This model requires a large square, at least 16" / 40cm across. Tissue foil, double tissue, mulberry, or any other thin, strong paper treated with methyl cellulose can make a successful dragon. Colored black on both sides is ideal, however, the diagrams will show standard white/colored sides.
1. Begin white side up. Crease diagonally.
2. Fold the corners to the center and unfold.
3. Fold the corners to the landmarks and unfold.
4. Turn over. 5. Make creases.
6. Pleat to the center.
8. Turn over. 7. Result.
9. The next steps will focus on this part.
10. Add creases.
11. Crease through the top 2 layers.
15. Squash open.
12. Add a horizontal crease.
16. Fold the edges to the crease.
19. Fold along the edge behind.
22. Make four reverse folds.
13. Pinch the corner and squash it to the side.
17. Fold the new edges to the center line.
20. Fold the edge to the center line.
23. Reverse fold.
14. Fold down.
18. Unfold to step 14.
21. Unfold to step 19.
24. Make six reverse folds (three on each flap.)
25. Result.
28. Petal fold. Repeat behind.
32. Fold down. Repeat behind.
26. Repeat steps 10-24 on the lower corner.
29. Make a crease and unfold.
33. The next steps focus on the top.
27. Form a preliminary fold.
30. Bisect the long flaps to the crease. Repeat behind.
34. Make a crease through all layers where the thickness changes.
31. Divide into 4ths. Repeat behind.
35. Divide the lower part in half.
36. Divide in fourths.
37. Fold the point to the crease.
38. Divide the space between into thirds.
40. Result.
41. Turn over.
42. Valley through all creases to make the next steps easier.
44. Continue open sinks along the precreases.
45. Pull out two points as far as they go. Leave the center layer sunken.
48. Make creases.
49. Make creases to divide in fourths.
46. Result. You should see four horizontal crease lines.
50. Reverse fold in and out.
39. Divide the space above into thirds.
43. Open sink in and out. Note that it does not begin on the petal fold crease. The pleats from step 6 do not need to be opened.
47. Squash open.
51. Fold the right point to the left.
52. Close and reverse fold upwards.
56. Crease through all layers.
60. Rabbit ear.
53. Result.
57. Pull out the hidden flaps.
61. Reverse fold.
54. Fold upwards.
58. Bring downward while folding in the sides.
62. Lift to look underneath.
55. Make angle bisecting creases.
59. Make creases from corners to corners. Take care not to rip the thin center.
63. Squash fold single layers to the sides.
64. Fold back down.
65. Repeat steps 54-64 behind.
67. Reverse fold along the existing creases. Repeat behind.
69. More reverse folds. Repeat behind.
71. Make a combination of two swivel folds. Start at the existing creases on the left.
66. Crimp.
68. More reverse folds. Repeat behind.
70. The following steps focus on the middle area.
72. Fold to the left.
73. Repeat the double swivel on this side.
74. Fold back to the right.
78. Bring the colored area to the front.
83. This time, sink the final two flaps.
75. The following steps will focus on the wing.
76. Spread squash fold.
77. Mountain fold inside the colored area.
80. Valley fold over.
81. Fold into its nearest pocket. Repeat behind.
82. Repeat steps 79-81 on both flaps of the next level.
79. Spread squash the next flap.
84. Result, showing the nested spread squashes.
85. Repeat steps 71-83 on the other side.
86. Mountain fold. Repeat behind.
87. Outside reverse fold the two hidden points created at step 63. Repeat behind.
90. Reverse fold the back legs and crimp the front legs. Repeat behind.
93. Open and squash downward. Stretch out two layers on each side, not all three.
97. Fold to the crease.
88. Thin with sinks. Repeat behind.
89. Outside reverse fold the legs. Repeat behind.
91. The next steps will focus on the head area.
94. Open and squash upward.
98. Fold up. There is no landmark.
95. Fold and unfold.
99. Fold down. There is no landmark.
92. Squash fold about 1/3 of the point up.
96. Fold the bottom corners upward.
100. Fold down along the crease.
102. Result. 101. Work in these creases starting at the horns.
