Divine Dragon (Satoshi Kamiya)

While both are famous dragon designs by Satoshi Kamiya, the Divine Dragon (often called the Ancient Dragon) and the Ryujin are entirely different models. The Divine Dragon is an older, slightly more accessible design featuring a distinct standing posture and prominent scales. The Ryujin is generally considered the more complex and modern iteration of a serpentine dragon.

Satoshi Kamiya published the official folding diagrams for the Divine Dragon in his highly acclaimed 2005 book, 'Works of Satoshi Kamiya 1995-2003'. This book is considered a holy grail for advanced origami enthusiasts. It provides step-by-step instructions for several of his most iconic early creations.

The exact number of scales depends on the folder's interpretation of the base, but the back and tail feature dense rows of pleated scales. These scales are achieved through complex repetitive folding techniques that expand the paper's surface area. The intricate scaling is one of the most admired and difficult aspects of the model.

The Divine Dragon has thick joints and long, spindly legs that require paper with high tensile strength and shape retention. Wet-folding with thick paper, such as watercolor paper treated with methylcellulose, is highly recommended. This allows the paper to be molded smoothly and hold its three-dimensional shape as it dries.