Paper cranes promote peace, understanding

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This article was published 24/06/2020 (2263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WHILE she watched the protests against racism across the U.S. and Canada, Sensei Tanis Moore of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple wondered what her little faith community could do.

“We wanted something inspirational and hopeful,” she said. “Something anyone could do anywhere.”

They settled on the idea of making 1,000 origami paper cranes and inviting other Winnipeggers to join them in the project.

“An ancient Japanese legend promises that if anyone folds a thousand paper cranes they will be granted a wish by the gods,” she said.

The origami crane’s popularity is largely due to a children’s book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Written by Canadian author Eleanor Coerr, the book tells the story of a Japanese girl named Sadako who was two when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during the Second World War.

Due to the fallout from the bomb, Sadako developed leukemia. While in hospital, she started folding origami cranes. She made 1,400 before dying in 1955.

Since that time, many people have followed her example by making paper cranes as expressions of peace and understanding, Moore said.

“It’s a way to show our intention to promote peace and goodwill,” she said, adding it is also a way to express hopefulness about racism and other issues facing Canada today.

Winnipeggers who want to join the temple’s 80 members in the project can find a how-to video for making a paper crane on the temple’s website.

“Folding a crane is actually not too difficult,” Moore said, noting all that is needed is a single square sheet of paper.

Once completed, the cranes will be put on display at locations throughout Winnipeg.

Making a crane is also a way to “bring peace to your own mind,” Moore said, describing it as a meditative practice.

Once made, the cranes can be mailed to the temple at 39 Tecumseh St., Winnipeg MB, R3E 0J8. They will be collected for display at locations around the city.

For more information about the project, visit the temple’s website at manitobabuddhistchurch.org or email Moore at tanismoo@gmail.com.

faith@freepress.mb.ca

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