Senbazuru

Japanese Cranes at the San Diego Zoo

In Japan, the crane is revered as a mystical or holy creature.  They are said to live for a thousand years.

There is an ancient Japanese legend which promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes (known as Senbazuru)  - one for each year the crane lives - will be granted a wish.

Some stories believe you are granted eternal good luck, not just one wish, such as a long life or recovery from illness or injury.

According to some legends, you must make the 1000 cranes within one year, and you have to do it alone, with no help.  Cranes that are given to others are not included in the total.  The person doing the wishing must keep all 1000 cranes to make it work.

One origami crane

This legend makes the colorful origami cranes popular gifts for friends and family.

Origami Paper Crane Chains

Today, these paper cranes have also become a symbol for peace.  They are folded as a wish for peace in Japan, and in many other countries around the world.

The Children's Peace Monument at the Peace memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, shows a little girl and a large, symbolic, crane.

The little girl depicted is a real girl, Sadako Sasaki, who was born in Hiroshima in 1943.

Sadako Sasaki
January 7, 1943 - October 25, 1955

Sadako Sasaki was two years old when the A-bomb fell on Hiroshima.  She had no outward injuries and continued to grow normally.  However, nine years later, when she was in 6th grade (1954) she was diagnosed with leukemia.

Inspired by the 1000 Cranes legend, she thought folding paper cranes would help her recover.  She began to fold paper cranes, and did so for 8 months until she succumbed to her disease.

Sadako statue

Some stories say that Sadako finished her project, others say she only folded a portion of her thousand cranes before she died.  However, her actions succeeded in transforming the paper crane into a symbol of peace.

Tower of a Thousand Cranes
Children's Peace Monument

The Children's Peace Monument, also called "Tower of a Thousand Cranes", was completed in May 1955, Approximately 10 million paper cranes are offered there each year as prayers for peace, making it a colorful sight.

Author Eleanor Coerr
1922-2010

Author Eleanor Coerr visited Japan in 1963 and was intrigued by Sadako's story.  She learned that Sadako had written an autobiography, titled Kokishi, before she died.  Eleanor eventually found a copy of the book and had it translated into English.  She used this as a basis for her now famous book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Back in 1955, saddened by Sadako's passing, her classmates put out a national call to build a monument in her honor to mourn all the children who died from the atomic bombing.  With the support of students in more than 3,100 schools around Japan and in 9 other countries, this statue (below) was erected.  It stands 9 meters high.

If you would like to learn how to fold a paper crane yourself, there is a website you can visit!

Check it out: http://www.wikihow.com/Fold-a-Paper-Crane