What age is this origami Five-story Pagoda (3D) for?

About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 17 steps, and takes about 60 minutes.

What paper do I need?

6 sheets (one red A4 sheet for the tower, and five dark gray squares for the roofs: 15, 13, 11.5, 10 and 9 cm) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “ごじゅうのとう（マスター）”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★★★Master Japanese TraditionOriginal

How to make an origami Five-story Pagoda (3D)ごじゅうのとう（マスター）Five-story Pagoda (3D)

A 3D five-story pagoda with five roofs rising into the sky. In this master version you fold five roofs of different sizes and a tall tower, then build them together.

17 steps
about 60 min
6 sheets (one red A4 sheet for the tower, and five dark gray squares for the roofs: 15, 13, 11.5, 10 and 9 cm)
Adults

How to fold

やね（5まい）：白い面を上にして、ななめ半分に折って開く。もう1本のななめも同じように
Roofs (5 sheets): start with the white side up. Fold in half diagonally and unfold. Do the same with the other diagonal.
5まいとも同じように折ります。大きさのちがう紙で、大きいやねから小さいやねまでできます。
よこ半分に折って開く
Fold in half from top to bottom and unfold.
折りすじにそって、三角にたたむ（みずふうせんの基本形）
Collapse along the creases into a triangle. This is the waterbomb base.
左右のまん中を内がわへおしこむと、自然に三角にたたまれます。
上の角を、うしろへ折る（台形のやね）
Fold the top point behind to make a wide roof shape.
はしら（A4の紙）：白い面を上にして、たて半分に折りすじをつける
Tower (A4 sheet): start with the white side up. Fold in half lengthwise and unfold.
左右のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the left and right edges to the center line.
もう一度、左右のふちをまん中に合わせて折る
Fold the edges to the center again.
左右をななめにうしろへ折って、上を少し細くする
Fold the sides behind at a slant so the top is a little narrower.
上の2つの角を、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the two top corners to the center line.
ななめのふちを、もう一度まん中に合わせて折る（そうりん）
Fold the slanted edges to the center again. This sharp tip is the spire (sorin).
下のはしを少し折り上げる（土台）
Fold up the bottom edge a little to make the base.
いちばん大きいやねを、はしらの下のほうにはる
Glue the biggest roof onto the lower part of the tower.
のりは、やねのうらのまん中に少しだけ。はしらはやねのうしろに来ます。
2番めに大きいやねを、少し上にはる
Glue the second roof a little higher.
3番めのやねを、その上にはる
Glue the third roof above it.
4番めのやねを、その上にはる
Glue the fourth roof above it.
いちばん小さいやねを、いちばん上にはる（五重塔）
Glue the smallest roof at the top. Now it has five roofs!
やねの先を手前に引き出して、立体にする
Pull the eaves of each roof toward you to make the pagoda 3D.
どのやねも、同じくらいの角度で手前に出すときれいです。
できあがり！やねが下から上へ、だんだん小さくなっていれば、五重塔のできあがり！下から見上げると、本物みたいです。
Finished! If the roofs get smaller from the bottom to the top, your five-story pagoda is finished! Look up at it from below — it looks like the real thing.

Fun fact

奈良の法隆寺（ほうりゅうじ）の五重塔は、1300年ほど前に建てられた、のこっている世界でいちばん古い木の塔です。てっぺんの細いかざりを「相輪（そうりん）」といいます。

The five-story pagoda at Horyuji Temple in Nara was built about 1,300 years ago. It is the oldest surviving wooden tower in the world. The thin decoration on top is called the sorin.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Five-story Pagoda (3D) for?: About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 17 steps, and takes about 60 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 6 sheets (one red A4 sheet for the tower, and five dark gray squares for the roofs: 15, 13, 11.5, 10 and 9 cm) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “ごじゅうのとう（マスター）”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.