In the world of origami, there are models, and then there are legends. The Ryujin 3.5, designed by the master Satoshi Kamiya, sits firmly in the latter category. It is widely considered a "grandmaster" test—a project that separates casual folders from dedicated artists. While a single tutorial video can show you how to fold it, successfully completing a Ryujin requires more than just following instructions; it requires strategy, patience, and an understanding of the philosophy behind the scales.
This essay serves as your comprehensive guide to navigating the Ryujin 3.5 tutorial process, breaking down the journey into manageable stages: Preparation, the Grid, the Scales, and the Shaping.
If you have spent any time in the upper echelons of the origami community, one name haunts your dreams and challenges your skill level: The Ryujin 3.5. origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial
Designed by the Japanese origami master Satoshi Kamiya, the Ryujin (Japanese for "Dragon God") is widely considered the Mount Everest of paper folding. It is a complex, bipedal, horned dragon with scales, claws, whiskers, and a spine that curves with serpentine grace.
Before you type "Origami Ryujin 3.5 tutorial" into YouTube and cry at the four-hour time-lapse videos, you need a roadmap. This article is that roadmap. We will break down the anatomy of the fold, the tools you need, the available resources (including the elusive CP), and the step-by-step logic behind the chaos. The Dragon in the Paper: A Guide to Conquering the Ryujin 3
Collapsing the Ryujin 3.5 from a flat CP into a 3D base is universally hated and loved. This is where most folders give up.
Using the CP, you will identify the central "spine" (mountain folds) and the scales (repeating triangle twists). The collapse is not sequential; it is simultaneous. You must gently push all the creases together until the dragon "lifts" off the table. Phase 2: Collapsing the Base (The "Bloody Step")
Tutorial resource: Search "Ryujin 3.5 Collapsing Tutorial" on Flickr. Several origami artists have uploaded annotated CPs showing which angles become the head and tail.
The original CP for Ryujin 3.5 is available in Satoshi Kamiya’s book, Works of Satoshi Kamiya 2: 2002–2009. You can also find high-resolution scans of the CP online via origami forums (like the Origami Forum). The CP shows a grid of 80x80 divisions.