Prince Hanzoku terrorized by a nine-tailed fox. Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th century. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese 歌川国芳 ( 1797 - April 14, 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese Ukiyo-e style

Kitsune (狐, Kitsune^? IPA: [kitsɯne])(Pronunciation) (help·info) is the Japanese word for fox. A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore. Japanese folklore is the Folklore of Japan. It is heavily influenced by both Shinto and Buddhism, the two primary religions in the country Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is a Conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events objects people and Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form. Shapeshifting is a common theme in Mythology and Folklore, as well as in Science fiction and Fantasy. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others — as foxes in folklore often do — others portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.

Foxes and human beings lived in close proximity in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. The covers the period from around 100000 to 30000 BC when the earliest Stone tool implements have been found to around 14000 BC at the end of the last Ice-age, which corresponds Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serve as his messengers. is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has — they may have as many as nine — the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make offerings to them as to a deity. Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning "to make sacred" from Old French, from Latin sacrificium: sacr, "sacred"

Origins

A nine-tailed fox, from the Qing edition of the Shan Hai Jing. Shan Hai Jing ( is a Chinese classic text that is at least 2000 years old Fox spirits of Chinese folklore are similar to kitsune. Huli jing ( Chinese: 狐狸精 Pinyin: húli jīng huli means Fox, and jing means Spirit) in Chinese mythology are fox spirits Chinese folklore has a long history going back several thousand years

There is debate whether the kitsune myths originated entirely from foreign sources or are in part an indigenous Japanese concept dating as far back as the fifth century BC. It is widely agreed that at least some fox myths in Japan can be traced to China, Korea, or India. Huli jing ( Chinese: 狐狸精 Pinyin: húli jīng huli means Fox, and jing means Spirit) in Chinese mythology are fox spirits The kumiho (literally " Nine tailed fox " is a creature that appears in the oral tales and Legends of Korea. This article is about the folklore of the Indian subcontinent. Many of the earliest surviving stories are recorded in the Konjaku Monogatari, an 11th-century collection of Chinese, Indian, and Japanese narratives. is a Japanese collection of over one thousand tales written during the late Heian Period ( 794 - 1185) ^[1] Chinese folk tales tell of kitsune-like fox spirits that may have up to nine tails. Huli jing ( Chinese: 狐狸精 Pinyin: húli jīng huli means Fox, and jing means Spirit) in Chinese mythology are fox spirits

In contrast, Japanese folklorist Kiyoshi Nozaki argues that the Japanese regarded kitsune positively as early as the 4th century A. D. ; the only things imported from China or Korea were the kitsune's negative attributes. ^[2] He states that, according to a 16th-century book of records called the Nihon Ryakki, foxes and human beings lived in close proximity in ancient Japan, and he contends that indigenous legends about the creatures arose as a result. The or Nihon Ryakuki (1596 ( An Abbreviated Record of Japan) is a chronicle of the History of Japan. ^[3] Inari scholar Karen Smyers notes that the idea of the fox as seductress and the connection of the fox myths to Buddhism were introduced into Japanese folklore through similar Chinese stories, but she maintains that some fox stories contain elements unique to Japan. is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices ^[4]

Japan is home to two red fox subspecies: the Hokkaido fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki, pictured), and the Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica). The Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes) is a Mammal of the order Carnivora. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species.

Etymology

The full etymology is unknown. The oldest known usage of the word is in the 794 text Shin'yaku Kegonkyō Ongi Shiki (新訳華厳経音義私記, Shin'yaku Kegonkyō Ongi Shiki^?). Other old sources include Nihon Ryōiki (810–824) and Wamyō Ruijushō (c. is an early Heian period setsuwa collection Written by Kyōkai between 787 and 824, it is Japan's oldest collection of Buddhist The is a 938 CE Japanese dictionary of Chinese characters. The Heian Period scholar Minamoto no Shitagō (源順 911-983 CE began compilation in 934 934). These oldest sources are written in Man'yōgana which clearly identifies the historical spelling as ki₁tune. is an ancient Writing system which employs Chinese characters to represent the Japanese language. is an archaic Kanazukai used to write Japanese during the Nara period. Following several diachronic phonological changes, this becomes kitsune.

Many etymological suggestions have been made; however, there is no general agreement.

• Myōgoki (1268) suggests that it is so called because it is "always (tsune) yellow (ki)".
• Early Kamakura period Mizukagami indicates that it means "came (ki) [perfective case particle tsu] to bedroom (ne)" due to a legend that a kitsune would change into one's wife and bear children. The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 by the first Kamakura Shogun is a Japanese Historical tale. It is believed to have been written in the early Kamakura period around 1195.
• Arai Hakuseki in Tōga (1717) suggests that ki means "stench", tsu is a possessive particle, and ne is related to inu, the word for "dog". was a Confucianist, Scholar, Academic, Administrator, Writer and Politician in Japan during the middle of Edo Period,
• Tanikawa Kotosuga in Wakun no Shiori (1777–1887) suggests that ki means "yellow", tsu is a possessive particle, and ne is related to neko, the word for cat.
• Ōtsuki Fumihiko in Daigenkai (1932–1935) proposes that kitsu is an onomatopoeia for the animal, and that ne is an affix or an honorific word meaning a servant of an Inari shrine. ( 15 October 1847 - 17 February 1928) was a Japanese Lexicographer, linguist, and Historian. Onomatopoeia (also spelled onomatopœia, from Greek: ονοματοποιΐα is a Word or a grouping of words that imitates the sound it is describing is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine" a Shinto Kami, and is usually characterized by the presence of a (also called

According to Nozaki, the word kitsune was originally onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia (also spelled onomatopœia, from Greek: ονοματοποιΐα is a Word or a grouping of words that imitates the sound it is describing ^[3] Kitsu represented a fox's yelp and came to be the general word for fox. -Ne signifies an affectionate mood, which Nozaki presents as further evidence of an established, non-imported tradition of benevolent foxes in Japanese folklore. ^[2] Kitsu is now archaic; in modern Japanese, a fox's cry is transcribed as kon kon or gon gon.

One of the oldest surviving kitsune tales provides a widely known folk etymology of the word kitsune; the story is now known to be false. Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word a False etymology. ^[5] Unlike most tales of kitsune who become human and marry human males, this one does not end tragically:^[6][7]

Ono, an inhabitant of Mino (says an ancient Japanese legend of A. D. 545), spent the seasons longing for his ideal of female beauty. He met her one evening on a vast moor and married her. Simultaneously with the birth of their son, Ono's dog was delivered of a pup which as it grew up became more and more hostile to the lady of the moors. She begged her husband to kill it, but he refused. At last one day the dog attacked her so furiously that she lost courage, resumed vulpine shape, leaped over a fence and fled.

"You may be a fox," Ono called after her, "but you are the mother of my son and I love you. Come back when you please; you will always be welcome. "

So every evening she stole back and slept in his arms. ^[5]

Because the fox returns to her husband each night as a woman but leaves each morning as a fox, she is called Kitsune. In classical Japanese, kitsu-ne means come and sleep, and ki-tsune means always comes. ^[7]

Characteristics

Statue of a kitsune at the Inari shrine adjacent to Tōdai-ji Buddhist temple in Nara

Kitsune are believed to possess superior intelligence, long life, and magical powers. is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is a Conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events objects people and They are a type of yōkai, or spiritual entity, and the word kitsune is often translated as fox spirit. are a class of Obake, creatures in Japanese folklore ranging from the evil oni to the mischievous Kitsune or snow However, this does not mean that kitsune are ghosts, nor that they are fundamentally different from regular foxes. A ghost is said to be the apparition of a Deceased person frequently similar in appearance to that person and usually encountered in places she or he frequented Because the word spirit is used to reflect a state of knowledge or enlightenment, all long-lived foxes gain supernatural abilities. ^[4]

There are two common classifications of kitsune. The myōbu are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes. In Japan, is a Title which was given to ladies of the fifth rank in the Imperial court or to midrank noblewomen In The Pillow Book is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success On the other hand, the wild nogitsune (野狐, nogitsune^? literally, field foxes) tend to be mischievous or even malicious. ^[8] Local traditions add further types. ^[8] For example, a ninko is an invisible fox spirit that human beings can only perceive when it possesses them. Spirit possession is a concept of Paranormal, Supernatural and/or Superstitious belief in which spirits, gods, daemons Another tradition classifies kitsune into one of thirteen types defined by which supernatural abilities the kitsune possesses. ^[9][10]

Physically, kitsune are noted for having as many as nine tails. ^[11] Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful fox; in fact, some folktales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 1,000 years. ^[12] One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in folk stories. ^[13] When a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes white or gold. ^[11] These kyūbi no kitsune (九尾の狐, kyūbi no kitsune^? nine-tailed foxes) gain the abilities to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. Other tales attribute them infinite wisdom (omniscience). Omniscience (ɒm'nɪsɪəns (or Omniscient Point-of-View in writing is the capacity to know everything infinitely or at least everything that can be known about a character ^[14]

This obake karuta (monster card) from the early 19th century depicts a kitsune. is a Japanese Card game. The basic idea of any karuta game is to be able to quickly determine which card out of an array of cards is required and then to grab the card before The associated game involves matching clues from folklore to pictures of specific creatures.

A kitsune may take on human form, an ability learned when it reaches a certain age — usually 100 years, although some tales say 50. Shapeshifting is a common theme in Mythology and Folklore, as well as in Science fiction and Fantasy. ^[12] As a common prerequisite for the transformation, the fox must place reeds, a broad leaf, or a skull over its head. ^[15] Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women, young girls, or elderly men. These shapes are not limited by the fox's age or gender,^[4] and a kitsune can duplicate the appearance of a specific person. ^[16] Foxes are particularly renowned for impersonating beautiful women. Common belief in medieval Japan was that any woman encountered alone, especially at dusk or night, could be a fox. The written history of Japan begins with brief references in the 1st century AD Twenty-Four Histories, a collection of Chinese historical texts ^[17]

In some stories, kitsune have difficulty hiding their tails when they take human form; looking for the tail, perhaps when the fox gets drunk or careless, is a common method of discerning the creature's true nature. ^[18] Variants on the theme have the kitsune retain other foxlike traits, such as a coating of fine hair, a fox-shaped shadow, or a reflection that shows its true form. ^[19] Kitsune-gao or fox-faced refers to human females who have a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Traditionally, this facial structure is considered attractive, and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form. ^[20] Kitsune have a fear and hatred of dogs even while in human form, and some become so rattled by the presence of dogs that they revert to the shape of a fox and flee. A particularly devout individual may be able to see through a fox's disguise automatically. ^[21]

One folk story illustrating these imperfections in the kitsune's human shape concerns Koan, a historical person credited with wisdom and magical powers of divination. Divination (from Latin divinare "to be inspired by a god" related to Divine, Diva and Deus) is the attempt of ascertaining According to the story, he was staying at the home of one of his devotees when he scalded his foot entering a bath because the water had been drawn too hot. Then, "in his pain, he ran out of the bathroom naked. When the people of the household saw him, they were astonished to see that Koan had fur covering much of his body, along with a fox's tail. Then Koan transformed in front of them, becoming an elderly fox and running away. "^[22]

Other supernatural abilities commonly attributed to the kitsune include possession, mouths or tails that generate fire or lightning (known as kitsune-bi; literally, fox-fire), willful manifestation in the dreams of others, flight, invisibility, and the creation of illusions so elaborate as to be almost indistinguishable from reality. An illusion is a distortion of the senses revealing how the Brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation ^[19][15] Some tales speak of kitsune with even greater powers, able to bend time and space, drive people mad, or take fantastic shapes such as a tree of incredible height or a second moon in the sky. ^[23][24] Other kitsune have characteristics reminiscent of vampires or succubi and feed on the life or spirit of human beings, generally through sexual contact. Vampires are mythological or folkloric revenants who subsist by feeding on the blood of the living A succubus (plural succubi) is a Demon who takes the form of a beautiful woman to seduce men especially monks in Dreams to have Sexual intercourse ^[25]

Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade kogitsune-maru (Little Fox) at the end of the 10th century. is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success The legend is the subject of the noh drama Sanjō Kokaji. or is a major form of classic Japanese musical Drama that has been performed since the 14th century

Kitsunetsuki

Kitsunetsuki (狐憑き or 狐付き; also written kitsune-tsuki) literally means the state of being possessed by a fox. The victim is typically a young woman, whom the fox enters beneath her fingernails or through her breasts. ^[26] In some cases, the victims' facial expressions are said to change in such a way that they resemble those of a fox. Japanese tradition holds that fox possession can cause illiterate victims to temporarily gain the ability to read. ^[27]

Folklorist Lafcadio Hearn describes the condition in the first volume of his Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan:

Strange is the madness of those into whom demon foxes enter. Patrick Lafcadio Hearn ( June 27, 1850 - September 26, 1904) also known as after gaining Japanese citizenship was an author best known Sometimes they run naked shouting through the streets. Sometimes they lie down and froth at the mouth, and yelp as a fox yelps. And on some part of the body of the possessed a moving lump appears under the skin, which seems to have a life of its own. Prick it with a needle, and it glides instantly to another place. By no grasp can it be so tightly compressed by a strong hand that it will not slip from under the fingers. Possessed folk are also said to speak and write languages of which they were totally ignorant prior to possession. They eat only what foxes are believed to like — tofu, aburagé, azukimeshi, etc. Tofu, also (the Japanese Romaji spelling doufu (the Chinese Pinyin spelling often used in Chinese recipes or bean curd (the literal is a Japanese food product made from Soybeans It is produced by cutting Tofu into thin slices and deep frying first at 110~120 °C then at 180~200 °C again — and they eat a great deal, alleging that not they, but the possessing foxes, are hungry. ^[28]

He goes on to note that, once freed from the possession, the victim will never again be able to eat tofu, azukimeshi, or other foods favored by foxes.

Exorcism, often performed at an Inari shrine, may induce a fox to leave its host. Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure is the practice of evicting Demons or other evil ^[29] In the past, when such gentle measures failed or a priest was not available, victims of kitsunetsuki were beaten or badly burned in hopes of forcing the fox to leave. Entire families were ostracized by their communities after a member of the family was thought to be possessed. ^[28]

In Japan, kitsunetsuki was noted as a disease as early as the Heian period and remained a common diagnosis for mental illness until the early 20th century. The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. Mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as ^[30][31] Possession was the explanation for the abnormal behavior displayed by the afflicted individuals. In the late 19th century, Dr. Shunichi Shimamura noted that physical diseases that caused fever were often considered kitsunetsuki. ^[32] The belief has lost favor, but stories of fox possession still appear in the tabloid press and popular media. One notable occasion involved allegations that members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult had been possessed. Aum Shinrikyo, now known as Aleph, is a Japanese new religious movement organization ^[33]

In medicine, kitsunetsuki is an ethnic psychosis unique to Japanese culture. Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche" for mind or soul and -οσις "-osis" for abnormal condition with adjective psychotic The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over millenia from the country's prehistoric Jomon culture to its contemporary hybrid culture which combines influences from Asia Those who suffer from the condition believe they are possessed by a fox. ^[34] Symptoms include cravings for rice or sweet red beans, listlessness, restlessness, and aversion to eye contact. The azuki bean (also spelled adzuki or aduki) is an annual vine widely grown throughout East Asia and the Himalayas for its small Kitsunetsuki is similar to but distinct from clinical lycanthropy. Clinical lycanthropy is defined as a rare Psychiatric syndrome which involves a Delusion that the affected person can or has transformed into an Animal, ^[35]

Hoshi no tama

Kitsune glowing with fox-fire gather near Edo. literally bay - Door, " Estuary " edo once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the Print by Hiroshige. was a Japanese Ukiyo-e artist and one of the last great artists in that tradition

Depictions of kitsune or their possessed victims may feature round or onion-shaped white balls known as hoshi no tama (star balls). Tales describe these as glowing with kitsune-bi, or fox-fire. ^[36] Some stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls. ^[37] When not in human form or possessing a human, a kitsune keeps the ball in its mouth or carries it on its tail. ^[12] Jewels are a common symbol of Inari, and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them are rare. ^[38]

One belief is that when a kitsune changes shape, its hoshi no tama holds a portion of its magical power. Another tradition is that the pearl represents the kitsune's soul; the kitsune will die if separated from it for long. Those who obtain the ball may be able to extract a promise from the kitsune to help them in exchange for its return. ^[39] For example, a 12th-century tale describes a man using a fox's hoshi no tama to secure a favor:

"Confound you!" snapped the fox. "Give me back my ball!" The man ignored its pleas till finally it said tearfully, "All right, you've got the ball, but you don't know how to keep it. It won't be any good to you. For me, it's a terrible loss. I tell you, if you don't give it back, I'll be your enemy forever. If you do give it back though, I'll stick to you like a protector god. "

The fox later saves his life by leading him past a band of armed bandits. ^[40]

Portrayal

Inari appears to a warrior. is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success This portrayal of Inari shows the influence of Dakiniten concepts from Buddhism. A Dakini ( Sanskrit: ḍākinī Tibetan: khandro; Wylie: mkha'-'gro-ma; TP: Kandroma; Chinese language Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese 歌川国芳 ( 1797 - April 14, 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese Ukiyo-e style

Servants of Inari

Kitsune are associated with Inari, the Shinto deity of rice. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. ^[41] This association has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. ^[42] Originally, kitsune were Inari's messengers, but the line between the two is now blurred so that Inari himself may be depicted as a fox. Likewise, entire shrines are dedicated to kitsune, where devotees can leave offerings. Offering can mean any of the following An offering is a collection of donations during Worship. ^[8] Fox spirits are particularly fond of a fried sliced tofu called aburage, which is accordingly found in kitsune udon and kitsune soba. is a Japanese food product made from Soybeans It is produced by cutting Tofu into thin slices and deep frying first at 110~120 °C then at 180~200 °C again is a type of thick Wheat -based Noodle popular in Japanese cuisine. is a type of thin Japanese Noodle made from Buckwheat flour It is served either chilled with a dipping sauce or in hot broth as a Noodle soup. Similarly, Inari-zushi is a type of sushi named for Inari that consists of rice-filled pouches of fried tofu. In Japanese cuisine, is Vinegared Rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish various meats and vegetables ^[43] There is speculation among folklorists as to whether another Shinto fox deity existed in the past. Foxes have long been worshipped as kami. ^[44]

Inari's kitsune are white, a color of good omen. An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the Future, often signifying the advent of change ^[8] They possess the power to ward off evil, and they sometimes serve as guardian spirits. In addition to protecting Inari shrines, they are petitioned to intervene on behalf of the locals and particularly to aid against troublesome nogitsune. Black foxes and nine-tailed foxes are likewise considered good omens. ^[18]

According to beliefs derived from fusui (feng shui), the fox's power over evil is such that a mere statue of a fox can dispel the evil kimon, or energy, that flows from the northeast. Feng shui ( ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ fehng-shway in English is an ancient Chinese system of Aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy and earth (geography In traditional Chinese culture, qi (zh [[wikt氣 氣]] Pinyin qì, Wade-Giles ch'i Jyutping Many Inari shrines, such as the famous Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, feature such statues, sometimes large numbers of them. is the head shrine of Inari, located in Fushimi-ku Kyoto, Japan. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan.

Kitsune are connected to the Buddhist religion through the Dakiniten, goddesses conflated with Inari's female aspect. A Dakini ( Sanskrit: ḍākinī Tibetan: khandro; Wylie: mkha'-'gro-ma; TP: Kandroma; Chinese language Dakiniten is depicted as a female boddhisattva wielding a sword and riding a flying white fox. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta ^[45]

Tricksters

The Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto features numerous kitsune statues. is the head shrine of Inari, located in Fushimi-ku Kyoto, Japan. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan.

Kitsune are often presented as tricksters, with motives that vary from mischief to malevolence. In Mythology, and in the study of Folklore and Religion, a trickster is a God, Goddess, spirit, man woman or anthropomorphic Stories tell of kitsune playing tricks on overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful commoners, while the crueler ones abuse poor tradesmen and farmers or devout Buddhist monks. is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. Their victims are usually men; women are possessed instead. ^[17] For example, kitsune are thought to employ their kitsune-bi or fox-fire to lead travelers astray in the manner of a will o' the wisp. The will-o'-the-wisp, sometimes will-o'-wisp or ignis fatuus (modern Latin, from ignis ("fire" + fatuus ^[46][47] Another tactic is for the kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions. ^[17] Other common goals of trickster kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.

A traditional game called kitsune-ken (fox-fist) references the kitsune's powers over human beings. The game is similar to rock, paper, scissors, but the three hand positions signify a fox, a hunter, and a village headman. Rock-paper-scissors (also known as scissors-paper-stone, Jan-ken-pon, rochambeau (sometimes spelled roshambo) The headman beats the hunter, whom he outranks; the hunter beats the fox, whom he shoots; the fox beats the headman, whom he bewitches. ^[48][49]

This ambiguous portrayal, coupled with their reputation for vengefulness, leads people to try to discover a troublesome fox's motives. In one case, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a high government official, wrote a letter to the kami Inari:

To Inari Daimyojin,

My lord, I have the honor to inform you that one of the foxes under your jurisdiction has bewitched one of my servants, causing her and others a great deal of trouble. I have to request that you make minute inquiries into the matter, and endeavor to find out the reason of your subject misbehaving in this way, and let me know the result.

If it turns out that the fox has no adequate reason to give for his behavior, you are to arrest and punish him at once. If you hesitate to take action in this matter I shall issue orders for the destruction of every fox in the land. Any other particulars that you may wish to be informed of in reference to what has occurred, you can learn from the high priest of Yoshida. is a town located in Haibara District, southern Shizuoka, Japan. ^[50]

Tamamo-no-Mae, a legendary kitsune featured in noh and kyogen plays. Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻の前 is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. or is a major form of classic Japanese musical Drama that has been performed since the 14th century Print by Yoshitoshi. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi ( 1839 - June 9, 1892) (月岡 芳年 also named Taiso Yoshitoshi ja 大蘇 芳年 was a Japanese artist

Kitsune keep their promises and strive to repay any favor. Occasionally a kitsune attaches itself to a person or household, where they can cause all sorts of mischief. In one story from the 12th century, only the homeowner's threat to exterminate the foxes convinces them to behave. The kitsune patriarch appears in the man's dreams:

"My father lived here before me, sir, and by now I have many children and grandchildren. They get into a lot of mischief, I'm afraid, and I'm always after them to stop, but they never listen. And now, sir, you're understandably fed up with us. I gather that you're going to kill us all. But I just want you to know, sir, how sorry I am that this is our last night of life. Won't you pardon us, one more time? If we ever make trouble again, then of course you must act as you think best. But the young ones, sir — I'm sure they'll understand when I explain to them why you're so upset. We'll do everything we can to protect you from now on, if only you'll forgive us, and we'll be sure to let you know when anything good is going to happen!"^[51]

Other kitsune use their magic for the benefit of their companion or hosts as long as the human beings treat them with respect. As yōkai, however, kitsune do not share human morality, and a kitsune who has adopted a house in this manner may, for example, bring its host money or items that it has stolen from the neighbors. Accordingly, common households thought to harbor kitsune are treated with suspicion. ^[52] Oddly, samurai families were often reputed to share similar arrangements with kitsune, but these foxes were considered myōbu and the use of their magic a sign of prestige. ^[53] Abandoned homes were common haunts for kitsune. ^[17] One 12th-century story tells of a minister moving into an old mansion only to discover a family of foxes living there. They first try to scare him away, then claim that the house "has been ours for many years, and . . . we wish to register a vigorous protest. " The man refuses, and the foxes resign themselves to moving to an abandoned lot nearby. ^[54]

Tales distinguish kitsune gifts from kitsune payments. If a kitsune offers a payment or reward that includes money or material wealth, part or all of the sum will consist of old paper, leaves, twigs, stones, or similar valueless items under a magical illusion. ^[55][56] True kitsune gifts are usually intangibles, such as protection, knowledge, or long life. ^[56]

The kitsune Kuzunoha casts a fox's shadow even in human form. also written Kuzu-no-Ha, is the name of a popular Kitsune character in Japanese folklore. Kuzunoha is a popular figure in folklore and the subject of kabuki plays. is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate Make-up worn by some of its performers Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese 歌川国芳 ( 1797 - April 14, 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese Ukiyo-e style

Wives and lovers

Kitsune are commonly portrayed as lovers, usually in stories involving a young human male and a kitsune who takes the form of a human woman. ^[57] The kitsune may be a seductress, but these stories are more often romantic in nature. ^[58] Typically, the young man unknowingly marries the fox, who proves a devoted wife. The man eventually discovers the fox's true nature, and the fox-wife is forced to leave him. In some cases, the husband wakes as if from a dream, filthy, disoriented, and far from home. He must then return to confront his abandoned family in shame.

Many stories tell of fox-wives bearing children. When such progeny are human, they possess special physical or supernatural qualities that often pass to their own children. The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events ^[18] The astrologer-magician Abe no Seimei was reputed to have inherited such extraordinary powers. Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems (921?-1005? was an onmyōji, a leading specialist of Onmyōdō during the middle of the Heian Period in Japan. ^[59]

Other stories tell of kitsune marrying one another. Rain falling from a clear sky — a sunshower — is sometimes called kitsune no yomeiri or the kitsune's wedding, in reference to a folktale describing a wedding ceremony between the creatures being held during such conditions. A sunshower is an unusual Meteorological phenomenon in which Rain falls while the sun is shining. ^[60] The event is considered a good omen, but the kitsune will seek revenge on any uninvited guests. ^[61]

Stephen Turnbull, in "Nagashino 1575", relates the tale of the Takeda clan's involvement with a fox-woman. The warlord Takeda Shingen, in 1544, defeated in battle a lesser local warlord named Suwa Yorishige and drove him to suicide after a "humiliating and spurious" peace conference, after which Shingen forced marriage on his beautiful 14-year-old daughter Lady Koi — Shingen's own niece. Shingen, Turnbull writes, "was so obsessed with the girl that his superstitious followers became alarmed and believed her to be an incarnation of the white fox-spirit of the Suwa Shrine, who had bewitched him in order to gain revenge. " When their son Takeda Katsuyori proved to be a disastrous leader and led the clan to their devastating defeat at the battle of Nagashino, Turnbull writes, "wise old heads nodded, remembering the unhappy circumstances of his birth and his magical mother".

In fiction

Embedded in Japanese folklore as they are, kitsune appear in numerous Japanese works. Noh, kyogen, bunraku, and kabuki plays derived from folk tales feature them,^[62][63] as do contemporary works such as anime, manga and video games. or is a major form of classic Japanese musical Drama that has been performed since the 14th century also known as Ningyō jōruri (ja 人形浄瑠璃 is a form of traditional Japanese Puppet theater founded in Osaka in 1684 is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate Make-up worn by some of its performers (anime in Japanese, ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. Western authors of fiction have begun to make use of the kitsune legends. Although these portrayals vary considerably, kitsune are generally depicted in accordance with folk stories, as wise, cunning, and powerful beings.

Kuzunoha, mother of Abe no Seimei, is a well-known kitsune character in traditional Japanese theater. also written Kuzu-no-Ha, is the name of a popular Kitsune character in Japanese folklore. (921?-1005? was an onmyōji, a leading specialist of Onmyōdō during the middle of the Heian Period in Japan. She is featured in the five-part bunraku and kabuki play Ashiya Dōman Ōuchi Kagami (The Mirror of Ashiya Dōman and Ōuchi). The fourth part, Kuzunoha or The Fox of Shinoda Wood, is often performed independently of the other scenes and tells of the discovery of Kuzunoha's kitsune nature and her subsequent departure from her husband and child. ^[64][65]

Tamamo-no-Mae is the subject of the noh drama Sesshoseki (The Death Stone) and of kabuki and kyogen plays titled Tamamonomae (The Beautiful Fox Witch). Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻の前 is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. Tamamo-no-Mae commits evil deeds in India, China, and Japan but is discovered and dies. Her spirit transforms into the "killing stone" of the noh play's title. She is eventually redeemed by the Buddhist priest Gennō. ^[66][67][68]

Genkurō is a kitsune renowned for his filial piety. Genkurō (源九郎 is a shapechanging Kitsune (fox-spirit character who features prominently in the famous jōruri and Kabuki In the bunraku and kabuki drama Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees), Yoshitsune's lover, Lady Shizuka, owns a hand-drum made from the skins of Genkuro's parents. Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (義経千本桜 or Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, is a Japanese play one of the three most popular and famous in the Kabuki Yoshitsune_with_benkeijpg|thumb|"Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms" by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka]] Minamoto no Yoshitsune (ja 源 義経 (1159 &ndash Shizuka Gozen (静御前 (1165 &ndash 1211 or Lady Shizuka, one of the most famous women in Japanese history and literature was a Shirabyōshi The is a Japanese Drum. It consists of a wooden body shaped like an Hourglass, and it is tought with two drum heads with cords that can be squeezed or released to increase or The fox takes human form and becomes his retainer, Satō Tadanobu, but his identity is revealed. The kitsune explains that he hears the voice of his parents when the drum is struck. Yoshitsune and Shizuka give him the drum, so Genkuro grants Yoshitsune magical protection. . ^[69][70][71]

References

Other sources

External links

• The Kitsune Page
• Foxtrot's Guide to Kitsune Lore
• Kitsune.org folklore
• Kitsune, Kumiho, Huli Jing, Fox – Fox spirits in Asia, and Asian fox spirits in the West An extensive bibliography of fox-spirit books.
• Portal of Transformation: Kitsune in Folklore and Mythology
• IDEAS Undergraduate On-Line Journal

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