History of Origami
Origami came into being in VI century A.D. in China,
athough not China
but Japan is recognized as a birthplace of paper folding art. In Japan
origami appeared cause of chinise monks which with the ability of paper
production gave a liking for folding it.At the beginning this art was pointed with burying the dead. Chinise had in their custom to bestow the dead with objects that could remind them about theire life on Earth. Things like that – generally made of pottery – were puted into the grave of the dead person. This custom provoke barbarians and poor people to profane ancestors graves. Pottery was soon replaced by things made of paper..
Traditional models were made of colourful paper, sometimes cutted but there were some of them that were made without using scisssors. Till today it’s possible to buy in China a specific “funeral” paper for folding or some figures that were made before.
source of information: answers.com