'Kitsune is an animal supposed to be mysterious, fascinating, and mischevious. And he is believed to be very grateful for the kindness done to him, as seen in many tales, and is also affectionate as revealed in some dramas. He is enshrined as a god because of his supernatural power. He is endowed with the subtle art of metamorphosis, and he is able to bewitch men in the guise of a charming girl. An exceedingly interesting and entertaining beast Kitsune is.' -Kiyoshi Nozaki
The fox and the human share an interesting relationship in Asian folklore. "Kitsune" is the general term for fox in Japanese, and in mythology it implies the essence of a spirit being, whether it be good or evil. Generally perceived to be a female creature, the fox spirit is a moralizer, a humiliator, and a seductress. She is also known to possess humans and this has historically been an explanation for mental illness in eastern lands. The fox is wise and often takes it upon herself to teach humans moral lessons, especially for the greedy or those full of hubris.
There are many classifications of fox spirits in folklore based on their moral inclinations, coloring, age, and powers. Known even in western societies as a trickster, the fox is portrayed in eastern tales as somewhat magical spirit who can take the form of a beautiful woman after 100 years of age. Over time, the fox develops more powers and with that, more tails. By the 1,000th year, the fox has the ability to grow nine tails and becomes a supreme celestial being. In this case, she is either seen as a benevolent and wise figure or as a terrorizing beast.
In the mythological wood block print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Edo period, early 19th Century), Prince Hanzoku (of Southern India) is portrayed as being attacked by a nine tailed fox. In this particular representation the celestial fox carries a malicious countenance with his fangs bared and his nails drawn.
Interestingly, the fox has been adopted as part of the official religion in Japan, Shinto. Kitsune are said to be servants to the rice-god Inari and one will find images of white foxes in an Inari shrine. These white foxes are called "Myobu," which is also a court ranking for certain ladies in Japan. The story goes that one night a kitsune family sought shelter in an Inari temple. In exchange for sanctuary, they pledged their servitude forevermore. The male fox, called "Genko" and usually depicted in art as black in color, serves the upper floor of the temple, while the female, called "Byako" and white in color, serves the lower floor. The Myobu at the Inari temples are not the regular trickster foxes of common tales, but instead good omens and benevolent beings; the Celestial Fox.
Below is an ivory netsuke, sold at Bonhams 8 November 2011 in London. This carving depicts the oft represented fox-priest Hakuzozo. At about 4 inches high, the kitsune is anthropomorphically depicted as a fox-faced human dressed in priest's robes and holding a cane with human hands and human feet.
The story is common in Chinese folklore as well. In fact, it is suggested that the Japanese borrowed some of their current tales from Chinese stories. For example, until 11th Century, foxes had only been known to be benevolent creatures, whereas in China they had been long been known to be capable of evil or doing tricks. It is also suggested that these stories further came originally from Indian lands before arriving in China, then making its way across the water to infiltrate the tales in Japanese culture.
In China, the fox spirit is known as "Huli Jing," and much like the Japanese counterpart, are known tricksters, seductresses, and humiliators, among other many virtues. Huli Jing was known as a sometimes companion to humans, even a drinking companion. In modern colloquial terms, Huli Jing can refer to a woman of promiscuity, a dangerous seductress, a slut or whore.
"Jiuwei Hu," the Chinese celestial fox, is thought to originally be a totem of ancient tribes. In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), the likeness was depicted as a monstrous fox with fiery hair and nine tails, whereas in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), Jiuwei Hu was depicted as a beautiful woman, sometimes with a fox shadow.
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Some who played the Japanese manufactured Sega video game "Sonic the Hedgehog" from the 1990s will remember his golden colored fox companion with two tails, aptly named "Tails." While the Sega team does not directly inform that he was meant to be a mythological kitsune, it is quite arguable that he embodies certain traits. As there are some who believe his additional tail comes from maturity in the Japanese folklore tradition, there are others who prefer to believe his dual tails are some sort of genetic mutation. This is simply an example of the magestic fox spirit lore that continues to permeate society, even in popular culture.
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