So, who are kitsune? What are they? What do they own and where did they come from? In search of an answer to these questions, I scoured many sources of information and my labors were not in vain. And now you can evaluate the results of my labors.

Kitsune (狐) is the Japanese name for fox. In folklore, a kitsune is a type 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 creatures or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in this case is used in the Eastern sense, reflecting a state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that lives 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, having malicious intent. These creatures are found in various folklore works of the peoples of the East. For example, in Japan there are two subspecies of foxes: the Japanese red fox (Hondo kitsune, native to Honshu; Vulpes vulpes japonica) and the Hokkaido fox (Kita kitsune, native to Hokkaido; Vulpes vulpes schrencki). The image of the werewolf fox, the spirit fox, is very common in Asia. 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 famous researcher of legends about kitsune, proves in his works the autochthonous nature of Japanese legends about were-foxes. Whereas similar stories from the continent, in his opinion, only superimposed on top of those that had existed since time immemorial - and gave the “original Japanese friends of man” sinister features. Whether this is true or not is up to you to judge - I find kitsune attractive and interesting exactly as they are. In all their contradictions, with a rather harmful, but deep and noble character. After all, Japanese culture, unlike continental culture, since the Heian era, places a person higher, the more facets and contradictions he has. Integrity is good in battle, but in everyday life it is a sign of primitivism, the Japanese believe.
Now, I would like to tell you where the kitsuns came from.
Most sources agree that some people who led a righteous, secretive and obscure lifestyle become kitsune after death. After the kitsune is born, it grows and gains strength. A young kitsune, as a rule, engages in mischief among people, and also enters into romantic relationships with them of varying degrees of seriousness - in such stories, one-tailed foxes are almost always involved. A kitsune reaches adulthood at the age of 50-100, at which time he acquires the ability to change shape. Level The strength of a werefox depends on age and rank - which is determined by the number of tails and the color of the skin. In addition, very young kitsune often betray themselves by their inability to hide their tail - apparently, while still learning transformations, they are often betrayed even at a higher level by a shadow or reflection. This is how, for example, Kuzunoha, the mother of Abe no Seimei, discovered herself.

You can also consider the abilities of a kitsune. As it turned out, the main ability of a kitsune is the adoption of a human form; according to legend, a kitsune improves its ability to transform after living for 100 years (some sources say that after 50 years)... Kitsune usually take on the form seductive beauty, pretty young girl, but sometimes they turn into old men. 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 (a good example is the Legend - “Fox-weight”) and Chinese, which considered foxes to be werewolves, a family close to demons. 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 arbitrary.
But transformation is not their only talent; in Japanese folklore, these animals have great knowledge, long life and magical abilities. Kitsune also have the ability to inhabit other people's bodies, breathe out 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, speaking of kitsune with the ability to bend space and time, drive people mad, or take on such inhuman or fantastic forms as trees of indescribable height or a second moon in the sky. Interestingly, kitsune are not tied to the phases of the moon; they are capable of much deeper transformations than ordinary werewolves. Occasionally, kitsune are attributed characteristics characteristic of vampires: they feed on the life force or spiritual force of people with whom they come into contact. Sometimes kitsune are described as guarding a round or pear-shaped object (hoshi no tama, that is, “star ball”); it is stated that whoever takes possession of this ball can force the kitsune to help himself; one theory states that kitsune “store” part of their magic in this ball after transformation. Kitsune are required to keep their promises or face punishment by reducing their rank or power level. It is worth paying attention to the representation of kitsune in the form of vampires. One of the legends says that kitsune is very similar to a vampire, they also drink human blood and kill people. However, fairies-elves also sin in this way - and, as a rule, both take harsh measures in order to take revenge for an intentional or accidental insult. Although sometimes they do this, as they say, out of love for art. Sometimes, however, foxes limit themselves to energy vampirism - feeding on the vital forces of those around them.
Let's talk about the kitsune's tail.
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 claim that kitsune grows an additional tail every hundred or thousand years of its life. However, foxes found in fairy tales almost always have one, five, or nine tails. Five and seven-tailed kitsune, often black, 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 typically have silver, white, or gold coats and a ton of high magical abilities. They are part of Inari no Kami's retinue, serve as her 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. According to legend, Koan, another famous mystic, turned to the nine-tailed kitsune at the end of his earthly life.
When kitsune receive nine tails, their fur turns silver, white, or gold. These kyubi no kitsune ("nine-tailed foxes") gain the power of infinite insight. Similarly, in Korea it is said that a fox that has lived for a thousand years turns into a Kumiho (literally "nine-tailed fox"), but the Korean fox is always depicted as evil, unlike the Japanese fox, which can be either benevolent or malevolent. Chinese folklore also has "fox spirits" (Huli jing) similar to kitsune in many ways, including the possibility of nine tails.
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 fox's weakness and inexperience). An attentive hero can expose a drunken or careless fox that has turned into a human by seeing its tail through its clothes... By the way, according to some legends, kitsune are capable of changing gender and age if necessary...
Now I would like to talk about some representatives of kitsune.
One of the famous Kitsune is the great guardian spirit Kyuubi. This is a guardian spirit and protector who helps young “lost” souls on their path in the current incarnation. Kyuubi usually stays for a short time, only a few days, but if attached to one soul, it can accompany it for years. This is a rare type of kitsune that rewards a lucky few with its presence and assistance.
By the way, I would like to note that most often in folklore, kitsune are often described as deceivers, sometimes very evil ones. Trickster kitsune use their magical powers to play pranks: those shown in a benevolent light tend to target overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful people, while more cruel kitsune seek to torment poor merchants, farmers, and Buddhist monks.
The most interesting thing is that very often kitsune are described as lovers. Such stories usually involve a young man and a kitsune disguised as a woman. Sometimes the kitsune is assigned the role of a seductress, but often such stories are rather romantic. In such stories, the young man usually marries the beauty (not knowing that she is a fox) and attaches great importance to her devotion. Many such stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of a fox entity, after which the kitsune must leave her husband.
The oldest known story of fox wives, which provides the folk etymology of 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 afraid of a dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true appearance. Kitsune prepares to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying: “Now that we have been together for several years and you have given me several children, I cannot simply 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 the next morning in the form of a fox. After that, she began to be called 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 attributed special physical and/or supernatural properties. The exact nature of these properties, however, varies greatly from one source to another. Among those believed to have such extraordinary powers is the famous onmyoji Abe no Seimei, who was a hanyō (half-demon), the son of a human and a kitsune.
Rain falling from a clear sky is sometimes called kitsune no yomeiri, or “kitsune wedding.”

The names of Japanese kitsune are well represented
1) Bakemono-Kitsune - they, in turn, are magical or demonic foxes. Example: Reiko, Kiko or Koryo, that is, those foxes that do not have a tangible form.
2) Byakko - means “white fox”. Meeting her is a kind of very good omen, since it is believed that this particular fox serves the god Inari and acts as a kind of messenger of the Gods. It is worth immediately noting that the spelling of the name Byakko, which refers to a fox, and the same name, but which refers to the Divine Tiger, who is the ruler of the West, are different, so they should not be confused and associated.
3) Genko - translated means “black fox”. Meeting her is also usually a good sign, just like meeting Byakko.
4) Yako or Yakan - almost any kind of fox, in its own way the same as Kitsune.
5) Kiko - a ghostly fox, is a type of Reiko.
6) Koryo - “fox-stalker”, also a type of Reiko.
7) Cuco - also called the “air fox”, this animal is very angry and loves intrigues. In Japanese mythology it is placed on a par with Tengu (which is a Japanese type of troll)
8) Nogitsune - “wild fox”. This word is also used to distinguish between “good” and “bad” foxes. Sometimes the Japanese use “Kitsune” to denote the “good” fox that is the messenger of Inari and “Nogitsune” - foxes that commit mischief and deceive people. But they are not demons, but rather just mischief-makers and jokers.
9) Reiko - “ghost fox”. It is impossible to definitely attribute this fox to the forces of evil, but at the same time it is definitely a bad spirit. Simply put, in the middle between good and evil, and at the same time has a tendency towards bad things. As for me - gray mediocrity.
10) Tenko or Amagitsune is a kind of “divine fox”. This is our Kitsune, who has reached 1000 years of age. The main distinguishing feature of Tenko is its nine tails (and sometimes there is also a golden skin).
11) Tamamo-No-Mae is a demonic version of Tenko. This fox is deceptively beautiful, a very aggressive and powerful demon. This is also one of the most famous demon foxes in Japanese folklore. (Reminder: Kyuubi is a guardian spirit, he is kind among the Japanese.)
12) Shakko - “red fox”. They are considered both forces of good and forces of evil. It is believed that this is the same as Kitsune. Or, more simply put, another name for Kitsune.

Foxes in Chinese mythology.
China is the main source of the spread of fox spirits to other countries (Korea, Japan) and also the place where these animals spread and settled most in the culture. Chinese foxes are: libertines, great scholars, faithful lovers, professional seducers, poltergeists, tricksters, avengers and drinking companions. This is their difference from Japanese fox spirits - they are always inseparably present and live with people, which contributes to their moralizing function. Also, Chinese foxes can transform into any person they want, which is beyond the control of Japanese Kitsune. But on the other hand, they cannot turn into anyone other than people. And Chinese philosophy explains this by saying that only people know the achievement of immortality and the comprehension of wisdom, which foxes strive for. Therefore, there is no point in turning into something other than a person.
1)-Hu – actually, the fox in person.
2) - Khujin is a fox spirit, literally translated as “beautiful fox.”
3) - Khushian - they call immortal foxes.
4) - Jingwei Hu (Jiuweihu) - a fox with nine tails. It was believed that a person who ate its meat may not be afraid of poisons.
5) - Long Zhi is their nine-headed and nine-tailed cannibal fox. (The snake Gorynych can’t compete with her here in terms of the number of heads and tails - definitely, only maybe Hydra from Greece)
6) -Laohu is an old fox. In China, formally, all fox spirits are old, since the ability to transform into a person depends on their age. Laohu is even older than the other foxes. In addition, Laohu is the only fox species that does not have a sexual function, and this is most likely due to their age. There are theories about the absence of gender in Laohu.
Foxes in Korean mythology.
Here we will look at one species that interests us the most - the thousand-year-old nine-tailed fox - Kumiho. This werefox in Korean mythology is always female and a demon. Their gumiho is a seductress, a cunning wife, and even at times a succubus (the main goal of succubi is to turn the male population into slaves and feed on their energy until their death) or a vampire. In short, a bloodthirsty creature whose ultimate goal is to kill the victim. And such a bloodthirsty werewolf fox is the only representative who kills with his own hands among the countries of the rising sun.

This is what they are, these creatures, subjects of the goddess Inari. Cheerful and angry, romantic and cynical, prone to both terrible crimes and sublime self-sacrifice. Possessing enormous magical capabilities, but sometimes suffering defeat due to purely human weaknesses. Drinking human blood and energy - and becoming the most devoted of friends and spouses...

Fox charms

“The heavenly fox has nine tails and golden fur; she can penetrate into the secrets of the universe, based on the alternation of male and female principles.”

The fox envelops the person who loves her with an evil obsession, not allowing him to live peacefully in his own home and ordering him to sacrifice the most pressing issues of conscience. She seduces the unfortunate man with her inhuman beauty and, taking advantage of his love, drinks the juices of his life, and then throws him as a victim of death and goes to hunt for another. The Fox turns him into a soulless executor of his orders, tells him to act as if in a dream, losing the feeling of true life.

But by interfering in a person’s life in this way, the fox does not always act evil. It is true that she fools stupid people, mocks the greedy and rude, hunting for happiness that was not written in their race. It is true that she cruelly punishes for debauchery, and most importantly, for treachery and meanness in relation mainly to herself, but how can all this be compared with those inhuman joys that are created by the appearance in the gray and wretched life of a person of a seductive beauty who immerses into true happiness, for which a person will do anything, even to his obvious death.

The fox comes to the person herself, becomes a delightful lover and faithful friend, a kind genius who protects her friend from evil people. She appears in the life of a scientist even more subtle than he himself, and delights him with an indescribable charm, which is especially dear to a man married to an illiterate, half-animal woman who guards his hearth and does not at all claim inexhaustible loving attention and which unfolds all his complexity. personality, resurrects it. With a light heart he rushes towards his death.

Lisa is not only a woman. She can also appear to a person in the form of a man. This will be a finely educated scientist, a conversation with whom will inspire the spirit; he will be a comrade and friend, selflessly and sincerely devoted, looking for an answer in the depths of someone else's soul, but indignant and executing his comrade for any attempt to use his divine power to please his rude appetite. The fox lives with a person, is no different except for his characteristic oddities, but sometimes he is invisible and sends his charms only to his chosen one, whose heart is not chained by philistine fear and blind tales. The invisible fox is still the same devoted friend, sometimes, however, incomprehensible in his actions, more like the actions of an enemy, but then he really turns out to be genuine gold.

Bringing a fatal charm to a person, leading him to the borders of death, the fox itself brings him healing, helping like nothing in the world. She keeps the pill of eternal life, burning in the eternal radiance of the pale witch moon and capable of reviving even a decomposed corpse. And before becoming the immortal genius of the above-ground spheres, she once again intervenes in a person’s life and brings him peace and happiness.

From the foreword by Academician V.A. Alekseev to the collection of stories by Pu Songling “Fox Charms”

The very first Japanese legend about foxes was set out in three books of the 8th and 12th centuries. And it sounds like this:
During the reign of Emperor Kimmei (540–571), a man from the Ono region of Mino Province went in search of a good wife. A long time passed when he met a beautiful woman in a field and asked her: “Will you become my wife?” She agreed; he married her and took her into his home. After some time, they had a child. But then there was a puppy in the house who constantly barked at the owner. She asked her husband to kill the animal, because she was very afraid of dogs, but he, although he loved his wife very much, did not agree. One day the woman felt as if a dog was biting her, but the puppy jumped away barking, because suddenly the frightened woman turned into a fox, climbed the fence and sat there. Then the husband, looking at his wife who had turned into a fox, said: “We lived together for a long time, and we had a child, so I cannot forget you. Always come to this house at least for the night.” She acted in accordance with her husband’s words and came to the house each time only to spend the night. Therefore, she was given the name “Ki-tsune” (岐都禰), “always coming.”
There is another famous story about were-foxes described in the famous
“Notes on the Search for Spirits” (Sou Shen Tzu) by the great Gan Bao - Juan XIX, story 425. It was from her that Pelevin started in “The Sacred Book of the Werewolf.” Although, in my opinion, the theme of were-foxes is not completely explored in him, the ancient legends sound more interesting and convincing, although they are small in volume. Late Han is 6-189 AD. ne.

During the Later Han, during the Jian-an years, a native of Peiguo County named Chen Xian was the military governor of Xihai. Buqu, from his personal guard Wang Ling-Xiao, fled for an unknown reason. Xian even wanted to execute him. After some time, Xiao ran away a second time. Xian could not find him for a long time and therefore put his wife in prison. But when his wife answered all the questions without concealment, Xian realized: “Everything is clear, he was taken away by evil spirits. We need to find him."

And so the governor, with several dozen foot and horsemen, having captured hunting dogs, began to scour the walls of the city, tracking down the fugitive. And in fact, Xiao was discovered in an empty tomb. The werewolf, hearing the voices of people and dogs, disappeared. The people sent by Xian brought Xiao back. In appearance he was completely like a fox; there was almost nothing human left in him. I could only mutter: “A-Tzu!” About ten days later he gradually began to come to his senses and then said:

“When the fox came for the first time, a beautiful woman appeared in the far corner of the house between the chicken roosts. Calling herself A-Tzu, she began to beckon me to her. And this happened more than once, until I, without expecting it, followed her call. She immediately became my wife, and that same evening we ended up in her house... I don’t remember the meeting with the dogs, but I was glad as never before.

“This is mountain evil,” the Taoist fortuneteller determined.

The Notes on the Illustrious Mountains says: “In ancient times, the fox was a depraved woman, and her name was A-Tzu. Then she turned into a fox.”

This is why werewolves of this kind mostly call themselves A-Tzu.

A-Tzu may look something like this, her look is appropriate.

At the end of the article I would like to say that it is a pleasure to write about such interesting creatures...

Mythology: Kitsune (狐) Nine-tailed demon fox

Kyuubi (actually a kitsune). They are considered smart, cunning creatures that can transform into people. They obey Inari, the goddess of cereal plants. These animals have great knowledge, long life, and magical abilities. Chief among them, I repeat, is the ability to take the form of a person; the fox, according to legend, learns to do this after reaching a certain age (usually a hundred years, although in some legends it is fifty). Kitsune usually take the form of a seductive beauty, a pretty young girl, but sometimes they also turn into old men. Other powers commonly attributed to kitsune include the ability to inhabit other people's bodies, breathe or otherwise create fire, appear in others' dreams, and the ability to create illusions so complex that they are almost indistinguishable from reality. Some of the tales go further, speaking of kitsune with the ability to bend space and time, drive people mad, or take on such inhuman or fantastic forms as trees of indescribable height or a second moon in the sky.

Kitsune are associated with both Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. In Shinto, kitsune are associated with Inari, the patron deity of rice fields and entrepreneurship. Foxes were originally the messengers (tsukai) of this deity, but now the difference between them has become 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 the 9th-10th centuries in Japan, one of the main deities of which, Dakini, was depicted riding across the sky on a fox.

In folklore, a kitsune is a type 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 creatures or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in this case is used in the Eastern sense, reflecting a state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that lives 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.

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 claim that kitsune grows an additional tail every hundred or thousand years of its life. However, foxes found in fairy tales almost always have one, five, or nine tails.

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 fox's weakness and inexperience). An attentive hero can expose a drunken or careless fox who has turned into a human by seeing its tail through its clothes.

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 path in the current incarnation. Kyuubi usually stays for a short time, only a few days, but if attached to one soul, it can accompany it for years. This is a rare type of kitsune that rewards a lucky few with its presence and assistance.

In Japanese folklore, kitsune are often described as tricksters, sometimes very evil ones. Trickster kitsune use their magical powers to play pranks: those shown in a benevolent light tend to target overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful people, while more cruel kitsune seek to torment poor merchants, farmers, and Buddhist monks.

Kitsune are also often described as lovers. Such stories usually involve a young man and a kitsune disguised as a woman. Sometimes the kitsune is assigned the role of a seductress, but often such stories are rather romantic. In such stories, the young man usually marries the beauty (not knowing that she is a fox) and attaches great importance to her devotion. Many such stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of a fox entity, after which the kitsune must leave her husband.

The oldest known story about fox wives, which provides the folk etymology of 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 afraid of a dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true appearance. Kitsune prepares to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying: “Now that we have been together for several years and you have given me several children, I cannot simply 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 the next morning in the form of a fox. After that, she began to be called 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 attributed special physical and/or supernatural properties. The exact nature of these properties, however, varies greatly from one source to another. Among those believed to have such extraordinary powers is the famous onmyoji Abe no Seimei, who was a han'yō (half-demon), the son of a human 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.

The mood is such that I wanted to post a few quotes about kitsune.

* * *
People and creatures belong to different breeds,
and foxes are somewhere in the middle.
The living and the dead have different paths,
the fox's paths lie somewhere between them.
Immortals and werewolves go different ways,
and the foxes between them.
Therefore, we can say that meeting a fox is
amazing event
but you can also say this,
that meeting a fox is common.

Ji Yun (XVIII century)

The Japanese believe that even today kitsune can be found everywhere. They have skillfully adapted to modern life; their knowledge of human nature, numerous talents, natural charm and ability to deceive allow them to feel at ease even in a metropolis. They can be found in the field of finance and art. They say that kitsune are brilliant poets and scientists. But how can you determine that in front of you is a werefox and not a person? They say it's not difficult. 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 using magic spells, so girls who love skirts may come under suspicion. It’s more difficult with more mature kitsune: they can fool anyone, but it’s usually the mirror that gives them away - they are reflected as they really are, in other words, mirrors convey their true essence.
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 bares its teeth at him.

The fox's tail flashed.
Now I have no peace -
I look forward to it every evening.

Shurayuki Tamba, 18th century

Kitsune are mysterious, unusual, and very charming creatures. Integral characters in Japanese folklore and literature, they possess the characteristics of many magical creatures at once. If we highlight three main parallels in Western culture, this is a combination of the qualities of a fairy elf, a werewolf, and a vampire.

They can act both as carriers of pure evil and as messengers of divine forces. But they prefer romantic adventures of varying degrees of seriousness, or simply jokes and pranks in relation to human beings - without sometimes disdaining, however, vampirism. And sometimes their stories are filled with the tragic sentimentality so beloved by the Japanese.

The Japanese attitude towards kitsune is very similar to the Irish attitude towards their fairies - a mixture of respect, fear, and sympathy. And they definitely stand out among other okabe, that is, Japanese magical creatures. Like the elves of the British Isles, the “little people,” kitsune live in the hills and wastelands, joke with people, sometimes take them to a magical land - from where they can return as old men in a few days - or, on the contrary, find themselves in the future, having spent decades in hours . Having assumed human form, kitsune marry or marry humans and have offspring from them.

Kitsune are often described as lovers. Such stories usually involve a young man and a kitsune disguised as a woman. Sometimes the kitsune is assigned the role of a seductress, but often such stories are rather romantic. In such stories, the young man usually marries the beauty (not knowing that she is a fox) and attaches great importance to her devotion. Many such stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of a fox entity, after which the kitsune must leave her husband. The first documented legend about kitsune dates back to 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 moor (the usual place for meetings with fairies among the Celts), he unexpectedly met his dream. They got married, 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 aggressive he became towards the Lady of the Wasteland. She got scared and asked her husband to kill the dog. But he refused. One day the dog rushed at Lady. In horror, she threw off her human form, turned into a fox, and ran away. Ono, however, began to look for her and call: “You may 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 from then on every night she came to him in the guise of a woman, and in the morning she ran away into the wasteland in the guise of a fox. From this legend two variants of translation of the word “kitsune” are derived. Either “kitsu ne”, an invitation to spend the night together - Ono’s call to his runaway wife; or “ki-tsune” - “always coming.”

A characteristic that kitsune have in common with elves is “kitsune-bi” (Fox Lights) - just like the Celtic fairies, foxes can accidentally or intentionally indicate their presence at night with mysterious lights and music on the moors and hills. Moreover, no one guarantees the safety of a person who dares to go check their nature. Legends describe the source of these lights as "hoshi no tama" (Star Pearls), white balls like pearls or gems that have 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 value these artifacts very much, and in exchange for their return they may agree to fulfill a person's wishes. But, again, it is difficult to guarantee the safety of the insolent person after returning - and in case of refusal to return the pearl, the kitsune can attract his friends to help. However, the kitsune must fulfill the promise given to a person in such a situation, like a fairy, otherwise he 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 pearl, 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 precious stones 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 between 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 fox can take on a different human form. Moreover, according to some legends, kitsune are capable of changing gender and age if necessary - appearing either as a young girl or as a gray-haired old man. But a young kitsune is capable of taking on the appearance of a human being only from the age of 50-100.

Like vampires, kitsune sometimes drink human blood and kill people. However, fairies-elves also sin in this way - and, as a rule, both take harsh measures in order to take revenge for an intentional or accidental insult. Although sometimes they do this, as they say, out of love for art. Sometimes, however, foxes limit themselves to energy vampirism - feeding on the vital 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. Thus, the Kabuki play “Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees” tells about a kitsune named Genkuro.

The mistress of the famous military leader 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 interring the remains of his parents to the ground. To do this, the fox turned to one of the warlord's confidants - but the young kitsune made a mistake and was exposed. Genkuro explained the reason for his entry into the castle, Yoshitsune and Shizuka returned the drum to him. In gratitude, he granted Yoshitsune his magical protection.

Some kitsune are a natural disaster for those around them.

The heroine of the noo plays “The Dead Stone” and the kabuki “Beautiful Fox-Witch”, Tamamo no Mae, on her way from India to Japan through China leaves a trail of disasters and cruel tricks. In the end, she dies during an encounter with the Buddhist saint Gemmo - and is turned into a cursed stone.

Kitsune love to play dirty tricks on those who deserve them - but they can easily cause problems for a virtuous peasant or a noble samurai. They love to seduce ascetic monks, leading them astray from the path to nirvana - however, on other paths they can provide help and support.

The famous kitsune Kyuubi helps seekers of truth in their quest, helping them realize the goals of their incarnation.

The offspring of kitsune from marriages with people usually become mystical personalities themselves, walking along forbidden and dark paths.

Such was Abe no Seimei, the famous occultist of the Heian era. His mother was the kitsune Kuzunoha, who lived for a long time in a human family - but was eventually exposed and forced to go into the forest. If some sources claim that Seimei had no offspring, others call his descendants a number of Japanese mystics of subsequent times.

The offspring of marriages between humans and kitsune are usually attributed special physical and/or supernatural properties. The exact nature of these properties, however, varies greatly from one source to another. Rain falling from a clear sky is sometimes called kitsune no yomeiri, or “kitsune wedding.”

For China, legends about marriages between people and foxes are uncharacteristic, as are stories about their mutual understanding in general... Moreover, if in Japan a meeting with a fox is generally considered a good sign, then in China it is definitely a very bad omen. The story of the fox document told by the Chinese poet Niu Jiao is indicative.

Official Wang, while 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. Van began shouting at the foxes to leave - but the kitsune ignored his indignation. Then Van threw a stone at one of the foxes, hitting the one holding the document in the eye. The fox dropped the paper, and both disappeared into the forest. Van took the document, but it turned out to be written in a language unknown to him. Then Van went to the tavern and began to tell everyone about the incident. While he was telling his story, a man with a bandage on his forehead came in and asked to see the paper. However, the owner of the inn noticed a tail peeking out from under his robe, and the fox hastened to retreat. The foxes tried several more times to return the document while Van was in the capital - but each time they were unsuccessful. When he went back to his district, on the way, with considerable surprise, he met a whole caravan of his relatives. They reported that he himself sent them a letter saying that he had received a profitable appointment in the capital, and invited them to come there. To celebrate, 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 piece of paper. The Wang family had to return back with heavy losses. After some time, his brother, who was considered dead in a distant province, returned to Van. They began to drink wine and tell stories from their lives. When Van reached 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.

A young kitsune, as a rule, engages in mischief among people, and also enters into romantic relationships with them of varying degrees of seriousness - in such stories, one-tailed foxes almost always act. In addition, very young kitsune often betray themselves by their inability to hide their tail - apparently, while still learning transformations, they are often betrayed even at a higher level by a shadow or reflection.

As they 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 have mastered the art of transformation to perfection... :)). Five- and seven-tailed kitsune, often black, 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 typically have silver, white, or gold coats and a ton of high magical abilities. They are part of Inari no Kami's retinue, serve as her 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. According to legend, Koan, another famous mystic, turned to the nine-tailed kitsune at the end of his earthly life.

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 arbitrary. Sometimes kitsune are believed to be able to inhabit the bodies of people - causing effects similar to Christian "demon possession". According to some reports, this is how foxes restore their strength after injury or exhaustion.

Sometimes the “invasion of the fox”, Kitsunetsuki (a phenomenon recognized by medical science, but poorly explained and classified as “nationally determined syndromes”), manifests itself more subtly - in a sudden love for rice, tofu and poultry, a desire to hide one’s eyes from one’s interlocutor, increased sexual activity, nervousness and emotional coldness. However, other sources describe this particular 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 subject to obstruction and were often forced to leave their homes. According to Japanese physiognomic concepts, “fox blood” can also be detected by appearance. Suspicion of incompletely human nature was aroused by people with thick hair, close-set eyes, a narrow face, an elongated and snub (“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). And also the fundamental and mutual dislike of kitsune and their descendants for dogs.

A 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 acquire the capabilities of powerful hypnosis, the creation of complex illusions and entire illusory spaces. With the help of their magic pearls, kitsune are able to defend themselves with fire and lightning. Over time, the ability to fly, become invisible and take on any form is acquired.

Higher kitsune have power over space and time, are able to take magical forms - dragons, giant trees up to the sky, a second moon in the sky; They know how to induce madness in people and massively subjugate them to their will.

There are two subspecies of foxes in Japan: the Japanese red fox (Hondo kitsune, native to Honshu; Vulpes vulpes japonica) and the Hokkaido fox (Kita kitsune, native to Hokkaido; Vulpes vulpes schrencki).

It should be noted that in Japanese mythology there was a mixture of indigenous Japanese beliefs, which characterized the fox as an attribute of the goddess Inari, and Chinese, which considered foxes to be werewolves, close to demons.

“For ordinary zoology, the Chinese fox is not very different from the rest, but this is not so for the Kitsune. Statistics indicate that its lifespan ranges from eight hundred to a thousand years. This creature is believed to bring misfortune and that every part of the fox’s body has a magical purpose. He only needs to hit his tail on the ground to cause a fire, he can predict the future and take on the forms of old people, or innocent youths, or scientists. He is cunning, cautious, skeptical. Finds satisfaction in small tricks and storms. After death, the souls of people move to Lisov. Their burrows are found near cemeteries." (Jorge Luis Borges "Book of Fictional Creatures")

In folklore, a kitsune is a type of yokai, or demon. In this context, the word "kitsune" is often translated as "fox spirit." However, this does not necessarily mean that they are not living creatures or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in this case is used in the Eastern sense, reflecting a state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that lives long enough can thus become a "fox spirit."

"Types" and names of kitsune:
Bakemono Kitsune are 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 the 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 is a "spirit fox", a type of Reiko.
Koryo is a "stalking fox", a type of Reiko.
Kuko or Kuyuko (in the sense of “u” with the sound “yu”) is an “air fox”, extremely bad and harmful. Has an equal place with Tengu in the pantheon.
Nogitsune is a "wild fox" and is also used to distinguish between "good" and "bad" foxes. Sometimes the Japanese use "Kitsune" to name a good fox messenger from Inari and "Nogitsune" - foxes that commit mischief and trick people. However, this is not a real demon, but rather a mischief-maker, prankster and trickster. Their behavior is reminiscent of Loki from Scandinavian mythology.
Reiko is a "ghost fox", sometimes not on the side of Evil, but definitely not good.
Tenko - "divine fox". Kitsune who reached the age of 1000 years. They usually have 9 tails (and sometimes a golden skin), but each of them is either very “bad” or benevolent and wise, like Inari’s messenger.
Shakko - "red fox". Can be both on the side of Good and on the side of Evil, the same as Kitsune.

The heavenly patron 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. She is usually accompanied by two snow-white foxes with nine tails. 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.

The question of the origin of kitsune is complex and poorly defined. Most sources agree that some people who have not led the most righteous, secretive and obscure way of life become kitsune after death. After the kitsune is born, it grows and gains strength. A kitsune reaches adulthood at the age of 50-100, at which time it acquires the ability to change shape. The level of power of a werefox depends on age and rank - which is determined by the number of tails and the color of the skin.

When kitsune receive nine tails, their fur turns silver, white, or gold. These kyubi no kitsune ("nine-tailed foxes") gain the power of infinite insight. Similarly, in Korea it is said that a fox that has lived for a thousand years turns into a gumiho (literally "nine-tailed fox"), but the Korean fox is always depicted as evil, unlike the Japanese fox, which can be either benevolent or malevolent. Chinese folklore also features "fox spirits" with many similarities to kitsune, including the possibility of nine tails.
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Information for official use.

I remind you that today on Belinsky, 118 in the gallery "Colors of the Soul" My favorite Ekaterinburg musicians will play: duet "Antonovka Brave", Elena Bushueva, Ivan Chudinovskikh, maybe someone else.

KITSUNE

Kitsune (Japanese: 狐)- Japanese name for fox. There are two subspecies of foxes in Japan: the Japanese red fox (Hondo kitsune; Vulpes japonica) and the Hokkaido fox (Vulpes schrencki).

The image of a werewolf fox is characteristic only of Far Eastern mythology. Originating in China in ancient times, it was borrowed by the Koreans and 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 person; the fox, according to legend, learns to do this after reaching a certain age (usually a hundred years, although in some legends it is fifty). Kitsune usually take the form of a seductive beauty, a pretty young girl, but sometimes they also turn into old men.

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”) and Chinese, which considered foxes to be werewolves, a race close to demons.

Other powers commonly attributed to kitsune include the ability to inhabit other people's bodies, breathe or otherwise create fire, appear in others' dreams, and the ability to create illusions so complex that they are almost indistinguishable from reality.

Some of the tales go further, speaking of kitsune with the ability to bend space and time, drive people mad, 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 force or spiritual force of people they come into contact with.

Sometimes kitsune are described as guarding a round or pear-shaped object (hoshi no tama, that is, “star ball”); it is stated that whoever takes possession of this ball can force the kitsune to help himself; one theory states that kitsune “store” part of their magic in this ball after transformation. Kitsune are required to keep their promises or face punishment by reducing their rank or power level.

In folklore, a kitsune is a type 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 creatures or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in this case is used in the Eastern sense, reflecting a state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that lives 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.

ONE TAIL =

TWO TAILS ==

THREE TAILS ===

FIVE TAILS =====

NINE TAILS =========

The Japanese have a twofold attitude towards charming and intelligent creatures from another world. It's a mixture of adoration and fear. Kitsune has a complex character that can make a demon either man's best friend or a mortal enemy. Depending on who the fox is with

It is believed that red foxes can set fire to homes, carrying 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 humanity. Very lucky will be those people who, by chance, suddenly settle on land sacred to kitsune. Such happy families are called “kitsune-mochi”: the foxes are obliged to watch them everywhere, protect them from all sorts of harm, and anyone who offends the kitsune-mochi will face serious illness.

By the way, foxes also suffered a lot from people. For a long time, the Japanese believed that a person who tasted kitsune meat became 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 throughout the entire area were mercilessly exterminated.

And at the same time, there is no sweeter bride and wife than a kitsune. Having fallen in love, they are ready to make any sacrifice for their chosen one.

The oldest known story of fox wives, which provides the folk etymology of 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 afraid of a dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true appearance. Kitsune prepares to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying: “Now that we have been together for several years and you have given me several children, I cannot simply 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 the next morning in the form of a fox. After that, she began to be called kitsune - because in classical Japanese, kitsu-ne means “let's go and sleep,” while ki-tsune means “always coming.”

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- "stalking fox", a type of Reiko.
Cuco or Cuyuco(in the sense of “u” with the sound “yu”) - “air fox”, extremely bad and harmful. Has 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 fox messenger from Inari and "Nogitsune" - foxes that commit mischief and trick people. However, this is not a real demon, but rather a mischief-maker, prankster and trickster. Their behavior is reminiscent of Loki from Scandinavian mythology.
Reiko- "ghost fox", sometimes not on the side of Evil, but definitely not good.
Tenko- "divine fox". Kitsune who reached the age of 1000 years. They usually have 9 tails (and sometimes a golden skin), but each of them is either very “bad” or benevolent and wise, like Inari’s messenger.
Shakko- "Red fox". Can be both on the side of Good and on the side of Evil, the same as Kitsune.

SOURCES:

All pictures belong to their respective owners. I do not in any way appropriate them.
I just wanted to illustrate interesting articles.
I've included sources where possible, but I found most of them through Google.
If there are any complaints, write to me in a personal message, I will fix everything.

http://ru.wikipedia.org
http://www.coyotes.org/kitsune/kitsune.html
http://htalen-castle.narod.ru/Beast/Kitsune.htm
http://www.rhpotter.com/tattoos/kitsunetattoo3.html
http://www.site/users/3187892/post100958952/
http://news.deviantart.com/article/119296/
http://isismashiro.deviantart.com/
http://www.vokrugsveta.ru/telegraph/theory/1164/

And finally, this kawaii cutie ^_____^

What is the meaning of kitsune? This concept refers to foxes that have supernatural skills, the main one of which is to transform or inhabit a person. The first mentions of them are found in and only later, the mystical belief in kitsune appeared in Japan, where it acquired specific details, turning into an independent folklore element. According to legend, the deity Inari once descended to earth on a snow-white fox, giving people prosperity and fertility. Inari does not have a specific gender, and can appear before a person either in the form of a lovely girl or in the form of a gray-haired old man. The deity was accompanied by subordinates - magical foxes with a mischievous rather than a good disposition. The Japanese name for fox is kitsune. They will be discussed in the article.

Classification of kitsune species

Kitsune are extraordinary creatures of Japanese folklore. There are two types of them in myths. One of them is called the Hokkaido fox, and the second is called Kitsune. Both species are carriers of ancient knowledge, use magical powers as needed, live long lives, and over time transform into a more advanced species. They have incredibly fine hearing and are able to see past and future events. When meeting such a red-haired prankster, you need to be on your guard, she knows how to read minds and will definitely try to fool the person she meets.

In Japanese mythology, kitsune is represented as an evil demon, but more often than not, the cunning werewolf spends his time creating traps and laughing at gullible travelers. There is another classification of foxes:

Myobu provides support to people and serves the deity Inari.
Nogitsune - a fox with an evil disposition, becomes a werewolf, terrifying the entire area with bloodthirsty actions.

Kitsune are unsurpassed hypnotists, capable of transporting a person to the future and past, and performing entire theatrical performances.

Always Coming: The Legend of the Kitsune

The Japanese composed a romantic legend, tinged with a touch of sadness, about a mysterious girl who turned out to be actually a kitsune. A young man from the Mino region named Ono set out to find a girl of extraordinary beauty. He asked his neighbors, looked closely at all the local beauties, but all in vain. One day the guy was completely exhausted from grief and his feet themselves led him to an abandoned wasteland. Among the milky fog, a fantastic sight opened up to him - a sophisticated charmer stood in a cloud of reddish hair, a spark of mischief splashed in her almond-shaped eyes.

Soon the wedding ended, and the young couple had a baby. At the same hour, the owner's dog gave birth to a puppy, who disliked the lady. He attacked the young mistress, and she turned into a fox and ran towards the wasteland. It began to call her in desperation: “Stay a fox if you like it better, but the doors of my house are always open for you. Come to me and our son, we will always be glad to see you.” Every night the mistress returned home, where she again acquired a human form, but in the morning she became a red fox. Therefore, “kitsu-ne” can be translated literally as “always coming.”

Kitsunetsuki - obsession or medical syndrome

There are two categories of foxes in Japanese mysticism: “Nogitsune” or free foxes and “Tenko”, who serve their mistress - the goddess Inari. In some cases, the spirit of a fox can enter a person in moments of weakness or anger. During its stay in human form, the spirit restores strength after injury.

In medical practice, the invasion of a fox or Kitsunetsuki is sometimes noted. The possessed person can be recognized by his changed gastronomic tastes: love for poultry, tofu, rice, as well as nervousness and increased sexual activity. There is an opinion that this is how “fox blood” manifests itself. In ancient times, the possessed were given over to exorcists, and then purified by fire. Suspicion fell on people with a special type of appearance - thick hair, close-set almond-shaped eyes, an elongated and slightly snub nose. A kitsune can be recognized by its reflection in a mirror or by a cast shadow, although this statement does not apply to half-breeds and higher kitsune.

Magic Abilities: Kitsune Tail

As foxes grow older, they acquire increasingly powerful magical abilities. The youngest kitsune have only one tail. While learning the art of transformation, they cannot hide it well enough under their clothes. Over time, a fox may develop three, five, seven or even nine tails. The ability to hypnosis, create illusions, the ability to become invisible, fly and change the original form appears. Young foxes play pranks among people and love tricks and deception. There are known stories of romantic relationships between humans and one-tailed kitsune.

Creatures with five or seven tails have black fur; they are no longer afraid to appear in their real form. The elite among foxes are the nine-tailed kitsune, who have reached the venerable age of thousands of years. Such creatures have incredible magical abilities, and their skin takes on a golden, white or silver color. Higher ranks of foxes can live on their own or form the retinue of Inari no Kami. They have unlimited power over time and space, they can transform into any creature or object - a huge tree, a second moon in the sky, a fire-breathing dragon. They subjugate masses of people to their will or bring madness to an entire settlement.

Foxes and flames

Since ancient times, there has been a legend that a werefox can cause a flame by hitting its tail on the ground. Kitsune are creatures who knew how to light a fire that did not cause harm, but real disasters also happened from the actions of werewolves. One of the monks was worried about a dream about a kitsune fox, so he began building a 7-story pagoda. As soon as it was built, a fire started, after which not only the pagoda burned down, but also many inhabitants died.

By the will-o'-the-wisps in the swamp they know where the kitsune are now frolicking. Red foxes breathe bluish flames or produce them from the tips of their tails. Before the New Year, kitsune from the nearest eight provinces gather to light a fox fire at the foot of an ancient tree. Residents of Japan believed that if a bright flame is visible far away, it means that heavenly foxes will bring prosperity and a rich harvest to the field.

The Art of Deception

Foxes have inexhaustible possibilities to create fantastic illusions and make people crazy. They create hallucinations that can briefly deprive a person of the ability to perceive reality adequately. One fox found out about the old man's greed and decided to laugh at him. He saw a huge field of beautiful chrysanthemums in the spring and rushed to collect armfuls of them. After all, in the fall, chrysanthemums bloom everywhere, and in the spring they can bring considerable income if you sell them on the market. Another kitsune decided to play a prank on an old woman who loved going to theatrical festivals. One day, grandma was returning home through a mountain pass and found herself in a real theater, where she saw a touching love story between a courageous samurai and a snow-white fox.

Revenge for the offense caused

Fox Kitsune takes revenge on her offenders with particular cruelty. A samurai once scared a werewolf, and he harbored a grudge. Two envoys from the master arrived at the warrior’s home with orders to immediately commit seppuku. The warrior wanted to immediately follow the order, but at the last moment the dogs recognized the werewolves, revealing the deception.

In another story, a samurai severely wounded a werewolf during a hunt, for which he turned into a human and burned down the offender’s house.

Avoid kitsune - avoid deception

Although in Japanese folklore the antics of a kitsune are treated with condescension, it is better not to meet her on the road, and if this happens, try to appease her. To dispel hallucinations, you need to read a Buddhist prayer or sprinkle salt around a fainted person, saying: “Werewolf, go away!” You can recognize a werewolf with the help of fire: if you bring it to a kitsune, it takes on its true form.

Fox lights or "kitsune-bi"

Werewolves can reveal their presence in the dead of night with music or flickering lights in the wastelands. If a person shows interest and goes to find out what is happening, then no one can guarantee his safety. The source of the lights are star pearls, reminiscent of precious stones or pearls, endowed with magical properties. Kitsune in fox form wear pearls around their necks or in their mouths. If you manage to take possession of such an artifact, the fox will grant any wish for the return of the valuable item.

It is worth remembering that a werewolf can call his friends for help, and then it is not a reward that awaits, but punishment. But the magical creature is obliged to fulfill the wish of the insolent person, otherwise he will be demoted in status and position. In exchange for a pearl, a fox can give many gifts, but you should not ask for material items, because kitsune are masters of lies and tricks. In your hands, gold bars crumble into pieces of bark, money turns into leaves, and precious stones become pebbles. Intangible gifts from kitsune are extremely valuable - longevity, health, good luck in all matters.

Inari Shrines - Kitsune Worship

The god Inari has been associated with foxes in the Japanese minds for several centuries. There are now about 30 thousand Shinto shrines in the country, which indicates the proximity of the deity to every home. The shrines can be recognized from afar - the torii gates are painted red, which is considered a talismanic color. The gates are painted with cinnabar, which has been applied to the face since ancient times to protect against the influence of evil forces. Over time, they stopped painting faces, but they still paint the gates of the god Inari, and also use red when creating kitsune. On both sides of the entrance to the temple territory there are foxes with their mouths closed or open; some hold in their teeth the keys to a barn with grain, ears of corn or a ball, symbolizing a stone that fulfills all wishes. Foxes are considered the patrons of trade, which is associated with the red color of the coat, denoting prosperity and wealth.

Kitsune mask symbolism

The Japanese purchase ceramic foxes and kitsune masks to decorate their homes, and families also go to the temple to ask the deity for wealth and prosperity. When creating a Japanese kitsune mask, two colors are traditionally used - white and red. White is considered a symbol of nothingness, and red is perceived as the sun and fire. Just as fire can appear in two forms, so a kitsune can either bring blessing and warmth, or destruction and fire.

Hello again. We are starting the final (probably) article about representatives of Japanese folklore and today we will talk about foxes. Not exactly ordinary foxes.

For Western culture, a werewolf has almost always been a person who could transform into another animal. Therefore, even a superficial acquaintance with the Far Eastern tradition can be surprising. In China, Japan and Korea this principle is familiar, but in general the approach to werewolfism is different. A werewolf is, rather, an animal that can turn into a human. Among animals with such abilities, in the Far East the fox is one of the most important, if not the most important. There are a huge number of stories associated with the fox in China and Japan. Little Korean folklore material is available in Western European languages, but even there, without any doubt, foxes play a very important role in folk beliefs.

In China, stories about magical foxes can be found already during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 221 AD), in Japan there is indirect evidence that a whole set of beliefs are already associated with foxes - around the 8th century AD .e.

If we talk about the Japanese kitsune simply as a fox, which, after living for a certain period of time, gains the ability to turn into a human and plays out other people in this guise, then this approach greatly simplifies the very image of the kitsune. Foxes have penetrated into all areas of life. The fox can be an object of worship, as it acts as a messenger of the Shinto deity Inari. A fox can be a dangerous demon that possesses a person. The fox can transform into any other creature or inanimate object. A fox can stop a man in a bamboo field at night and demand that he compete with her in sumo wrestling, and along the way, steal all the food he was carrying from a party, as happened to a peasant near the city of Funabashi in 1912. Or it can wipe out the entire family of the person who killed the fox in his field. The fox may act in history as the malevolent ghost of the deceased, or perhaps as a typical house spirit. Foxes are in the service of people, and for entire clans in Japan, “ownership of magic foxes” is inherited. A fox can be anything and its behavior is not limited by any boundaries.

Origin.

During the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 221 AD) in China, many ideas were already associated with foxes. They are more typical for the northeastern part of China and Manchuria. As you move south, the number of recorded stories about magical foxes decreases significantly and, in the end, becomes completely insignificant.

It has been suggested that stories about werefoxes, at least some of them, were also brought to China. Their homeland could be India, where stories similar to the Chinese are found, but the heroes in them are not foxes, but nagas. First of all, this is the werewolf wife type of story. A snake or fox, having turned into a woman, becomes the wife of a man on the condition that he will not violate a certain prohibition. After a certain period of happy life with her, the man violates this prohibition and his wife, turning back into her animal form, leaves him forever.

Japanese concepts of foxes are generally considered to have been exported from China. This opinion was shared by the majority of oriental scholars. Chinese ideas about foxes and numerous stories associated with them came to Japan through literature. It’s not even worth mentioning what a huge influence Chinese literature had on Japanese and how long the Chinese language lasted in Japan as the language of science and culture. The only thing that was considered an original addition to Japanese culture to the image of the fox was its worship as a messenger of the goddess Inari and the role the fox began to play in the fertility cult associated with Inari. But the problem is that not all Japanese stories about kitsune have their own Chinese counterpart, and in addition to those in which the fox is associated with this deity of the Shinto pantheon. It has already been noted that in addition to the undoubtedly enormous Chinese influence, Japanese beliefs about foxes developed with the help of another source. It is known that among the Ainu, the fox played a fairly significant role in beliefs and could influence Japanese ideas about foxes during the centuries-long assimilation of these peoples.

Fox tricks.

The type of story where a fox turns into a human (usually a woman) and seeks a connection with a human is considered a staple in China. In Japan this type of story is also well known. Moreover, a legend of this type is the oldest surviving in Japan and has come down to us in monuments, the earliest of which dates back to the 8th century.

In the very first story about a kitsune, even the revelation of his wife's true nature did not prevent the couple from enjoying marital bliss. In other stories, after revealing her fox identity, the kitsune wife is forced to flee, as in a relatively recently recorded 19th-century story in which a kitsune wife runs away from home after her child notices that in the reflection of the fire, the mother has a fox-like face, and Soon a children's toy is found near a fox hole nearby. It was believed that children from such marriages grew tall, strong and unusually fast. Some Japanese sources of the 11th century talk about a man whose name was the Fox of Mino (Mino no kitsune), who was considered a descendant of that very first marriage of a man and a kitsune

For example, Abe no Seimei, the famous sorcerer Onmyoji, was a half-demon and the son of a kitsune. His mother, Kuzunoha, was saved from hunters by his future father. And in the process he was wounded. Kuzunoha turned into a girl to look after him. As a result, the two fell in love and soon had a son. But this unfortunate man still found out that his wife was a fox and Kuzunoha was forced to leave him with the child. Sad story...

This is far from the worst thing that can happen from a relationship with a kitsune. The trickster and evil nature of the fox can come out in all its glory in these stories. One 12th-century author, in his diary from the year 1144, reports that in one of the buildings of the imperial palace, a fox in the guise of a girl seduced a 16-year-old boy and infected him with a venereal disease. “I have never heard anything more strange!”, writes the author.

Stories where kitsune foxes seduce women are also present, but they are of a different nature. While kitsune men are seduced, women are aggressively harassed and even taken by force. In general, it is believed that in Chinese stories, foxes are always hostile to women. In Japan, there are also plenty of stories about a kitsune who pursued a girl, demanding love from her in all its forms. In one of them, a kitsune, having fallen in love with the maid of an important master, takes on the latter’s appearance in order to satisfy his lust. In another legend, a Japanese aristocrat from the island of Shikoku, arriving home, finds that two women are waiting for him, who look exactly like his wife and are literally fighting for the right to be called his wife.

Another story tells about a kitsune who loved to appear on the road to Kyoto in the guise of a dirty girl, asking travelers she came across on horseback to give her a ride. After riding with them for some time, she abruptly jumped off the horse and ran away in the guise of a fox, screaming like a fox. One young man decided to put an end to these antics. Leaving Kyoto, he followed the road where she was said to appear. Having never met her on the way from Kyoto, he drove back and then she came across him, as was his usual habit, asking for a ride. The young man agreed, lifted the girl onto the horse, and then tied her to the saddle. Having reached Kyoto, he successfully handed her over to the palace guards, but as soon as he did this, she turned into a fox and ran away. Suddenly both the palace and the city disappeared somewhere and the young man found himself in an open field, and his horse was nowhere to be seen.

They love kitsune and this kind of joke. They choose a person and specifically address him as his acquaintance, so that he will notice. Confident that a kitsune in the guise of an acquaintance is trying to deceive him, the person is naturally fully armed and ready to remember all the ways to defeat the kitsune. After all, you can beat him too. Having made sure that the person is already waiting for the next appearance of this most familiar person, the kitsune does nothing more. He hides on the sidelines and watches the fun. When this very acquaintance comes across to that person, an unenviable fate awaits him. After all, he is considered a kitsune. And, in general, it’s good if he remains alive.

Capabilities.

Kitsune is an ordinary fox. The name kitsune is the most common name for fox, as opposed to numerous others that apply to special cases. This shows that in Japan there was no distinction between the "ordinary" and the "supernatural" fox. This is confirmed by some sources, in which the most ordinary, real features of foxes are side by side with the magical ones according to our concepts.

The most important skill of a fox, according to Far Eastern ideas, is the ability to transform into something else. The fox is not the only animal that has access to it. In different areas, similar ideas exist about wolves and badgers (raccoon dogs), that is, tanuki in Japanese, frogs, snakes. By the way, the images of tanuki and kitsune were so close in their behavior and properties in Japan that from the 13th century the term “kori” appeared, which means “either kitsune or tanuki,” when it is precisely impossible to understand from these animals in a modified form
the appearance of a man collided.

The belief that, after living for a certain period of time, a fox can turn into a human is very ancient. It is found in Chinese sources at least as early as the 4th century AD. The idea of reaching a certain age bringing qualitative changes was widely accepted in Japan. Chinese and Japanese sources do not completely agree on how long a fox needs to live to learn to change its appearance. In one Chinese work, presumably from the 5th century AD, it is said that upon reaching 50 years of age, a fox can turn into a woman, upon reaching 100 years old - into a beautiful girl or man. When she turns 100 years old, she knows what is happening at a distance of a thousand miles, can inhabit people (at the same time, people lose their minds and memories) and kill them with witchcraft. When a fox turns one thousand, he enters the sky and becomes a celestial fox.

This is interesting: Often, mushroom rain, that is, an unusual and quite rare event in which a combination of two incompatible phenomena, rain and sun, occurs at the same time, is explained through an association in which representatives of the other world, that is, unusual creatures, are engaged in typically earthly, ordinary activities . In Japan, it is believed that during such rain you can see the wedding procession of kitsune. This belief seems to have already been transferred from another, where it looks in its place. Chains of lights or simply lights visible at night from a great distance are also considered a kitsune wedding and are considered the lights of the lanterns of the wedding procession.

Fox fire.

The connection between foxes and fire has been emphasized for a long time. It was not limited to the most classic and well-known belief today that a kitsune strikes fire by hitting the ground with its tail. a kitsune could cause a fire, and at the same time, its proximity to the house could mean that the house would not be damaged by fire, and even if there was a fire in it, it would not cause much harm.

In Japan, it was often believed that foxes not only produced fire with their tail, but their very breath was also fiery. The visible light or fiery outline that surrounds the kitsune in the dark, as in the story of Tamamo no Mae, also hints at the fiery nature of the kitsune.

Will-o'-the-wisps are called kitsune-bi (狐火), literally "fox fire" in Japan. It is believed that kitsune produce these bluish (864: p.104) lights with their breath or, sometimes, with their tails. In the Kita region of the city of Edo (now Tokyo) there was a tradition, which we first learn about in 1689. On New Year's Eve, kitsune from eight nearby provinces were believed to gather at the old enoki tree and light a fox fire. If the fire was bright, then the peasants believed that the harvest would be good this year.

Varieties of foxes.

Byakko (百狐) is a "white fox". Since ancient times, it was believed that seeing a white fox was good luck. Byakko always appears benevolent in stories. In the central Inari temple in Kyoto there is a Byakko shrine whose connection with fertility is most obvious, since it is a favorite place of worship among barren women, prostitutes asking for more lovers, peasants asking for a good harvest.

Genko (黒狐) - "black fox". It is much less common, but, like white, it has long been considered a good omen.

Reiko - "ghost fox". This is a trickster kitsune. The name appears in stories about the tricks of a kitsune or when a kitsune possesses a person.

Yakan - "field shield". It was sometimes believed that this was simply a former name for kitsune. But in the earliest sources this word does not appear at all, and in “Konjaku Monogatari” (11th century) it is used only once as a synonym for “kitsune”. A Japanese dictionary from 1688 states, citing a Chinese work, that yakan is a word incorrectly applied to fox. The jakan is a small animal with a large tail that can climb trees, which the fox cannot. At a later time, the Yakan began to be considered one of the most evil and dangerous varieties of kitsune.

Toka - what is called a kitsune during the day is called a toka at night. In the province of Hitachi on the island of Honshu, toka is the name of the white fox and is considered the sacred messenger of Inari, and his name is explained as coming from “bringer of rice.”

Koryo is a fox that possesses people. Obviously, this is what a kitsune is called in those cases when it possesses a person.

Yako (野狐) - “field fox”, one of the common names, which is not associated with any feeling of special holiness or malevolence.

Kuko (Kûko, 空狐) is an airy fox. It is not important for Japanese folklore and is clearly a Chinese borrowing that did not take root.

Tenko (天狐) - divine fox. Perhaps in some way it can be compared with the air demons tengu, but for Japanese mythology it also does not play a special role.

Jinko (人狐) is a male fox. This is a kitsune who has turned into a man or, sometimes, a man who has turned into a kitsune. An alternative name for kitsune-mochi is "jinko-mochi".

Kwanko or Kuda-gitsune (Kwanko, Kuda-gitsune) is not actually a fox, but is also called a kitsune. This is a small animal, more like a weasel. According to some descriptions, the animal's tail resembles a pipe sawn lengthwise. The animal can be used by sorcerers (yamabushi) for their needs. In some Japanese families, kwanko plays the role of a house spirit or enrichment spirit and is similar to the custom of kitsune-mochi in Shimane Prefecture on the island of Honshu.

Shakko (赤狐) - "red fox". Found in early Japanese sources and considered a good omen. In later ones, apparently, this name did not play a special role.

Tome - "old woman". This name for the fox is known only at the central Inari Shrine in Kyoto.

Myobu - "court lady". The Japanese encyclopedic work “Ainosho” explains the name “myobu” as a Chinese word that denoted court ladies and, since in the temples where foxes were worshiped there were female soothsayers, then perhaps on behalf of the court ladies it was transferred to soothsayers and, accordingly, on the divine foxes themselves. The word, like Tome, is associated with the cult of Inari.

Nogitsune - "wild fox". In fact, it is used quite rarely and, in principle, is synonymous with kitsune. In type, this kitsune is close to reiko and yakan, the most dangerous varieties of kitsune.

This concludes our story about Japanese foxes. Of course, there is a lot more that can be said about them and their antics, but it would take too much time. In this article I tried to highlight the most important points. Well, see you again in new articles.