K is for Kitsune

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

If you’d rather check out my book review for today, go here.

The idea of a fox-spirit taking on human form is an intriguing idea, especially as a warrior.

Folklore

Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan: First Series[1894] by Lafcadio Hearn

And, finally, in one place I perceive a pair of sitting animals, of some mythological species, supple of figure as greyhounds. ‘Kitsune,’ says Akira—’foxes.’ So they are, now that I look upon them with knowledge of their purpose; idealised foxes, foxes spiritualised, impossibly graceful foxes. They are chiselled in some grey stone. They have long, narrow, sinister, glittering eyes; they seem to snarl; they are weird, very weird creatures, the servants of the Rice-God, retainers of Inari-Sama, and properly belong, not to Buddhist iconography, but the imagery of Shinto.

Fox-images in Izumo seem to be more numerous than in other provinces, and they are symbols there, so far as the mass of the peasantry is concerned, of something else besides the worship of the Rice-Deity. Indeed, the old conception of the Deity of Rice-fields has been overshadowed and almost effaced among the lowest classes by a weird cult totally foreign to the spirit of pure Shinto—the Fox-cult.

Now the fox for whom such a hole is made is an invisible fox, a phantom fox—the fox respectfully referred to by the peasant as O-Kitsune-San. If he ever suffers himself to become visible, his colour is said to be snowy white.

According to some, there are various kinds of ghostly foxes. According to others, there are two sorts of foxes only, the Inari-fox (O-Kitsune-San) and the wild fox (kitsune).

All foxes have supernatural power. There are good and bad foxes. The Inari-fox is good, and the bad foxes are afraid of the Inari-fox. The worst fox is the Ninko or Hito-kitsune (Man-fox): this is especially the fox of demoniacal possession. It is no larger than a weasel, and somewhat similar in shape, except for its tail, which is like the tail of any other fox. It is rarely seen, keeping itself invisible, except to those to whom it attaches itself. It likes to live in the houses of men, and to be nourished by them, and to the homes where it is well cared for it will bring prosperity. It will take care that the rice-fields shall never want for water, nor the cooking-pot for rice. But if offended, it will bring misfortune to the household, and ruin to the crops. The wild fox (Nogitsune) is also bad. It also sometimes takes possession of people; but it is especially a wizard, and prefers to deceive by enchantment. It has the power of assuming any shape and of making itself invisible; but the dog can always see it, so that it is extremely afraid of the dog. Moreover, while assuming another shape, if its shadow fall upon water, the water will only reflect the shadow of a fox. The peasantry kill it; but he who kills a fox incurs the risk of being bewitched by that fox’s kindred, or even by the ki, or ghost of the fox. Still if one eat the flesh of a fox, he cannot be enchanted afterwards. The Nogitsune also enters houses. Most families having foxes in their houses have only the small kind, or Ninko; but occasionally both kinds will live together under the same roof. Some people say that if the Nogitsune lives a hundred years it becomes all white, and then takes rank as an Inari-fox.

The Element Encyclopedia of Fairies by Lucy Cooper

Japanese fox spirits – shapeshifting beings that transform from humans into foxes. Believed to possess longevity, great intelligence, and magical powers. These spirits are broadly classified as zenko, “good foxes”, or yako, “field foxes”. Field foxes are often said to be tricksters, while good foxes are generally benign.

When rain falls from cloudless, clear sky it is known as kitsune no yomeiri, or a “foxes’ wedding”.

*More can be read in the book.

A Wizard’s Bestiary by Oberon Zell Ravenheart

Kitsune (Japanese, “Fox”)— In Japanese folklore, foxes are imbued with great intelligence, long lives, and magical powers, including the ability to shapeshift into human form and appear as young girls, beautiful women, or old men. Japan has two native subspecies of foxes: the Hokkaido Fox (Kita kitsune) and the Japanese Red Fox (Hondo kitsune).

*More can be read in the book.

The Book of Yokai by Michael Dylan Foster

The kitsune, or fox, is one of the most famous yo-kai in Japan; and perhaps more than any other, it has also fascinated people outside the country. Although kitsune is the most common generic term for this yo-kai, foxlike creatures are also known by diff erent regional names, including ninko, osaki-gitsune, kuda-gitsune, and nogitsune.

The kitsune is multitalented, appearing in local folklore, historical records, literary texts, theatrical performances, and contemporary popular culture. It can be a dangerous shape-shifter and it can possess people; but it is also a standard feature of Inari worship, and stone statues of kitsune are stationed at shrines throughout the country. With so many different incarnations and meanings, it is fair to say that in Japan today the kitsune—a charming and cunning deceiver that emanates an aura of danger and malevolence—is admired, worshipped, and feared.

Kitsune are mentioned in the earliest Japanese texts, such as the Nihonshoki, where they seem to appear as omens, either good or bad.19 But they have also been turning into beautiful women and attracting men since at least the ninth century.

*More can be read in the book.

Further Reading:

• Kitsune
• kitsune
• Kitsune
• Kitsune
• Kitsune: The Enigmatic Fox of Japanese Folklore
• Kitsune Explained 
• Beware the Kitsune, The Shapeshifting Fox of Japanese Folklore
• Kitsune
• Kitsune: The Legendary Charming Fox of Japanese Mythology
• Nine-tailed fox

Folklore in a Nutshell by Ronel

In popular Japanese tradition, the Kitsune are foxes or fox spirits that can shapeshift and bewitch people. Some believe that the Kitsune can possess a person and that this spirit needs to be exorcised.

The Kitsune can have one to nine tails – the tails show how old and powerful it is. Normal foxes are also Kitsune, they are merely young and haven’t developed their powers yet. Kitsune only grow additional tails after they’ve reached a hundred years. Foxes are found all over Japan (and most of the world). They are cute and small which makes them loved by most people. At first, kitsunes can mix with regular foxes as they are red, too. Kitsunes’ incredible magical powers set them apart from most foxes. And they are immortal. As they grow older, they turn gold and finally, white.

There are two types of Kitsune: the good ones who protect rice field from mice and other vermin, who acts as messengers between the celestial and human worlds, protect humans, and keep evil spirits away.

The second type are wild foxes who delight in mischief. The Kitsune enjoys leading people astray, especially in the mountains, and tricking them to do things like accepting leaf money, eating dumplings that are actually horse dung, or taking baths in substances people rather shouldn’t. They also like to transform into a beautiful woman to beguile men in order to suck the life or spirit from the human. These women can be identified by being alone at dusk or night, and has a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows and high cheekbones. This is considered to be attractive features. Some may retain their fox-ears, or fur, or more commonly, their fox-shadow. When not eating humans, they marry them. When the human finds out that his wife is a fox, she has to leave him.

It’s probably best not to harm foxes or talk to women who are alone somewhere at night.

Kitsune in Modern Culture

Teen Wolf TV series

Kitsune are a supernatural species of Japanese fox spirits that are also commonly referred to simply as “foxes.” They are creatures who live for many centuries, growing more powerful as they age, and because they are spiritual creatures, their physiology is different from that of true shapeshifters such as Werewolves.

Learn more here.

SMITE video game

Emperor Zhou’s desire for the Goddess Nu Wa was considered an obsession, perhaps even madness. She sent signs and missives to reject him, but Zhou would not be dissuaded. At night, he slipped into her temple and scrawled poetry across the walls espousing his undying love. This defilement could not go unanswered. Nu Wa summoned the most conniving and wicked Fox Spirit she could and thrust it upon the Emperor with intent to spiral his life into misery. Little did Nu Wa know what she had just unleashed.

For thousands of years the nine-tailed Fox spirit had lived, biding its time, honing its malicious appetites. Finally in human form, it assumed the irresistible guise of Da Ji, and to Emperor Zhou, she could do no wrong.

With free reign of the Empire and its people, Da Ji reveled in torture and malice. She took delight in their screams of pain as she danced to playful music composed at her command, the musicians trembling for every note.

So grievous did these atrocities grow that the people rose up and overthrew their ruler. They stormed the gates, toppled the throne, and pursued Zhou to his bed chamber, where the crazed emperor finally took his own life.

Yet, Da Ji managed to escape and conceal herself. Now she joins the fray, not to save the universe, nor empower her pantheon, but instead to soak up every last cry of anguish from her enemies.

Learn more here.

Pokémon

Vulpix: If it is attacked by an enemy that is stronger than itself, it feigns injury to fool the enemy and escapes. [Evolves into Ninetales.]

Learn more here.

Ninetales: Some legends claim that each of its nine tails has its own unique type of special mystical power.

Learn more here.

Kitsune in My Writing

Origin of the Fae: Kitsune

Kitsunes don’t allow anyone to know their true names, answering to “The Kitsune” or “Kit”. Most have gone into retirement as humans no longer value their protection or mischief-making. They can appear as humans (in any form, age, gender, etc.) though they prefer to stay in fox-form. The only way to know them apart is their colouring: young Kitsunes are red with a single tail, older Kitsunes up to five tails are gold, and the oldest among their kind (up to nine tails) are white. They sometimes have jewels on them that are different colours, known as Kitsune gems, and are believed to be their souls – though that is just something to augment their powers. They are immortal and move between realms easily.

Absolutely harmless while on retirement, she’s scary when active.

See this immortal in action in my writing:

Blaze of Glory (Irascible Immortals #5)

Kit was curled up on top of a cabinet in her fox-form, high enough not to attract unwanted attention from the rowdy partiers, but central enough to keep an eye on everyone. Especially Apollo…

…‘Contest?’ Apollo asked excitedly, pulling out a lyre from somewhere.

‘No. Not like that, young-god-of-everything-silly. No. You shall compete against my champion, Bast, in a contest of trickery.’

Bast came into the room in her warrior form, knives flashing like claws.

‘But she’s like the Egyptian equivalent of my twin!’

Both Artemis and Bast glared at him. Kit laughed.

‘Then Kitsune will join the two of you, push you to your limits. She is, after all, the greatest trickster in the world.’

Kit stopped laughing. ‘Respectfully, I’m retired.’

Blaze of Glory, Irascible Immortals #5, Ronel Janse van Vuuren

Remember that you can request all of my books from your local library!

Where did you encounter this immortal for the first time? Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to this immortal.

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