How to make an origami sanbo
Origami Sanbo: try all 26 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
The traditional Japanese offering tray, with a square bowl and two broad side flaps, completed in a clean Origami Tutor sequence.
- You need
- One square of paper. No glue or scissors.
- Start
- Start white side up, with an edge at the top. The outer corner folds bring the color onto the tray.
- Tips
- Keep the four blintz corners at the center as you make the small square.
- The loose corners must point up before opening the tray pockets.
Your model is ready
The points and broad side flaps are folded. To open the offering tray, gently pull the two side flaps outward and press the bottom flat so the square bowl opens in the center. The finished Sanbo offering tray, with its square central bowl and two broad side flaps.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Find the middle across
Fold the bottom edge to the top edge, press, and open.
- 2
Find the middle lengthwise
Fold the left edge to the right edge, press, and open.
- 3
Fold the top left corner in
Bring the top left corner to the center, where the two creases cross.
- 4
Fold the top right corner in
Bring the top right corner to the center.
- 5
Fold the bottom right corner in
Bring the bottom right corner to the center.
- 6
Fold the bottom left corner in
Bring the bottom left corner to the center.
- 7
Crease a diagonal
Bring the top corner down to the bottom corner, press, and open.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Crease the other diagonal
Bring the left corner to the right corner, press, and open.
- 9
Turn over
Turn the paper over, keeping a corner pointing up.
- 10
Crease edge to edge
Fold the bottom-left edge up to the top-right edge, press, and open.
- 11
Crease the other way
Fold the bottom-right edge up to the top-left edge, press, and open.
- 12
Turn back
Turn the paper back over, keeping a corner pointing up.
- 13
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.
- 14
Point the open end up
Turn the small square around in the page so its loose points are above.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Lower the point (front)
Fold the front top point down to the bottom corner.
- 16
Turn over
Turn the model over, keeping the loose end above.
- 17
Lower the point (back)
Fold the front top point down to the bottom corner.
- 18
Turn a page (back)
Fold the front flap across along the middle crease.
- 19
Turn over
Turn the model over to turn the other page.
- 20
Turn a page (front)
Fold the front flap across along the middle crease.
- 21
Lower the point (third)
Fold the front top point down to the bottom corner.
Steps 22–26
- 22
Turn over
Turn the model over.
- 23
Lower the point (fourth)
Fold the front top point down to the bottom corner.
- 24
Fold the front flap up
Fold the front flap up to the center.
- 25
Turn over
Turn the model over.
- 26
Fold the back flap up
Fold the back flap up to the center.
- ✓
Finish
The points and broad side flaps are folded. To open the offering tray, gently pull the two side flaps outward and press the bottom flat so the square bowl opens in the center. The finished Sanbo offering tray, with its square central bowl and two broad side flaps.
Fold next
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Japanese box ↗
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Candy box ↗
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Kikuzara ↗
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