How to make an origami phoenix (Houou)
Origami Phoenix (Houou): try all 28 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor phoenix with a raised head, spread wings and a long trailing plume trailing below its body. Our own bird-base design, folded from one square without cuts.
- You need
- One square of thin origami paper. No scissors or glue.
- Start
- Start colored side up, with one corner pointing up. Thin orange, red or gold paper suits this firebird.
- Tips
- Keep the whole tail point long when sweeping it back.
- Press the narrow neck and plume folds carefully.
- Open both wings evenly above the body.
Your model is ready
Spread both wings wide above the body. Let the long trailing plume trail below and behind the raised neck.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–6
- 1
Crease a diagonal
Bring the top corner down to the bottom corner, press, and open.
- 2
Crease the other diagonal
Bring the left corner to the right corner, press, and open.
- 3
Turn over
Turn the paper over, keeping a corner pointing up.
- 4
Crease edge to edge
Fold the bottom-left edge up to the top-right edge, press, and open.
- 5
Crease the other way
Fold the bottom-right edge up to the top-left edge, press, and open.
- 6
Turn back
Turn the paper back over, keeping a corner pointing up.
Steps 7–12
- 7
Collapse into a square
Hold the bottom corner. Push the left and right corners in and down so the paper collapses along the creases into a small square, open end at the bottom.
- 8
Crease the left kite
Fold the lower left edge of the top flap to the center line, press, and open.
- 9
Crease the right kite
Fold the lower right edge of the top flap to the center line, press, and open.
- 10
Crease across the top
Fold the top down along the line joining the tops of the two kite creases, press, and open.
- 11
Petal fold
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer up along the crease across the top. The sides fold in along the kite creases and meet in the middle. Press flat.
- 12
Turn over
Turn the model over, keeping the open end at the bottom.
Steps 13–18
- 13
Crease the left kite
Fold the lower left edge of the top flap to the center line, press, and open.
- 14
Crease the right kite
Fold the lower right edge of the top flap to the center line, press, and open.
- 15
Crease across the top
Fold the top down along the line joining the tops of the two kite creases, press, and open.
- 16
Petal fold
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer up along the crease across the top. The sides fold in along the kite creases and meet in the middle. Press flat.
- 17
Narrow the front left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle line, taking two front layers together.
- 18
Narrow the front right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle line to match.
Steps 19–24
- 19
Turn over the base
Turn over, keeping the two lower points down.
- 20
Narrow the back left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle on this face.
- 21
Narrow the back right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle. The two long points and body corners now taper inward.
- 22
Raise the neck
Open the left point slightly. Push it up and left between the body layers along the slanted line, then close the layers.
- 23
Turn the small beak forward
Reverse the last small part of the neck down and forward between its layers. Keep the long neck raised.
- 24
Sweep the long tail back
Fold the remaining lower point out to the right and slightly down. Keep its whole length as a trailing plume.
Steps 25–28
- 25
Lower the front wing
Fold the long front point down across the lower horizontal line, just above the roots of the neck and tail.
- 26
Turn over
Turn the phoenix over to reach its second wing.
- 27
Lower the back wing
Fold the second long point down across the matching horizontal line.
- 28
Turn back
Turn the bird back so its head faces left.
- ✓
Finish
Spread both wings wide above the body. Let the long trailing plume trail below and behind the raised neck.
Fold next
Frog ↗
The traditional frog-base frog, with four slender legs, bent knees and small feet.
Dog face ↗
Fold floppy ears and a little muzzle, then give your paper dog a face.
Crane ↗
The crane begins with a square base. Two petal folds turn it into a bird base with separate points for the neck and tail; the broad flaps become the wings. Work through one side of the body before repeating the narrowing folds on the back.
Swan ↗
The traditional kite-base swan, with a pointed tail, a long neck and a small head.