What age is this origami Phoenix for?

About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 39 steps, and takes about 70 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets of double-sided paper: red/gold for the body, and a larger yellow/orange sheet (about 1.25 times as big) for the tail No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “ほうおう”. 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 Birds & BugsOriginal

How to make an origami PhoenixほうおうPhoenix

The phoenix, a magical bird from old legends. Two sheets both start as bird bases. You make a crested head, flapping wings, and a long tail that fans out into five feathers with curled tips. A master model.

39 steps
about 70 min
2 sheets of double-sided paper: red/gold for the body, and a larger yellow/orange sheet (about 1.25 times as big) for the tail
Adults

How to fold

体（赤い紙）：三角に折る
Body (red paper): fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Squash this side into a square, too. This is the preliminary base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちがまん中でぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつけ、花弁折りする（鶴の基本形）
Crease the lower edges to the center, then petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも同じように折る
Do the same on this side.
左の足を、中わり折りで上へ（首）
Inside reverse fold the left point up to make the neck.
右の足を、中わり折りでうしろへ（しっぽのつけね）
Inside reverse fold the right point out to the back.
首の先を中わり折りして、頭をつくる
Inside reverse fold the tip of the neck to make the head.
頭の先を、中わり折りで上へ返す（かんむり）
Inside reverse fold the tip of the head back up to make the crest.
手前のつばさを、うしろ下へ折り下げる（はばたく形）
Fold the front wing down toward the back, as if it is flapping.
つばさのつけね（いちばん横に広い所）から折ります。
尾（大きい黄色の紙）：三角に折る
Tail (large yellow paper): fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Squash this side into a square, too. This is the preliminary base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちがまん中でぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつけ、花弁折りする（鶴の基本形）
Crease the lower edges to the center, then petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
上の1まいの、上のふちと下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the upper and lower edges of the top layer to the center line.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも同じように折る（細い先が4本になる）
Do the same on this side. Now there are four thin points.
下の右の先を、中わり折りで右へ広げる
Inside reverse fold the lower right point out to the right.
下の左の先も、中わり折りで左へ広げる
Inside reverse fold the lower left point out to the left.
右の先の先を、中わり折りでくるりと曲げる
Inside reverse fold the tip of the right point to curl it.
左の先の先も、反対へくるりと曲げる
Curl the tip of the left point the other way, too.
手前の上の先を、少しななめに下へ折る
Fold the front top point down at a slight angle.
うしろの上の先も、反対へ少しななめに、うしろへ折り下げる
Fold the back top point down behind, angled the other way.
尾を横向きにして、体のしっぽの下に差しこむ
Turn the tail sideways and slide its narrow end under the back of the body.
尾のつけねを、体のしっぽの内側に深く差しこむと、はずれにくくなります。
つばさを左右に少し開いて、形をととのえる
Open the wings out a little and shape your phoenix.
つばさのつけねを持って、左右にゆっくり開きます。
できあがり！尾の羽を少しずつずらして広げ、かんむりのかざり羽をかいたら、鳳凰のできあがり！
Finished! Spread the tail feathers a little apart and draw the crest plumes. Your phoenix is finished!

Fun fact

京都・宇治の平等院鳳凰堂の屋根には、金色の鳳凰の像があります。鳳凰堂は 10円玉にもえがかれています。

Golden phoenix statues stand on the roof of the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Kyoto. The hall is shown on the Japanese 10-yen coin.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Phoenix for?: About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 39 steps, and takes about 70 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets of double-sided paper: red/gold for the body, and a larger yellow/orange sheet (about 1.25 times as big) for the tail No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “ほうおう”. 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.