masterpiece. 🛠️ Phase 1: Material and Tool Preparation origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial
The paper is the most critical element. You need a large square of thin, strong paper to handle the hundreds of folds.
The paper must be incredibly thin yet strong enough to withstand heavy reverse folding. Essential Tools Bone Folder / Creasing Tool: For flattening dense layers. Line Gauge / Long Ruler: For precise grid scoring.
This is not a project for beginners. Before you even look at the diagrams, you must be fluent in:
A collapsed Ryujin looks like a flat, compressed accordion. The final magic happens during the organic shaping process. Sculpting the Dragon This stage involves marking every single fold before
Minimum 100 cm × 100 cm (39.3 inches). Experienced folders prefer 120 cm to 140 cm.
I can tailor specific advice or step-by-step collapse instructions for the exact phase you are stuck on!
You need a precise 96×96 or 128×128 grid folded diagonally.
Ensure all grid lines are perfectly sharp. Stage 2: Box-Pleating (Structure) The bulk of the body is covered in scales
The choice of paper is the single most important factor in determining your success. Standard origami paper will tear immediately. Choosing the Right Paper
There are over 1,000 individual scales on the Ryujin 3.5. You must fold these column by column, row by row. Keeping the paper flat while hundreds of scales compress the sheet requires constant use of paper clips to prevent unravelling.
The collapse brings all elements together into a singular, raw dragon shape. However, a raw collapse looks blocky and lifeless. The magic happens during the shaping process.