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Modular origami dragon, Chinese dragon made of modules. Dragon (modular origami): learning a new technique

Perhaps the most popular character in all oriental fairy tales is the image of a dragon. You can create a beautiful fairy-tale character from origami modules. The red dragon, of course, differs from the invincible fictional one, since it consists of paper, which means it can get wet and is afraid of fire.

Dragon using modular origami technique

The “modular origami dragon” master class will show you how to assemble a dragon figurine, for which you will need:

  • 99 yellow modules;
  • 421 red;
  • 104 orange;
  • 95 black.

The dragon's tail is made of 88 triangular-shaped modules, the links in the body also include 88 modular parts. The body consists of 528 parts, the head contains 119 parts, and of course, the paws, each will need 8 parts. So, like we have a red dragon, we will use a standard ornament of fiery red flowers. If you wish, you can come up with your own ornament of any color.

It is best to use step-by-step instructions when making a dragon.

Making the tail

In order to make a tail, you will need to assemble the modules as follows:

Moreover, row 1 will consist of 1 part, row 2 of 2 and row 3 of 1 module.

Assembling the dragon's tail 28 in a row ends, it is worth considering that starting from the 23rd row, the number of modules should be alternated, so in each even row there will be 6 modules, and odd rows with 5 modules.

Assembling the body

Assembling the body should begin from the side. So, first you need to make a link in 16 rows. Those corners that remain free must not be forgotten to be folded to the side. In total you need to collect 6 links. The dragon's body is rows 29 to 124.

Assembling the dragon head

First you need to assemble a head without a mustache, for this we arrange the modules as follows: the first row in the head (125 in total) - 5 parts, then add 1 module to each row until it turns out that the row consists of 11 modules, that is to row 131. So, having reached row 141, which is the last, there will be only 1 module in the head.

Add a mustache to the head. In rows 136, 137, 138 and 141 we turn on the module and bend the free corner. Mustaches should be added on both sides accordingly.

Feet and final assembly

In total, you will need to assemble 4 paws of 8 modules each.

All the details of the dragon should be combined into one whole: tail, body and head.

Before attaching the paws, you should give the toy a shape. Why do we bend the neck? The point is to rotate it evenly along the entire length of the neck.

Put the finished paws aside for now and let’s start giving the product a shape. We'll bend our necks.

Now we add paws in those places where the fire-breathing beast comes into contact with the surface.

Now the toy is ready, you can also try adding, for example, some body parts, and you will get a cute dragon with wings.

A selection of interesting video master classes

The modular origami technique is one of the most popular paper techniques all over the world, and interest in it is growing more and more every day. Master classes on this technique have the highest attendance. And most of all today people are interested in dragon craft patterns. It is these characters that are gaining great popularity in fairy tales, myths, films, cartoons, books, and comics. In one case they personify evil, in another ─ good, they come with and without wings, and fire-breathing dragons are also often described in literature. But in China, the dragon is one of the most revered animals. It is this country that is the founder in the creation of paper crafts using the origami technique. Today we would like to present you with step-by-step instructions for making a dragon; thanks to it, modular origami will be mastered quickly.

First, let's see what kind of dragons there are in modular origami.

Red Dragon:

Dragon with wings:

And other dragons:

Let's start small

Now let's get to work.

We need to make building material for our dragon ─ these will be ordinary paper modules.

1) To do this, take an A4 sheet of the color that we need for the craft, and fold it in half each time, as in the picture.

2) Then we will straighten the sheet and cut it into small pieces, which will be obtained after bending. And after that we proceed to the manufacture of the module itself. Bend the resulting rectangle in half.

4) Now we bend the edges of the workpiece towards the middle of the sheet.

5) Turn the module over to the other side.

6) And raise the edges of the leaf upward.

7) Now we bend the corners of the module, bending them over the large triangle.

8) And bend it back.

9) Again we fold the small triangles along the marked lines and lift the edges of the future module up.

10) And finally, bend the sheet in half.

11) So we have made a module that is suitable for this technique.

12) After we make the required number of modules, we need to learn how to connect them together. To do this, you need to nest the modules one inside the other, as shown in the picture.

For our future craft we will need 251 blue modules and 264 yellow modules, as well as red paper and PVA glue.

Now let's move on to the assembly diagram of the dragon itself.

1) Initially we will make the head. To do this, we will take 55 blue and 2 yellow modules, and we will assemble it according to this scheme.

2) Glue a tongue to the finished head, which can be cut out from red paper. And now our head is ready.

3) Let's start making the dragon's body. To do this, take 2 blue modules, and place 1 yellow module between them, this will be the 1st row.

4) 2nd row ─ put on 2 yellow modules.

5) 3rd row ─ place 1 more yellow module in the center, and 2 blue modules at the edges.

6) And now we need to make a long chain of modules, which will represent the body, so we repeat the last steps until we get 88 rows.

7) Once the long chain is ready, it should look like this:

8) Let's start assembling the dragon itself. Take the head from the back side and next to the place where the eyes are, insert 2 blue modules.

9) We did this in order to insert a body into them. To make it stick better, lubricate its upper part with glue.

10) In order to make the legs, take 5 blue modules and connect them as in the picture. Let's make 4 legs for our beast.

11) Then you need to make a wave bend on the body and insert your legs into it with one corner in front and back, 2 on different sides.

12) Well, our dragon craft is ready!

Fire-breathing handsome man

We also offer you a less detailed diagram of assembling a dragon, for those who have already assembled more than one figure using this technique.

In order to make such a handsome man, we will need red, yellow and black modules. According to this scheme we will add our figure.

When folding the beast, we will place the modules in pockets towards the head. And we will start assembling from the tail. Between the wavy lines that we see in the picture, yellow and red diamonds are repeated. There should be 9 diamonds in total: 4 yellow and 5 red. After this, we assemble the head and shape the body of the dragon.

You also need to make the paws, which we showed how to do in the previous diagram; you need 4 of them in total. And attach them to the folds on which the dragon will stand. The second dragon is ready.

Our master class today described in detail how to make modules, how to attach them to each other, and how to make the figures themselves. Thanks to the diagrams, you will quickly learn how to make origami, and will delight yourself and your whole family. Since such a three-dimensional figure can serve both as a gift for some celebration and as a piece of furniture, be sure to learn how to make objects yourself using the modular origami technique and teach your family, who will become your assistants in this difficult, but very interesting and exciting task.

Video on the topic of the article

Now you can watch videos on making other dragons using the modular origami technique.


The Dragon- a character in various myths and fairy tales. The dragon presented here is made using the technique modular origami. This fiery red dragon, is made of paper, which means it is afraid not only of fire, but also of water.

Modular origami: "Dragon" consists of 767 triangular modules: 99 yellow, 421 red, 48 green, 104 orange, 95 black. In the photo below you see the general diagram of the dragon assembly. The dragon's tail consists of 88 triangular modules, each link in the body also includes 88 modules, the dragon's body will require 528 parts, the head contains 119 modules, and one of the four legs will require 8 parts.

To make a fiery red dragon, the painted diagram shows the following ornament. but you can change it to your own if you wish.

Modular origami assembly sequence: "Dragon".

Let's start assembling the dragon from the tail. We take 4 modules and assemble them as in the following figure (1st row - 1 module, 2nd row - 2 modules, 3rd row - one module).


Having collected 28 rows, we finish assembling the tail. From row 23 the number of modules will alternate. There will be 6 modules in each even row, and 5 modules in each odd row.

A separate link is assembled into the dragon's body (16 rows). Do not forget to bend the free corners of the outer modules to the side. It is required to collect 6 such links. The dragon's body will form rows from 29 to 124.


Head.

Let's start assembling the head without the mustache. Modules in rows: row 125 (first in the head) – 5 modules, add one module to each next row until the number of modules in the row (131 row) reaches 11 modules. From the 132nd row, the number of modules decreases by 1 per row. Therefore, in row 141 (the last one in the head) there will be 1 module.

Let's add whiskers to the dragon's head. In rows 136, 137, 138 and 141 we will add modulo and bend the free corner. Add mustaches on both sides of the head.


Let's collect the dragon's paws. The photo shows paws with 6 claws (possibly 4 or 5), assembled from 8 modules. Collect 4 of these paws.




Let's combine all the details of the dragon into one whole: tail, body and head.


When the paws are ready, put them aside for now and let’s start giving the dragon its shape. Let's arch our neck into an "S" shape. The rotation of the modules is done evenly along the length of the neck. Pressing the dragon model near the tail, bend the workpiece into its final shape.

Paper crafts deservedly enjoy love in all countries. Origami is especially popular - creating paper figures without using improvised means. There are many techniques for folding paper figures. One of the most popular techniques of recent times is based on creating works from paper modules. Modular origami dragon holds a leading position among other crafts.

These mythical animals have been of interest to people since ancient times. All peoples of the world have fairy tales, legends and myths that tell about these fabulous creatures. In some countries, dragons represent evil and oppose people. In others, for example, in China, the dragon has been the personification of goodness, prosperity and masculinity since ancient times. China holds annual boat racing festivals dedicated to noble dragons. In modern modular origami, the Chinese dragon occupies a special place.

There are eastern and western dragons. Eastern, Asian dragons are kind, powerful snake-like creatures that do not have wings. For Asian dragons, the color that symbolizes the elements is very important. The color of the creation has a special meaning.

Yellow and gold colors represent prosperity and wealth. Green – health, fertility. The most favorite color is red, which symbolizes power, authority, strength. The red Chinese dragon is a symbol of imperial power.

Western dragons are evil winged monsters that hunt not only animals, but also people. European dragons are depicted as fire-breathing monsters with huge wings. Among them, the three-headed Serpent Gorynych stands out. This fabulous beast lived on Russian lands and, as a rule, had three heads.

The love for dragons from China spread to Europe, as well as to other parts of the world. A dragon figurine is a good gift that brings success and prosperity to the home. A little dragon using modular origami technique can decorate a bookshelf or desk.

For beginners, there are a lot of master classes with detailed descriptions and step-by-step instructions for making a modular origami dragon according to the diagram. Creating such a paper figure will require a lot of time, patience, accuracy and perseverance. Your loved ones will like the finished craft and will add color and originality to the design of your home.

Materials for work

  • Cut sheets of paper for modules. Typically, an A4 sheet is cut into 16 or 32 pieces, depending on the size of the craft.
  • Glue.
  • Assembly diagrams.
  • Ruler.

Prepare the modules for work in advance. Select colors for blanks depending on the type of craft.

Step one: form two main folds to create modules. The rectangular sheet is folded in half along the longitudinal line. Bend the resulting workpiece in half and straighten it.

Step two: bend the top edges of the workpiece towards the formed center line.

Step three: turn the resulting workpiece over, and bend the rectangles protruding beyond the bottom edge of the paper upwards.

Step four: bend the two lower corners of the workpiece along the line of the large triangle. After which you need to bend the lower part of the craft back.

Step five: the small lower triangles are folded along the formed lines. The lower part of the workpiece is bent upward.

Step six: bend the resulting figure in half and secure the fold. You have a module with two corners and two pockets.

The craft is made according to a step-by-step assembly scheme.

  • For such a small craft you will need only 141 red modules.
  • The body, legs, head and wings are assembled separately. After the parts of the craft are created, they are fastened together with an additional module. To prevent a small craft from falling apart when touched, you can use glue.
  • For the body you will need 64 modules.
  • The modules in the workpiece alternate 3 and 2 parts alternately. From the 23rd row, the narrowing of the body towards the tail begins. To do this, 2 rows of 2 modules each are assembled, and the next 5 are assembled one by one.
  • For each leg of the figure you need 5 modules.
  • The wing of the figure can be assembled from pink modules. For 2 baby wings you need 22 elements.
  • The head is assembled in two ways. The first method requires 35 paper elements. For the second - 21 red modules.

After assembling the figure, glue on the eyes. To assemble a colorful baby, it is preferable for beginners to use large-sized modules. You can use blanks of different sizes in one craft. For the head there are large modules, and for the tail there are small elements.

When creating a small green monster, white and red modules are used for the eyes and tongue, respectively. For the body, you can take blanks in two shades of green to emphasize the ridge line and ears.

Dragon

The three-headed green snake is assembled using the swan assembly technique. In the Chinese assembly technique, the model is assembled from a long snake. The assembly of the three-headed handsome man goes in a circle. For the craft, you need to prepare 1128 modules of regular size and 6 small ones for the eyes. The color is usually chosen by the master himself. The figurine can be plain or with bright individual elements.

To create a three-headed monster, there are color schemes that indicate which elements to use and in what order.

To make it easier to assemble such a figurine, you can try to familiarize yourself with the rules for assembling a swan.

Let's look at the step-by-step assembly of a baby dragon using a swan model as an example.

The first three elements are assembled as follows: secure the corners of 2 elements in the pockets of the third part.

We connect 2 more parts in the same way.

We make 3 rows of 30 elements each. We close the resulting workpiece into a circle.

Add 2 more rows, and carefully turn the resulting craft inside. The edges of the workpiece must be raised to form a bowl shape.

From the seventh row, the reduction of modules begins. In the center of the model, 2 modules are removed opposite each other (for the neck and tail). For a three-headed dragon, three such gaps should be left.

In modular origami, the swan assembly pattern is the basis for many crafts: it is used to assemble not only dragons, but also a variety of beautiful vases. The double swan pattern allows you to assemble a beautiful figurine with double wings.

Creation of a water elemental dragon

The water element is symbolized by the color blue, so this fabulous creature will be made of blue parts.

To work you need to prepare in advance:

  • blue triangles – 397 pcs.;
  • white parts – 44 pcs.

Since Chinese dragons resemble a long snake, the body is assembled according to the following scheme:

  • odd row – 4 modules;
  • even – 3 modules.

The corners of the two lower elements are fixed in the pockets of the upper part. For the body, 62 rows are assembled. The resulting snake can be bent at the request of the master in several places.

For the figurine's head, the following assembly scheme is usually used:

  • Row 1 – 4 blue pieces.
  • 2nd row –5.
  • 3rd row –6.
  • 4th row – again 5 blue elements.

After the 4th row, we assemble the rows according to the following pattern:

  • 6 parts alternate: one blue and one white element. There are 2 blue details in the center. The row is completed by 1 white and 1 blue triangular blank.
  • Attach 2 blue, 1 white and again 2 blue triangles. Only 5 pieces.
  • Attach 6 blue parts.
  • The formation of the figurine's ears begins. To do this, we put on 2 blue elements from the 2nd tip of the part. We skip 2 triangles and put on 2 more blue blanks.
  • We attach 1 blue module to the 2 received elements, and put on the top piece on the left and right.

The four legs are assembled alternately from white and blue parts.

All that remains is to assemble the wings and tail.

To assemble the tail of the craft:

  • 1st row: connect 5 blue triangles.
  • Add another blue element. Only 6 parts.
  • 1 white, 5 blue and 1 white triangle completes the row.
  • There is an alternation of colors: 1 white, 1 blue, 2 white elements in the center. Complete the row with 1 blue and 1 white piece.
  • For each blue part, 2 white blanks are attached.
  • To complete the figurine, craft elements of the same color are placed on white triangles.

The wings are assembled according to the same pattern, but mirrored. For the right wing, parts are inserted from the right side. For the left wing - on the left side.

We collect the wings, starting with 1 element, reaching 6 blue parts on the 6th row.

  • Row 7 – 5 blue triangles.
  • We skip 2 parts on the right side. We put on 3 blue, 3 white elements.
  • 1 white and 2 blue triangles.
  • Offset to the right: 1 white, 2 blue elements.
  • 1 white and 1 blue part.
  • 2 white triangles.
  • 1 white piece completes the preparation of the wing.

During assembly, the wings and tail are attached using modules. The head can be attached using toothpicks. You will get a cute figure.

Use this diagram to build a modular origami red Chinese dragon. For the body, in addition to red triangular blanks, you can take black or golden ones to emphasize the beauty of the craft.

Red is a particularly popular color in China. In addition to power, might and prosperity, a gift of this color means a wish of good luck and success. That is why in Chinese modular origami you can see various schemes for assembling a red dragon - from the smallest to the largest, the creation of which took several thousand paper modules.

The Chinese consider the red dragon to be the patron of their country. In Chinese horoscopes, the dragon is the luckiest sign. The bright, unusual figure has conquered not only China. Experienced craftsmen and novice amateurs are sure to have a fiery red beast in their collection.

Using ready-made assembly diagrams or creating their own unique masterpieces, fans of modular origami delight their loved ones with the results of their creativity. Unusual, beautiful and bright figures allow you to take a fresh look at apartment design. Several red figures on shelves and window sills will add uniqueness to your interior.

Chinese style red model

The basis for all Chinese dragon models is an ordinary snake. Assembling the snake begins with the tail of the figure. Elements such as the tail, wings, and head are always assembled separately. To make the model brighter and more colorful, hairspray with glitter is often used, which gives a special gloss to the finished masterpiece.

There are many groups of fans of modular crafts, in which a beginner will be told where to get simple assembly diagrams, how to assemble and attach modules, and will give advice based on real experience. Beginners, before starting work, need to make a few simple models to understand the principle of fastening parts.

Any modular composition is a kind of construction set that can be easily disassembled, and the parts are used to make new figures. But a colorful large composition of the Chinese red dragon, assembled from more than one thousand paper blanks, will become a true interior decoration.

Having spent more than one day assembling an unusual model, any master wants his masterpiece to decorate the apartment for as long as possible. To attach such large figures, toothpicks and glue are used. Huge compositions are immediately assembled and mounted on a special stand so that the figure can be moved or rotated.

Ready-made kits for assembling modular paper figures offer colorful model assembly diagrams with detailed step-by-step instructions. The same diagrams can be downloaded on the Internet and printed on a color printer. A color picture will help beginners assemble the figure correctly.

To make a model according to the sketch, you will need 767 colored triangular blanks. The colors of the figurine can be chosen according to your taste and desire. The individually assembled parts are carefully assembled on a stand and secured.

After the first three-dimensional model is made, the master wants to improve his work, change the ornament, add colors, make the figurine even larger and more significant.

Modular origami and children

Children can also assemble a dragon figurine with the help of adults. For children's crafts, it is better to make the modules larger. The body itself can be shortened, and the eyes and flames made of paper triangles can be replaced with shiny buttons and threads of red yarn. Imagine with your baby.

The dragon is a mythical animal that in ancient China was considered a creature of nature. It was believed that dragons were born from the five elements. The color of the dragon symbolized its element. We will try to recreate a blue dragon using origami technique, whose element is water. How to make an origami fairytale dragon with your own hands? Thanks to our master class, you will find the answer to this question.

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Photo gallery: DIY origami dragon

Necessary materials:

  • A4 colored paper (blue or cyan);
  • white A4 paper.

Blue paper dragon - step by step instructions

In order to make a dragon using the modular origami technique, we will need triangular modules in blue (397 pcs.) and white (44 pcs.) colors.

Torso


Head

The dragon head is assembled quite easily according to the following scheme:

1 row – 4 blue modules;

2nd row – 5 blue modules;

3rd row – 6 blue modules;

4th row – 5 blue modules;

5 row – 1 blue; 1 white; 2 blue; 1 white; 1 blue – 6 modules in total;

6th row – 2 white; 1 blue; 2 white – 5 modules in total;

7th row – 6 blue modules;

8th row – we begin to put on the module from the second tip of the module – 2 blue modules; then, we skip 2 more ends and begin to put on 2 more blue modules;

Row 9 – put one blue module on top for 2 modules. Next, we put another module on the left module on the left side. We do the same with the right module, only the module needs to be put on the right.

A video on assembling the dragon head can be seen here.

Paws

Let's start assembling the dragon's paws.

The assembly diagram is as follows:

1 row – 2 blue modules;

2nd row – 1 blue module;

3rd row – 2 blue modules;

4th row – 1 blue module;

5th row – 2 blue modules;

6th row – 1 blue module;

Row 7 – insert the modules with the short side – 2 blue modules;

Row 8 – insert the modules with the short side – 1 blue module;

Row 9 - insert the modules with the short side - 2 white modules.

A video of the paw assembly is presented here.

In total you need to collect 4 paws.

Tail

The tail assembly diagram is as easy as the head and paw assembly diagram.

We start the first row with 5 blue modules. In the second row you need to add 1 module.

In the second row there are 6 blue modules.

3rd row – 1 white, 5 blue, 1 white module;

Row 4 – 1 white, 1 blue, 2 white, 1 blue, 1 white module.

Then, you need to put 2 white modules on the blue modules.

We complete the tail by placing one more white module on the white modules. The tail is ready!

Wings

All that remains is to assemble the wings. To do this, you need to connect the modules according to the diagram:

(Left wing)

1 row – 1 blue module;

2nd row – 2 blue modules;

3rd row – 3 blue modules;

4th row – 4 blue modules;

5th row – 5 blue modules;

6th row – 6 blue modules;

7th row – 5 blue modules;

Row 8 – move to the right by two modules, then put on 3 white and 3 blue modules;

Row 9 – 1 white and 2 blue modules;

10th row – 1 white and 2 blue modules shifted to the right;

11th row – 1 white and 1 blue module;

12 row – 2 white modules;

Row 13 – 1 white module.

The right wing is made according to the same scheme as the left one, with the only difference: the white paper modules must be inserted not from the left side, but from the right.

The procedure for assembling the wing is also shown in the video.

Our dragon has 2 wings.

All the parts have been collected, now you can start assembling the dragon.

Dragon assembly diagram

We attach the finished parts as shown in the photo: we attach the tail using a module.

The head must be secured with toothpicks.

The wings, like the tail, are attached using modules.

We attach the paws to the body with toothpicks.

Look what a magnificent dragon we have made!

So simply and without much effort, you can assemble a fairytale dragon with your own hands. All you need is paper, a little time and desire. Remember that each dragon, like a person, has its own element, so the choice of color for this fairy-tale character is yours.