Origami Ryujin 3.5 Tutorial

If you folded the dragon in sections, you'll need to fully connect the body using wire for internal support and glue to secure the dorsal spines.

Insert a thick, fabric-wrapped aluminum wire through the central spine layer of the dragon before closing the body.

No. But there is a path.

Pre-crease the diagonal lines across the body section before attempting to collapse them. origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial

Once every crease is made, the paper is collapsed into its final 3D form. This step is often described as "4D chess" with paper.

The defining characteristic of the Ryujin 3.5 is its sea of overlapping scales. This is a test of pure endurance.

The Origami Ryujin (Dragon God) is the magnum opus of Japanese master Satoshi Kamiya, who began creating origami at just two years old. Known for his intricate, realistic designs like the Ancient Dragon and Phoenix, Kamiya has elevated origami to an art form. He initially released the model in versions, with Ryujin 3.5 being the definitive edition. The crease pattern (CP) was later published in his book, World of Super Complex Origami . If you folded the dragon in sections, you'll

Shaping turns the raw, collapsed model into a majestic dragon.

Wet-shaping with Methyl Cellulose is mandatory. Paint MC onto the scales, head, and claws to lock them into place. Wrap sections in thread or use clips while the glue dries to preserve the tight compression.

The bulk of the body is covered in scales. You can follow the Ryujin 3.5 Pre-Crease Tutorial Part 1 to start the initial lines. But there is a path

This is widely considered the most difficult single step, where two legs, the shoulder patches, and the back scales all collapse from the same area of the CP. MrOrigami's Lesson 11 is dedicated to this, and many folders report having to refold this section multiple times to get it right.

Pose the legs by bending the joints, ensuring the claws are perfectly shaped.

This is a repetitive but zen-like process. Creators on TikTok often show the satisfaction of "clicking" these scales into place.