The Chinese Zodiac: An Origami Story

Now that we've celebrate, rested, and adjusted our brains to the new year (well, sort of. I just dated a check "January 2013"), it's time to get back to work. I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, because if you were going to do it, it would not require all the theatrics and fanfare, would it? But I have concocted some new origami projects for 2014. To kick it off, I have summoned forth the twelve animals of the zodiac in a glorious procession to tell us the story of the Chinese Zodiac.

Origami Buddha in zen meditation
by Claudio Maranta

One day, God, Buddha, or the Wizard, whichever you prefer, invited the animals to a banquet. During the feast, they would decide which twelve animals would become the signs of the zodiac.

Origami Cat Tutorial

The Rat and the Cat were very excited. They decided they would go early to secure their places. The Cat made the Rat promise to wake him in time for the banquet. (If you are not bothered by the fact that the animals can talk but find it odd that the rat is bigger than the cat, then...too bad.)

Cat Nap by Philip Shulz

But the next day, in a fit of squeaky excitement, the Rat forgot his promise and rushed off to the banquet, leaving the Cat asleep. By the time he woke up, it was already too late, for twelve animals had arrived before him, and the Cat was excluded from the zodiac.

So there were the twelve animals for the twelve zodiac signs, and the lineup was complete. Buddha announced to the animals that there would be a race across the river to determine the order of the twelve signs. 

When the signal was given, the animals all rushed to the river. Each wanted to be the first to make it across, probably not realizing that after a few millenia it really wouldn't matter whose year came first in the cycle. 

Right before they set out, the Rat jumped up onto the back of the Cow (or Ox if you prefer) unnoticed by anyone. That's right, I said unnoticed.

They all ran and jumped into the river and swam as fast as they could. As the race was nearing its end, the Cow was ahead of all of them and was almost at the finish. Even though there was like, a flying dragon in the race. But whatever. 

Hogwarts Project - Part I: The Four Houses

There's a whole generation of us who grew up with Harry Potter. I count myself among those whose life was touched from the very first time I met Harry by the magic Jo created with her enchanted quill. I remember waiting impatiently for the next book or movie to come out, escaping by burying myself in one of the books when the Muggle world got to be intolerable, making my own wand and taking it with me to *cough* high *cough* school, having Harry Potter themed birthday parties (yeah, ok, it was my 18th, I am not ashamed)... It was one hell of an adventure.

To cut the sentimental hogwash short, this is my little thank you to Harry for standing by me since we were both 11 years old.


Drum roll please, for the heralds of the Four Houses...







The Badger and the Eagle are from happypuppytruffles' Harry Potter series; the Snake is from her Chinese Zodiac series. And of course, no project would be complete without a Robert Lang. The lion is my second, and slightly improved, take on this model, now in blazing crimson.

Ravenclaw's Eagle instructions

Hufflepuff's Badger instructions

Slytherin's Snake instructions

Gryffindor's Lion based on Robert Lang's lion

I also made Ron's Howler from a traditional kissing lips model. The lips move and look like they are kissing, or in this case, giving Ron a tongue-lashing for flying the old Ford Anglia into the Whomping Willow.

Initially, I wanted to crown this project with one of Kade Chan's kickass Golden Snitch models. However, just to tease me, he did not publish any CPs or instructions for them. I had to settle for what my sister thought was a winged box.

Golden Snitch(?) instructions

I am planning a much longer Part II to this project, hopefully to come soon... if I can get all the models I am planning to make right.


All names, creatures and things © J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros.