Origami Reina

The most famous object in the Asian Art Museum’s collection and among the most celebrated ancient Chinese bronzes in the world, this is the only bronze work in the form of a rhinoceros known to have been made during the Shang dynasty (approx. 1600–1050 BCE). The museum affectionately refers to this object as Reina, which means princess or queen in Spanish.

Learn more about Reina here.

Fold an origami Reina using these instructions.

Materials

Origami paper, or 8.5″ x 11″ paper cut into a square. 

Procedure

1. Fold in half, lengthwise. Unfold. Fold each side to the center line.
2. Fold in half. Unfold. Fold bottom to the center line, unfold. Fold bottom corners to the center.
3. Unfold triangle. Fold up bottom layer at small arrow. Push out top layer to open. Flatten. Repeat on other side.
4. Fold top of left triangle to fold line.
5. Fold tip of triangle along center line.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 on right side.
7. Fold small triangle to center of other small triangle. Fold other small triangle same distance.
8. Fold bottom sides to center line. Fold top down to top of triangles. Unfold. Fold top to fold line just created. Unfold. Fold top to fold line just created.
9. Does your paper look like this? If not, go back. If it does, flip it over!
10. Fold left top corner at angle from top horizontal fold line. Repeat on right side.
11. Push left folded layer outward, parallel to center line. Repeat on right side.
12. Fold bottom up at lowest fold line.
13. Fold tip down at intersection.
14. Flip over so you get the shape above.
15. Fold up at the widest place. Fold up 1/3 tip. Mountain fold, vertically.
16. Push in rump. Pull up horn. Tilt head down.

Share your creations on social media and tag @asianartmuseum

Download the activity packet from sidebar above for complete instructions.