The Japanese symbol of the fox. Fox - symbols and images, fox in mythology
If you mention the terms "imitator" and "metamorph", most people interested in the world of the paranormal will probably think of.
Regular "pop" werewolves are fairly limited in shape and size.
Japan has its own metamorph.
They call him Kitsune. This word means "fox".
Japanese legends say that every fox has the ability to turn into a person, whether it be a man or a woman.
And like many werewolves that can be found in world legends, Kitsune combines an evil creature and a calm, useful essence.
Basically, however, he acts like a classic trickster, manipulating people and playing endless mind games with them.
Those Kitsune that have a positive nature are known as Zenko, while those that are evil and dangerous are called Yako.
Harmless Zenkos often hide food and various household items, which makes the "prank target" look for their things indefinitely.
While dangerous Yako look for careless people and lead them to various dead places, such as swamps, waterfalls, cliffs.
The stories of the Japanese Kitsune are linked to the folklore and mythology of China, where legends of supernatural foxes have been going back thousands of years. These were stories about paranormal foxes, known in China as Huli Jing, which were soon adapted and supplemented by the Japanese.
Kitsune is considered a material entity. It is not a being that has returned from the grave in a ghostly form, but an entity nonetheless that has paranormal abilities and is spiritual in terms of its world view.
As far as their physical form is concerned, Kitsune look like regular foxes. Except for one: they can have up to nine tails.
The forms that Kitsune can turn into are many and varied. Often they take the form of a beautiful woman, like the Scottish kelpies and succubi.
Women and teenage girls are among the most popular Kitsune disguises. Sometimes they take the form of a wrinkled old man.
As for how exactly the shape change occurs, everything is very strange here. To begin the transformation, the Kitsune must carefully place the bundle of cane on his head.
Japanese legend claims that in the case of turning into a woman or a girl, Kitsune also becomes the owner of their mind, such as, for example, capturing human body demonic entity.
All this points to the apparently bizarre nature of this incredible werewolf. Of course, there is no doubt that much of this is just myth, legend and folklore.
But maybe there is some truth in all this? We shouldn't completely discount the intriguing ancient stories of the mysterious mimic.
Japanese tattoos carry deep meaning and on them you can get to know the culture of the country, learn legends and ancient tales. From today's post, you will learn a lot of interesting things about the unusual nine-tailed fox and the divine animal Ki-rin.
The meaning of the nine-tailed fox tattoo
The nine-tailed fox is a unique creature that is both evil and sacred.
Legends say that an adult creature at the age of 50 can take on a human form. When she reaches the age of 100, she prefers to disguise herself as a femme fatale or an oracle. It can also become a man, but only in order to enter into an alliance with a woman.
This continues for quite a long time, and by the age of a thousand years, the fox receives the highest rank. At this point, she has nine tails growing, and the fur becomes golden. The howl of such a fox is similar to the cry of a baby, and it is an evil creature because it can prey on people. Despite this, the use of the flesh of such a fox allows you to protect yourself from adversity and curses. All this testifies to the sacred status of the animal.
In ancient China, the nine-tailed fox was embodied in a young and very beautiful woman, which was the entrance to the royal chambers. It was she who convinced the king of the need to organize wasteful feasts almost every day, which ultimately led to the overthrow of the Yin dynasty. After that, the cunning fox destroyed several more countries and only then ended up in the Land of the Rising Sun.
During her stay in Japan, the face again turned into a woman of indescribable beauty and bewitched the Emperor Toba, who eventually lost the ability to rule the country and spent the rest of his days in bed. The disguise was revealed by accident when they saw a bluish glow emanating from the body of the fox. The storyteller Yin-Yang killed her with a magic mirror and restored peace in the country.
These stories testify to the cunning of the Nine-Tailed Fox, but tattoos with her image have gained popularity. The thing is that 9 is the largest of the monosyllabic numbers, and nine tails are a symbol of future prosperity. This means that even in the most dark times we must not forget that in the future a person can expect good luck and happiness.
The meaning of the tattoo Ki-rin (Ki-rin)
The divine animal Ki-rin is sacred to the people of Japan. It is a symbol of general well-being and prosperity. People greatly honor and love Ki-rin, it is treated better than other sacred animals.
It is comparable in size to a deer, but it has horse legs and an ox tail. The head of the animal looks longer than necessary, as if the skull of a wolf was crowned with horns. The body of the creature is covered with scales, like a dragon. According to legends, Ki-rin lives 1-2 thousand years, for this reason the animal has become a symbol of prosperity, well-being and peace.
Ki-rin has a good disposition and is also one of the wisest creatures. The animal never harms insects or even plants. Despite this, it can protect itself from enemies. If the Ki-rin is attacked by someone, the creature will use fire that it spit out directly from its mouth as self-defense.
The masculine is Ki and the feminine is Rin. Only males have a horn. By the way, the cries of male and female representatives of this animal can bring good luck and happiness. In the spring, Ki and Rin look for a mate in order to exchange feelings and give birth to new offspring. These animals do not need to physically mate, they only need to exchange ch’i with each other for fertilization.
Ki-Rin can only live in a country whose rulers are of a very good nature. These animals were first described many hundreds of years ago and are considered very ancient.
Tattoos with this creature are often surrounded by a pattern that repeats its colors and complements the overall picture. It is believed that Ki-Rin will bring happiness to its owner, and will also help in good deeds throughout life.
/Anatoly Bulavin/Foxes in Japanese are called "kitsune", which means "child from the one who comes at night", and they are also considered messengers of the world of spirits and demons. Japan is a mysterious country. Here, high technologies are closely intertwined with the world of the mysterious and unknown, here “houses” built for spirits are adjacent to highways, bus stops are guarded by ancient stone idols, here at any moment, carelessly stepping aside, you can get from the noisy metropolis to the kingdom of spirits . As a rule, the gates to the abode of spirits and demons are locked and are under strict guard, but there are no such locks that could not be opened. And often guests who live "on the other side" drop into the world of big cities and the latest technologies. Having met a werewolf on the street, it is quite possible to make a mistake and take him for a person. Japanese werewolves are not like European ones. These are not people who, with the help of witchcraft, take the form of an animal. These are guests from other worlds, spirits in the form of animals, turning into a person, a tree, and even into some objects. Fox - Kitsune, perhaps the most famous type of such werewolves. They have been living next to man for thousands of years, bringing with them sometimes troubles, and sometimes happiness.
Kitsune is the same charming temptress fox about which many legends are composed. It is believed that many historical figures descended from kitsune, or they themselves were. Such was the mystic and occultist Abe no Seimei, the spirit hunter of the Heian era, the son of kitsune Kuzuha.
The nine-tailed fox was the famous Tamamao no Mae (or Mei), an amazingly beautiful concubine of Emperor Konoe. During her lifetime, Mei brought a lot of trouble to the East, and no one guessed that she was a “kitsune” until the emperor ordered that dogs be set on her for some kind of offense. Only then did the cunning fox give herself away. Kitsune werewolves become either the foxes themselves after death, or the souls of people who were not clean before heaven. At the beginning of his afterlife kitsune are content with a single tail and cannot take the form of a person. When they are 50 or 100 years old, they reach maturity. Now they can already turn into a person, but not everyone knows how to hide their tail, and therefore their deception is easy to reveal. Over time, when a kitsune has five or even seven tails, they are already learning magic, they can induce havoc, send madness, become invisible.
Sometimes, on the contrary, they bring good luck. And only those werewolves, whose age is equal to thousands of years, get nine tails, and their "fur coat" becomes white. The Japanese call these werewolves "kyuubi", or heavenly foxes. Kyuubis can control natural phenomena, time and take people to other worlds, from where they soon return as deep old people. But, as a rule, such foxes rarely harm people.
The attitude towards charming and intelligent creatures from another world among the Japanese is twofold. It's a mixture of adoration and fear. The kitsune has a complex character that can make a demon like best friend human and mortal enemy. Depending on who exactly the fox is going to communicate with, she can take on any form - beautiful girl, a pretty young man, a wise old man or an innocent child. They are able to maintain a smart conversation, they know a lot about almost any profession, in addition, kitsune are the best merchants. They are very sexy, which is why the Japanese believe that many geisha are werewolves. Kitsune do not disdain vampirism - both energy and ordinary. Foxes like to send pestilence or madness on people they don’t like, they can inhabit their bodies and even drive them to suicide. Japanese psychiatrists still have one form mental disorder called "kitsune-tsuki" - a disease sent by foxes. It is considered a very bad omen to see such a werewolf in a dream. 
And at the same time, there is no sweeter bride and wife than kitsune. Having fallen in love, they are ready for any sacrifice for their chosen one. In addition, silver foxes bring good luck in trade, and white and silver foxes generally swore an oath to the deity of cereals, Inari, to help all mankind. It will be very lucky for those people who, by chance, suddenly settle on the sacred land for kitsune. Such happy families are called “kitsune-mochi”: foxes are obliged to follow them everywhere, protect them from all sorts of troubles, and serious illnesses await anyone who offends kitsune-mochi.
By the way, foxes also suffered a lot from people. For a long time, the Japanese believed that a person who tasted kitsune meat becomes strong and wise. If someone became seriously ill, relatives wrote a letter to the deity Inari, but if the patient did not recover after that, foxes were mercilessly exterminated throughout the district.
The Japanese believe that today kitsune can be found everywhere. They have adapted well to modern life, their knowledge of human nature, numerous talents, natural charm and the ability to deceive allow them to feel at ease even in a metropolis. They can be found in the field of finance, art. Kitsune are said to be brilliant poets and scientists. But how to determine that in front of you is a werewolf fox, and not a man? They say it's easy. You just need to be more careful. Kitsune are always beautiful and smart, they try to attract the attention of the opposite sex and often behave somewhat frivolously.
Young werewolves do not know how to hide their tails with the help of magic spells, therefore, girls who love wide skirts to the floor can fall under suspicion. It’s more difficult with more mature kitsune: they can fool anyone’s head, but the mirror usually gives them away - they are reflected as they really are, in other words, mirrors convey their true essence. This is how the mother of the mystic and occultist Abe no Seimei mentioned above found herself.
Kitsune are afraid of dogs, and dogs hate werewolves. Therefore, the Japanese consider it suspicious if their new acquaintance not only does not keep dogs at home, but also speaks negatively about them, and on the street any dog shows his teeth at him. Believe the legends about werewolves or not, it's up to you. But every Japanese knows the love story of a man and a fox, which laid the foundation for the Kitsune family, whose descendants still live in Japan...
Residents of various regions of Japan are always excited about the appearance of a rare black fox in their area. Animals are often found on the island of Hokkaido. Local residents even manage to film the animal on a video camera. Zoo representatives claim that the animal could have mutated or is a cross between a red fox and a silver fox, which were once imported from Russia and bred for fur, but later fled and ran wild. Now you understand why the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun are so excited... 
Were-foxes were the traditional heroes of folk tales and became part of the mythology. But in China, they remained folklore and in literature based on folklore. The most famous work about werefoxes was the collection of short stories “Fox Charms” by Pu Songling. The image of a fox - a werewolf migrated to other countries that were influenced by Chinese culture. He left the deepest trace in Japan and Korea. 
It is believed that werefoxes arrived in Japan from China in the middle of the 7th century and soon not only deeply "settled" in all areas of Japanese folklore, but also achieved what their Chinese ancestors failed to do - Kitsune began to be perceived as part of the official religious system. However, having crossed the ocean, the Japanese "fox spirits" lost some of the features characteristic of their Chinese counterparts. Kitsune cannot cause a poltergeist, they very rarely live under the same roof with a person, do not make friends with people, do not allow them to enter their world. At the same time, regardless of whether it is a demon or a benevolent spirit, Japanese legends never describe the world and life of the Kitsune itself.
Another very important difference between Kitsune and Chinese foxes is that some types of Kitsune, namely, servants of Inari, have the ability to exorcise demons, heal diseases and perform rites of purification and liberation of the soul. That is why, in Shinto shrines, images of foxes are always decorated with red ribbons.
Were-foxes in Chinese mythology.
In China, the cult of "fox spirits" has reached the greatest distribution. Chinese foxes are great scientists, libertines, devoted lovers, incomparable seducers, tricksters, poltergeists, drinking buddies, avengers. They always live in direct interaction with a person and perform a moralizing function.
Unlike Japanese Kitsune, Chinese foxes can transform into any person, but never into animals or objects. Chinese philosophy explains this by saying that the essence of the transformation of the fox is to comprehend wisdom and achieve immortality. It is believed that only a person knows the way to these secrets, so it makes no sense for a fox to transform into a cat or a stone.
Chinese mythology also distinguishes several types of "fox spirits":
Hu is actually a fox.
Hujing - fox spirit literal translation"beautiful fox"
Huxian is an immortal fox.
Jingwei Hu (Jiuweihu) is a fox with nine tails. It was believed that a person who ate her meat could not be afraid of poisons. Her voice was like the cry of a newborn baby.
Long Zhi is a nine-headed and nine-tailed cannibal fox.
Laohu is an old fox. In China, it is believed that foxes must reach a considerable age before they can turn into a human, so technically, all fox spirits are old. However, Laohu is a fox, very old even by such standards. In addition, Laohu is the only fox species that does not carry a sexual function or connotation, which is most likely due to significant age. There are theories that the Laohu are asexual.
In Japanese folklore, these animals have great knowledge, long life, and magical powers. Chief among them is the ability to take the form of a human being; the fox, according to legend, learns to do this after reaching a certain age (usually a hundred years, although in some legends - fifty). Other abilities commonly attributed to Kitsune include the ability to possess other people's bodies, exhale or otherwise create fire, appear in other people's dreams, take the form of any animal or object, and create illusions so complex that they are almost indistinguishable from reality. Some of the tales go further, attributing to Kitsune the ability to warp space and time, drive people crazy, or take on such inhuman or fantastic forms as trees of indescribable height or a second moon in the sky. Occasionally, Kitsune are credited with characteristics reminiscent of vampires: they feed on the life or spiritual energy of the people they come into contact with. Sometimes Kitsune are described guarding a round or pear-shaped object (hoshi no tama, that is, "star stone (ball)"); it is stated that whoever takes possession of this ball can force Kitsune to help himself; one theory states that Kitsune "store" some of their magic in this orb after they transform. It is believed that Kitsune are obliged to keep their promises, otherwise they will have to suffer the punishment of lowering their rank or power level.
Kitsune are associated with both Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. In Shinto, Kitsune are associated with Inari. Initially, foxes were messengers (tsukai) of this deity, but now ideas about them have become so similar that Inari is sometimes depicted as a fox. Inari is a deity of indeterminate gender, the patron of rice fields and entrepreneurship. Near his shrines, many figurines of foxes are exhibited, and history recalls that a long time ago, live foxes were kept on the territory of the temples. How did the foxes join Inari's servants? There is a legend about this. Not far from Kyoto lived a pair of silver foxes with their offspring. One day - it is said that it was during the Koin era - the whole family of foxes went to Fushimi. There they offered their services of "love and justice." God Inari accepted the family into the ranks of his servants. The kitsune recited ten oaths that the holy foxes must fulfill ever since. Since then, the silver fox has been Inari's messenger.
In Buddhism, Kitsune gained fame thanks to the Shingon school of secret Buddhism, popular in Japan in the 9th-10th centuries, one of whose main deities, Dakini, was depicted riding a fox riding through the sky.
In folklore, Kitsune is a kind of yokai, that is, a demon. In this context, the word "kitsune" is often translated as "fox spirit". However, this does not necessarily mean that they are non-living creatures or are something other than foxes. The word "spirit" this case used in the Eastern sense, reflecting the state of knowledge or insight. Thus, it is believed that any fox that lives long enough can become a "fox spirit". There are two main types of kitsune: the myobu, or divine fox, often associated with Inari, and the nogitsune, or wild fox (literally, "field fox"), often, but not always, described as evil, with malicious intent.
Kitsune can have up to nine tails. In general, it is believed that the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Some sources even state that Kitsune grows an extra tail every hundred or thousand years of its life. However, the foxes seen in fairy tales almost always have one, five, or nine tails.
When Kitsune get nine tails, their fur becomes silver, white, or gold. These kyuubi no kitsune ("nine-tailed foxes") gain the power of infinite insight.
In some stories, Kitsune have difficulty hiding their tail in human form (usually foxes in such stories have only one tail, which may be an indication of their weakness and inexperience). An attentive hero can expose a drunken or careless fox that has turned into a man by looking through her clothes through her tail.
One of the famous Kitsune is also the great guardian spirit Kyuubi. This is a guardian and protector who helps young "lost" souls on their way in the current incarnation. Kyuubi usually stays for a short time, only for a few days, but if attached to one soul, it can accompany her for years. This is a rare type of Kitsune, rewarding the chosen ones with his presence and help.
On the other hand, people in Japan still believe that foxes can become guardians of entire families. It is said that in the province of Shimane, families called kitsune-mori are most often found. Foxes surround such families with specific protection. Invisible guards follow their masters wherever they go, besides guarding their homes and fields and making sure that no one harms them. They can drive conscious or unconscious offenders crazy or take their lives.
In the province of Shimane, they believe that a simple person cannot become the owner of foxes. Their owners are closed clans, and the rights to fox services are inherited. The only chance is joining a kitsune-mori family through marriage, or buying land or a house under the protection of a Kitsune. The fox guard has its good and bad sides, like everything else in this world. People do not like such neighbors, but at the same time they do not dare to harm them. Protected foxes are, as a rule, isolated people, and friendship with them cannot be called the best.
In Japanese folklore, Kitsune are often described as tricksters, sometimes very evil. Kitsune tricksters use their magical powers for pranks: those that are shown in a benevolent light tend to target overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful people, while the more cruel ones tend to torment poor merchants, farmers, and Buddhist monks.
Especially often Kitsune are described as mistresses. In such stories, there is usually a young man and a fox disguised as a woman. Sometimes Kitsune is credited with the role of a seductress, but often such stories are more romantic. In them, a young man usually marries a beauty (not knowing that it is a fox) and gives great importance her devotion. Many of these stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of the wife's fox essence, after which Kitsune must leave her husband.
The oldest of famous stories about fox wives, which gives the words "kitsune", is an exception in this sense. Here the fox takes the form of a woman and marries, after which the couple, after spending several happy years together, have several children. The fox essence of the wife is suddenly revealed when, in the presence of many witnesses, she is frightened by the dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true form. The woman is preparing to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying, “Now that we have been together for so many years and you have given me several children, I cannot just forget you. Please, let's go and sleep." The fox agrees, and since then returns to her husband every night in the form of a woman, leaving in the morning in the form of a fox. After that, they began to call her kitsune, since in classical Japanese kitsu-ne means "let's go and sleep", while ki-tsune means "always coming."
The offspring of human-Kitsune marriages are usually credited with special physical and/or supernatural properties. The specific nature of these properties, however, varies greatly from one source to another. Among those who, according to legend, had such extraordinary abilities is the famous one, who was considered (half-demon), the son of a man and a kitsune.
In various legends and tales, you can find a number of "subspecies" of Kitsune:
Bakemono-Kitsune are magical or demonic foxes, such as Reiko, Kiko or Koryo, that is, foxes that do not have a tangible form.
Byakko - "white fox"; meeting with her is a very good omen, since it is believed that this particular fox serves the goddess Inari and acts as a messenger of the Gods. It should be noted right away that the spelling of the name Byakko, referring to the fox and the same name, but referring to the Divine Tiger, the lord of the West, is different, so do not confuse them or associate them in any way.
Genko is the black fox. Meeting her is also usually a good sign.
Kiko is a ghostly fox, a variation of Reiko.
Koryo is a "chaser fox", a variation of Reiko.
Kuko is an "air fox", a very insidious creature. In Japanese mythology, it is placed on a par with Tengu (Japanese variety of trolls)
Nogitsune - "wild fox"; in addition, this word is used to distinguish between "good" and "bad" foxes. Sometimes the Japanese use "Kitsune" when talking about a "good" fox, Inari's messenger and
"Nogitsune", for foxes who commit pranks and deceive people. However, this is not a demon, but rather a mischievous, prankster, trickster.
Reiko - "ghostly fox"; it cannot be unequivocally attributed to the forces of evil, but this spirit is definitely not good.
Tenko or Amagitsune - "divine fox". A kitsune that has reached the age of 1000 years. A distinctive feature of Tenko is nine tails (and sometimes a golden skin). She is sometimes referred to as the Divine Patron
Tamamo-No-Mae is a demonic version of Tenko. Deceptively beautiful, very aggressive and strong demon, one of the most famous demon foxes in Japanese folklore.
Shakko - "red fox". Can refer to both the forces of good and the forces of evil; the same as Kitsune.
In Korean mythology, we also meet a thousand-year-old fox with nine tails - Gumiho. However, unlike Kitsune or Khujdin, the Korean werefox is always female and always a demon. Gumiho is found in legends as a seductress, an insidious wife, sometimes even as a succubus or vampire. One thing is always the same - the goal of the Gumiho is to kill the victim. This is the only type of eastern werefox that can kill the victim with his own hands.
To dispel some misconceptions about oriental werefoxes:
– The fact that foxes are strongly associated with the energy of Yin (feminine) does not mean at all that they are all female. It is believed that "fox spirits" are feminine, but this does not mean that they are all women. In addition, the femininity of the human incarnations of male foxes is quite controversial.
– Despite the fact that many werefoxes are malevolent creatures, they (with the exception of Gumiho) cannot cause direct physical harm to a person. It is in their power to impose a curse, deceive, set fire to the house, but they are not able to injure a person with their own hands. It is because of this that, being caught, they are defenseless in front of people and often die. However, they can commit sexual abuse of a person. Apparently, in the East this is not regarded as physical harm.
– “Fox Spirit”, contrary to popular belief, is not a special kind of nature spirit. They can be any fox. It all depends on how long she lives. In Eastern mythology, the volume of magical powers is directly related to the number of years lived. In the same way, the number of tails indicates exactly the age of the fox. It is believed that a fox gains 1 tail for every century it lives (sometimes a fox lives with one tail until it gains enough strength to become nine-tailed at once). There are no more than 9 tails in werefoxes.
- Children born from a fox and a man will be people, although endowed with supernatural powers. They do not turn into foxes and do not have fox atavisms. It is worth noting an interesting detail - the children of a fox and a person have considerable physical strength, although the foxes themselves, as already noted, are much weaker than a man and unable to defeat him
physically.
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Kitsune are mysterious, unusual, and very charming creatures. Integral characters of Japanese folklore and literature, they have the features of many magical creatures at once. If we single out three main parallels in Western culture, this is a combination of the qualities of an elf-faerie, a werewolf, and a vampire. They can act both as carriers of pure evil and as messengers of divine powers. But they prefer romantic adventures of varying degrees of seriousness, or just jokes and pranks in relation to human beings - sometimes, however, not shunning vampirism. And sometimes their stories are filled with tragic sentimentality, so beloved by the Japanese. Their patroness is the goddess Inari, in whose temples statues of foxes are certainly present. The attitude of the Japanese to kitsune is very similar to the attitude of the Irish to their fairies - a mixture of respect, fear, and sympathy. And they definitely stand out from other okabe, that is, Japanese magical creatures. Even tanuki, rather kitsune-like werewolf badgers, are not treated as deeply. And the Japanese cat werewolves usually specialize in pure vampirism, with little interest in other aspects of communication with humanity.
The image of a werewolf fox, a spirit fox, is quite widespread in Asia. But outside the Japanese islands, they almost always act as sharply negative and unsympathetic characters. In China and Korea, the fox is usually only interested in human blood. In the Land of the Rising Sun, the image of the werewolf fox is much more multifaceted, although even here they sometimes indulge in vampirism. Kiyoshi Nozaki, a well-known researcher of kitsune legends, proves in his works the autochthonous nature of Japanese legends about werefoxes. Whereas similar stories from the continent, in his opinion, only superimposed on top of those that existed from time immemorial antiquity - and gave sinister features to "originally Japanese friends of man". Like it or not, you be the judge - to me, kitsune are cute and interesting just the way they are. In all their contradictions, with a rather harmful, but deep and noble character. After all, Japanese culture, in contrast to continental, since the Heian era puts a person the higher, the more facets and contradictions in him. Integrity is good in combat, but in ordinary life it is a sign of primitivism, the Japanese believe. The origin of the word "kitsune" has two variants. The first - according to Nozaki, he brings him out of the ancient onomatopoeia of the barking of the fox "kitsu-kitsu". However, in modern language it is transmitted as "con-con". Another option is less scientific, but more romantic. It goes back to the first documented legend of kitsune, dating back to the early Asuka period - 538-710 AD. Ono, a resident of the Mino region, searched for a long time and could not find his ideal of female beauty. But one foggy evening, near a large wasteland (a common meeting place for fairies among the Celts), he unexpectedly met his dream. They got married and she bore him a son. But at the same time as the birth of his son, the dog Ono brought a puppy. The larger the puppy became, the more aggressively he treated the Lady from the Wasteland. She got scared and asked her husband to kill the dog. But he refused. One day the dog rushed at the Lady. She threw off her human form in horror, turned into a fox, and ran away. Ono, however, began to look for her and call: "You can be a fox - but I love you, and you are the mother of my son; you can come to me whenever you want." Lady Fox heard It, and since then every night she came to him in the form of a woman, and in the morning she fled into the wasteland in the form of a fox. Two versions of the translation of the word "kitsune" are derived from this legend. Either "kitsu ne", an invitation to spend the night together - Ono's call to his runaway wife; or "ki-tsune" - "always coming." The heavenly patroness of kitsune is the goddess of rice, Inari. Their statues are an integral part of the temples in her honor. Moreover, some sources indicate that Inari herself is the highest kitsune. At the same time, in fact, the gender of Inari no Kami is not defined - as well as kitsune in general as such. Inari is also able to appear in the form of a warrior or a wise old man, a young girl or a beautiful woman. She is usually accompanied by two snow-white foxes with nine tails. Inari is often associated with the bodhisattva Dakini-Ten, one of the patronesses of the Shingon Order, one of the main bearers of the Vajrayana-Kongojo ideas in Japan. Of these, in particular, the shinobi schools of the provinces of Iga and Koga grew up - and the way of life and service of the ninja is very close to kitsune. Inari is especially popular in Kyushu, where an annual festival is held in her honor. At the festival, the main dish is fried tofu, bean curd (something like our cheesecakes) - it is in this form that both kitsune and quite ordinary Japanese foxes prefer it. There are temples and chapels dedicated to kitsune as such. like elves british isles, "small people", kitsune live in the hills and wastelands, joke with people, sometimes take them to a magical land - from where they can return as deep old men in a few days - or, on the contrary, find themselves in the future, having spent decades in hours. Having taken human form, kitsune marry or marry people, have offspring from them. Moreover, children from marriages of foxes and people inherit magical abilities and many talents. In the Celtic world, this topic is also very popular - remember that the family legends of the McCloud clan trace their genealogy to the marriage of the founder of the clan with an elf girl; and the name of the oldest Scottish clan, the Fergusons, comes from the Old Gaelic "son of the Fae." Or the famous story about Thomas "The Rhymer" Lermont, who lived for several years in the country of fairies, who became the "Scottish Nostradamus". His descendant was, for example, M.Yu. Lermontov. characteristic feature related kitsune with elves are "kitsune-bi" (Fox Lights) - just like the Celtic fairies, foxes can accidentally or intentionally indicate their presence at night with mysterious lights and music in the wastelands and hills. Moreover, no one guarantees the safety of a person who dares to go to check their nature. Legends describe the source of these lights as "hoshi no tama" (Star Pearls), white balls that look like pearls or gems with magical powers. Kitsune always have such pearls with them, in fox form they keep them in their mouths, or wear them around their necks. Kitsune highly value these artifacts, and in exchange for returning them, they may agree to fulfill the desires of a person. But, again, it is difficult to guarantee the safety of the insolent after returning - and in case of refusal to return the pearl, the kitsune can enlist his friends to help. However, a promise given in such a situation to a person, like a fairy, must be fulfilled by the kitsune - otherwise it risks being demoted in position and status. Fox statues in Inari temples almost always have such balls on them. Kitsune in gratitude, or in exchange for the return of their pearls, can give a person a lot. However, you should not ask them for material objects - after all, they are great masters of illusions. Money will turn into leaves, gold bars into pieces of bark, and gems into ordinary ones. But the intangible gifts of foxes are very valuable. First of all, Knowledge, of course - but this is not for everyone .. however, foxes may well bestow health, longevity, good luck in business and safety on the road. Like werewolves, kitsune are able to change human and animal forms. However, they are not tied to the phases of the moon, and are capable of much deeper transformations than ordinary werewolves. If in the form of a fox it is difficult for a person to understand whether this form is the same or not, then the human form of a fox can take on a different one. Moreover, according to some legends, kitsune are able to change gender and age if necessary - presenting either a young girl or a gray-haired old man. But to take shape human being a young kitsune is capable only from 50-100 years old. Like vampires, kitsune sometimes drink human blood and kill people. Fairy elves, however, do the same thing - and, as a rule, both of them take harsh measures in order to take revenge for intentional or accidental insult. Although sometimes they do it and, as they say, out of love for art. Sometimes, however, foxes are limited to energy vampirism - feeding on the life forces of those around them. To achieve their goals, kitsune are capable of much. For example, they can take the form of a specific person. For example, the kabuki theater play Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees tells about a kitsune named Genkuro. The mistress of the famous warlord Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Lady Shizuka, had a magic drum made in ancient times from the skins of kitsune - namely Genkuro's parents. He set himself the goal of returning the drum, and commit the remains of his parents to the ground. To do this, the fox turned into one of the commander's confidants - but the young kitsune made a mistake, and was revealed. Genkurō explained the reason for his entry into the castle, Yoshitsune and Shizuka returned the drum to him. In gratitude, he granted Yoshitsune his magical patronage. Some kitsune are natural disasters for those around them. Thus, Tamamo no Mae, the heroine of the noo plays "The Dead Stone" and the kabuki plays "The Beautiful Fox-Witch", leaves a trail of disasters and cruel tricks on her way from India to Japan through China. In the end, she dies when meeting with the Buddhist saint Gemmo - and is turned into a cursed stone. Kitsune like to arrange dirty tricks for those who deserve them - however, they may well arrange problems for a virtuous peasant, a noble samurai. They love to seduce ascetic monks, leading them astray to nirvana - however, on other paths they can provide help and support. So, the famous kitsune Kyuubi helps seeking truth in their search, helping them to realize the tasks of their incarnation. The offspring of kitsune from marriages with people themselves usually become mystical personalities, walking reserved and dark paths. Such was Abe no Seimei, the famous occultist of the Heian era - whose image is similar both to the Breton Merlin, and to the images of two Irish Patricks - Saint and Dark (there is not so much difference between them, because the Celts, like the Japanese, are not disposed to the Manichaean opposition between good and evil). His mother was a kitsune Kuzunoha, who lived in a human family for a long time - but in the end was exposed and forced to go into the forest. If some sources claim that Seimei had no offspring, then others call his descendants a number of Japanese mystics of subsequent times. For China, legends about the marriages of people and foxes are uncharacteristic, as well as stories about their mutual understanding in general. Bad sign. Apparently, the independence and individualism of foxes does not fit well with the Chinese ideal of collectivism and an egalitarian society. Whereas in Japan, the personal beginning began to be valued back in the Heian era, which is a unique phenomenon for non-European culture. Because of this, Japanese civilization resembles Chinese no more than antique greece and Rome to Egypt or Mesopotamia, from which they originally borrowed most of their culture. If Chinese philosophy is interested in the balance of interests of the family and the state, then the conflict between the individual and the corporation-clan has always been characteristically Japanese. Therefore, even ancient Japanese books are read in a very modern way - they clearly show a personality, complex and contradictory. Chinese literature has always dealt with social types and patterns of behavior. Therefore, perhaps, the foxes in it looked like an unequivocal evil - they denied community and collectivism with all their behavior. And at the same time, they were very fond of taking on the appearance of officials for their pranks. A very funny and revealing story about a fox document, told by the Chinese poet Niu Jiao. Official Wang, being on a business trip to the capital, one evening saw two foxes near a tree. They stood on their hind legs and laughed merrily. One of them was holding a piece of paper in her paw. Wang started yelling at the foxes to leave - but the kitsune ignored his outrage. Then Wang threw a stone at one of the foxes, and hit the eye of the one holding the document. The fox dropped the paper, and both disappeared into the forest. Wang took the document, but it turned out to be written in a language unknown to him. Then Wang went to a tavern and began to tell everyone about the incident. During his story, a man with a bandage on his forehead entered and asked to see the paper. However, the owner of the inn noticed the tail peeking out from under the robe, and the fox hurried to retreat. A few more times the foxes tried to return the document while Wang was in the capital - but each time unsuccessfully. When he went back to his district, on the way, with no small surprise, he met a whole caravan of his relatives. They reported that he himself had sent them a letter stating that he had received a profitable appointment in the capital, and invited them to come there. In joy, they quickly sold all their property, and hit the road. Of course, when Van was shown the letter, it turned out to be a blank sheet of paper. Wang's family had to go back at great loss. Some time later, Wang returned to his brother, who was considered dead in a distant province. They began to drink wine and tell stories from their lives. When Wang got to the story of the fox document, his brother asked to see it. Seeing the paper, the brother grabbed it, saying "finally!" turned into a fox and jumped out the window. The question of the origin of kitsune is complex and little defined. Most sources agree that some people become kitsune after death - those who did not lead the most righteous, secretive and incomprehensible way of life to others. After the birth of a kitsune, it grows and gains strength. Kitsune reaches adulthood from 50-100 years old, at the same time he acquires the ability to change shape. The power level of a werefox depends on age and rank - which is determined by the number of tails and the color of the skin. A young kitsune, as a rule, engages in pranks among people, and also enters into romantic relationships with them of varying degrees of seriousness - one-tailed foxes almost always act in such stories. In addition, very young kitsune often give themselves away by their inability to hide their tail - apparently, while still learning transformations, they are often betrayed by a shadow or reflection even at a higher level. So, for example, Kuzunoha, the mother of Abe no Seimei, discovered herself. With age, foxes acquire new ranks - with three, five, seven and nine tails. Interestingly, three-tailed foxes are especially rare - perhaps they are serving somewhere else during this period (or mastering the art of transformation to perfection .. :)). Five and seven-tailed kitsune, often black in color, usually appear in front of a person when they need it, without hiding their essence. The Nine-Tails are the elite kitsune, at least 1000 years old. Nine tailed foxes usually possess silver, white, or gold skins, and a host of high magical abilities. They are part of the retinue of Inari no Kami, serve as its emissaries, or live on their own. However, some even at this level do not refrain from committing small and large dirty tricks - the famous Tamamo no Mae, who terrified Asia from India to Japan, was just a nine-tailed kitsune. Nine-tailed kitsune, according to legend, was turned at the end of his earthly life by Koan, another famous mystic. In general, kitsune in Japanese mysticism are divided into two categories: those in the service of Inari "Tenko" (Heavenly Foxes), and "Nogitsune" (Free Foxes). However, it seems that the line between them is very thin and conditional. Sometimes kitsune are believed to be able to inhabit the bodies of people - causing effects similar to the Christian "demonic possession". According to some reports, in this way foxes restore their strength after injuries or exhaustion. Sometimes the "movement of the fox", Kitsunetsuki (a phenomenon recognized medical science, but poorly explained and referred to as "nationally determined syndromes"), manifests itself more subtly - in a sudden love for rice, tofu and poultry, the desire to hide your eyes from the interlocutor, increased sexual activity, nervousness and emotional coldness. However, other sources describe this phenomenon as a manifestation of "fox blood". In the old days, such people, according to the eternal human tradition, were dragged to the stake - especially if the exorcism did not help, and the fox was not expelled; and their relatives were obstructed and often forced to leave their homes. According to Japanese physiognomic ideas, "fox blood" can also be detected in appearance. Suspicion of incomplete human nature was caused by people with thick hair, close-set eyes, a narrow face, an elongated and snub-nosed ("fox") nose, and high cheekbones. Mirrors and shadows were considered the most reliable way to detect kitsune (however, they almost did not work in relation to higher kitsune and half-breeds). As well as the fundamental and mutual dislike of kitsune and their descendants for dogs. The kitsune's magical abilities grow as they grow older and gain new levels in the hierarchy. If the capabilities of a one-tailed young kitsune are very limited, then they then acquire the capabilities of powerful hypnosis, creating complex illusions and entire illusory spaces. With the help of their magical pearls, kitsune are able to defend themselves with fire and lightning. Over time, the ability to fly, become invisible and take any form is acquired. Higher kitsune have power over space and time, are able to take magical forms - dragons, giant trees to the sky, the second moon in the sky; they know how to induce madness on people and massively subordinate them to their will.
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Like tanukis, statues are erected to foxes, especially at Inari shrines.
"Types" and names of kitsune:
- Bakemono-Kitsune are magical or demonic foxes, such as Reiko, Kiko or Korio, that is, some kind of immaterial fox.
- Byakko - "white fox", a very good omen, usually has a sign of service to Inari and acts as a messenger of the Gods.
- Genko is the black fox. Usually a good sign.
- Yako or Yakan - almost any fox, the same as Kitsune.
- Kiko is a "spiritual fox", a variation of Reiko.
- Corio is a "chasing fox", a variation of Reiko.
- Kuko or Kuyuko (in the sense of "y" with an overtone "yu") - "air fox", extremely bad and harmful. Holds an equal place with Tengu in the pantheon.
- Nogitsune - "wild fox", at the same time is used to distinguish between "good" and "bad" foxes. Sometimes the Japanese use "Kitsune" to name a good messenger fox from Inari and "Nogitsune" - foxes who commit pranks and cunning with people. However, this is not a real demon, but rather a mischievous, prankster and trickster. Their behavior is reminiscent of Loki from Norse mythology.
- Reiko is a "ghost fox", sometimes not on the side of Evil, but definitely not good.
- Tenko - "divine fox". A kitsune who has reached the age of 1000 years. Usually they have 9 tails (and sometimes a golden skin), but each of them is either very "bad", or benevolent and wise, like a messenger of Inari.
- Shakko - "red fox". It can be both on the side of Good and on the side of Evil, the same as Kitsune.
KITSUNEKitsune (Jap. 狐) is the Japanese name for a fox. In Japan, there are two subspecies of foxes: the Japanese red fox (hondo kitsune living in Honshu; Vulpes japonica) and the Hokkaido fox (kitsune whale living in Hokkaido; Vulpes schrencki).
The image of a werewolf fox is typical only for Far Eastern mythology. Originating in China in the era of ancient times, it was borrowed by the Koreans and the Japanese. In China, werefoxes are called hu (huli) jing, in Korea - kumiho, and in Japan - kitsune. Photo (Creative Commons license): gingiber
Folklore
In Japanese folklore, these animals have great knowledge, long life, and magical powers. Chief among them is the ability to take the form of a human being; the fox, according to legend, learns to do this after reaching a certain age (usually a hundred years, although in some legends - fifty). Kitsune usually take the form of a seductive beauty, a pretty young girl, but sometimes they turn into old people.It should be noted that in Japanese mythology, there was a mixture of indigenous Japanese beliefs that characterized the fox as an attribute of the god Inari (see, for example, the Legend - “Fox-weight weight”) and Chinese, who considered foxes to be werewolves, a family close to demons.
Other abilities commonly attributed to kitsune include the ability to possess other people's bodies, exhale or otherwise create fire, appear in other people's dreams, and the ability to create illusions so complex that they are almost indistinguishable from reality.
Some of the tales go further, talking about kitsune with the ability to warp space and time, drive people crazy, or take on such inhuman or fantastic forms as trees of indescribable height or a second moon in the sky. Occasionally, kitsune are credited with characteristics reminiscent of vampires: they feed on the life or spiritual energy of people with whom they come into contact.
Sometimes kitsune are described guarding a round or pear-shaped object (hoshi no tama, i.e. "star ball"); it is claimed that the one who took possession of this ball can force the kitsune to help himself; one theory claims that kitsune "store" some of their magic in this ball after the transformation. Kitsune are required to keep their promises, otherwise they will have to suffer the punishment of lowering their rank or power level.
Kitsune are associated with both Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. In Shinto, kitsune are associated with Inari, the patron deity of rice fields and entrepreneurship. Initially, foxes were messengers (tsukai) of this deity, but now the difference between them is so blurred that Inari himself is sometimes depicted as a fox. In Buddhism, they gained fame thanks to the Shingon school of secret Buddhism, popular in Japan in the 9th-10th centuries, one of whose main deities, Dakini, was depicted riding a fox riding through the sky.
In folklore, a kitsune is a kind of yokai, that is, a demon. In this context, the word "kitsune" is often translated as "fox spirit". However, this does not necessarily mean that they are not living beings or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in this case is used in the Eastern sense, reflecting the state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that has lived long enough can thus become a "fox spirit". There are two main types of kitsune: the myobu, or divine fox, often associated with Inari, and the nogitsune, or wild fox (literally, "field fox"), often, but not always, described as evil, with malicious intent.
A kitsune can have up to nine tails. In general, it is believed that the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Some sources even state that the kitsune grows an extra tail every hundred or thousand years of its life. However, the foxes seen in fairy tales almost always have one, five, or nine tails.
ONE TAIL =
In some stories, kitsune have difficulty hiding their tail in human form (usually foxes in such stories have only one tail, which may be an indication of the weakness and inexperience of the fox). An attentive hero can expose a drunken or careless fox that has turned into a man by looking through her clothes through her tail.
TWO TAILS ==
THREE TAILS ===
FIVE TAILS =====
NINE TAILS =========
When kitsune get nine tails, their fur becomes silver, white, or gold. These kyuubi no kitsune ("nine-tailed foxes") gain the power of infinite insight. Similarly, it is said in Korea that a fox that has lived for a thousand years turns into a kumiho (literally "nine-tailed fox"), but the Korean fox is always portrayed as evil, unlike the Japanese fox, which can be either benevolent or malevolent. Chinese folklore also has "fox spirits" (Huli jing) in many ways similar to kitsune, including the possibility of nine tails.
One of the famous Kitsune is also the great guardian spirit Kyuubi. This is a guardian spirit and protector who helps young "lost" souls on their way in the current incarnation. Kyuubi usually stays for a short time, only for a few days, but if attached to one soul, it can accompany her for years. This is a rare type of kitsune, rewarding a few lucky ones with their presence and help.
The attitude towards charming and intelligent creatures from another world among the Japanese is twofold. It's a mixture of adoration and fear. The kitsune has a complex character that can make a demon both a man's best friend and a mortal enemy. Depending on who the fox is with
In Japanese folklore, kitsune are often described as tricksters, sometimes very evil. Trickster kitsune use their magical powers for pranks: those that are shown in a benevolent light tend to target overly proud samurai, greedy merchants and boastful people, while more cruel kitsune tend to torment poor merchants, farmers and Buddhist monks.It is believed that red foxes can set fire to dwellings, bringing fire in their paws. It is considered a very bad omen to see such a werewolf in a dream.
In addition, silver foxes bring good luck in trade, and white and silver foxes generally swore an oath to the deity of cereals, Inari, to help all mankind. It will be very lucky for those people who, by chance, suddenly settle on the sacred land for kitsune. Such happy families are called “kitsune-mochi”: foxes are obliged to follow them everywhere, protect them from all sorts of troubles, and serious illnesses await anyone who offends kitsune-mochi.
By the way, foxes also suffered a lot from people. For a long time, the Japanese believed that a person who tasted kitsune meat becomes strong and wise. If someone became seriously ill, relatives wrote a letter to the deity Inari, but if the patient did not recover after that, foxes were mercilessly exterminated throughout the district.Kitsune are also often described as mistresses. In such stories, there is usually a young man and a kitsune that has taken the form of a woman. Sometimes the role of a seductress is attributed to kitsune, but often such stories are rather romantic. In such stories, the young man usually marries a beautiful woman (not knowing that she is a fox) and attaches great importance to her devotion. Many of these stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of the fox essence, after which the kitsune must leave her husband.
And at the same time, there is no sweeter bride and wife than kitsune. Having fallen in love, they are ready for any sacrifice for their chosen one.
The oldest known fox wife story, which provides a folklore etymology for the word "kitsune", is an exception in this sense. Here the fox takes the form of a woman and marries a man, after which the two, after spending several happy years together, have several children. Her fox essence is unexpectedly revealed when, in the presence of many witnesses, she is frightened by a dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true form. Kitsune prepares to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying, "Now that we've been together for several years and you've given me several children, I can't just forget you. Please, let's go and sleep." The fox agrees, and since then returns to her husband every night in the form of a woman, leaving in the morning in the form of a fox. After that, they began to call her kitsune - because in classical Japanese kitsu-ne means "let's go and sleep", while ki-tsune means "always coming."
The offspring of marriages between humans and kitsune are usually credited with special physical and/or supernatural properties. The specific nature of these properties, however, varies greatly from one source to another. Among those who were thought to have such extraordinary abilities is the famous onmyouji Abe no Seimei, who was a hanyo (half-demon), the son of a man and a kitsune
Rain falling from a clear sky is sometimes called kitsune no yomeiri or "kitsune wedding".
Many people believe that kitsune came to Japan from China.
"Types" and names of kitsune:
Bakemono Kitsune- magical or demonic foxes, such as Reiko, Kiko or Koryo, that is, some kind of immaterial fox.
Byakko- "white fox", a very good omen, usually has a sign of service to Inari and acts as a messenger of the Gods.
Genko- "black Fox". Usually a good sign.
Yako or Yakan- almost any fox, the same as Kitsune.
Kiko- "spiritual fox", a type of Reiko.
Corio- "chasing fox", a type of Reiko.
Kuko or Kuyuko(in the sense of "u" with an overtone "u") - "air fox", extremely bad and harmful. Holds an equal place with Tengu in the pantheon.
Nogitsune- "wild fox", at the same time used to distinguish between "good" and "bad" foxes. Sometimes the Japanese use "Kitsune" to name a good messenger fox from Inari and "Nogitsune" - foxes that do pranks and cunning with people. However, this is not a real demon, but rather a mischievous, prankster and trickster. Their behavior is reminiscent of Loki from Norse mythology.
Reiko- "ghost fox", sometimes not on the side of Evil, but definitely not good.
Tenko- "divine fox". A kitsune who has reached the age of 1000 years. Usually they have 9 tails (and sometimes a golden skin), but each of them is either very "bad", or benevolent and wise, like a messenger of Inari.
Shakko- "Red fox". It can be both on the side of Good and on the side of Evil, the same as Kitsune.SOURCES:
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