Prince Hanzoku terrorized by a nine-tailed fox. Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th century.

Kitsune (狐, Kitsune^? [ki.tsɯ.ne])(Pronunciation) (help· info) is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others — as foxes in folklore often do — others portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1398x2130, 941 KB) Source: http://visipix. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1398x2130, 941 KB) Source: http://visipix. ... Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese: 歌川国芳) (1798 - 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese woodblock print. ... Image File history File links Kitsune. ... This article is about the animal. ... Japanese folklore is the folklore of Japan. ... Not to be confused with Magic (illusion). ... For other uses, see Shapeshifting (disambiguation). ...

Foxes and human beings lived in close proximity in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serve as his messengers. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has — they may have as many as nine — the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make offerings to them as to a deity. Ancient Japan is a term used for the early periods of Japanese history. ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... Shinto ) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ... “Megami” redirects here. ... Marcus Aurelius and members of the Imperial family offer sacrifice in gratitude for success against Germanic tribes: contemporary bas-relief, Capitoline Museum, Rome For other uses, see Sacrifice (disambiguation). ...

Origins

A nine-tailed fox, from the Qing edition of the Shan Hai Jing. Fox spirits of Chinese folklore are similar to kitsune.

There is debate whether the kitsune myths originated entirely from foreign sources or are in part an indigenous Japanese concept dating as far back as the fifth century BC. It is widely agreed that at least some fox myths in Japan can be traced to China, Korea, or India. Many of the earliest surviving stories are recorded in the Konjaku Monogatari, an 11th-century collection of Chinese, Indian, and Japanese narratives.^[1] Chinese folk tales tell of kitsune-like fox spirits that may have up to nine tails. In Korea, a kumiho (nine-tail fox) is a mythical creature that has lived for 1,000 years. Differences exist; for instance the kumiho is always depicted as evil, unlike its Japanese counterpart. Nevertheless, scholars such as Ugo A. Casal suggest that the similarities show that fox myths spread from Indian sources such as the Hitopadesha to China and Korea, and ultimately to Japan.^[2] Image File history File links NineTailsFox. ... Image File history File links NineTailsFox. ... Shanhaijing illustration of Nüwa Shanhaijing illustration of Nine-tailed Fox, companion of Xi Wangmu The Shan Hai Jing (Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Shan Hai Ching; literally Classic of the Mountains and Seas) is a Chinese classic text that is at least 2,000 years old. ... nine-tailed fox, from the Qing edition of the Shan Hai Jing Huli jing (狐狸精 hǔlijīng) in Chinese mythology are fox spirits that are akin to European faeries or to the Japanese yōkai known as kitsune. ... Chinese folktales have a long history, going back several thousand years. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Konjaku Monogatarishū (今昔物語集, kon present + jaku past + monogatari tale + shū collection) is a Japanese collection of over one thousand tales written during the late Heian Period (794-1192). ... nine-tailed fox, from the Qing edition of the Shan Hai Jing Huli jing (狐狸精 hǔlijīng) in Chinese mythology are fox spirits that are akin to European faeries or to the Japanese yōkai known as kitsune. ... The kumiho (literally nine-tailed fox) is a creature that appears in the oral tales and legends of Korea. ... Hitopadesha is a collection of Sanskrit fables in prose and verse; it is similar to, though distinct from, the Panchatantra. ...

In contrast, Japanese folklorist Kiyoshi Nozaki argues that the Japanese regarded kitsune positively as early as the 4th century A.D.; the only things imported from China or Korea were the kitsune's negative attributes.^[3] He states that, according to a 16th-century book of records called the Nihon Ryakki, foxes and human beings lived in close proximity in ancient Japan, and he contends that indigenous legends about the creatures arose as a result.^[4] Inari scholar Karen Smyers notes that the idea of the fox as seductress and the connection of the fox myths to Buddhism were introduced into Japanese folklore through similar Chinese stories, but she maintains that some fox stories contain elements unique to Japan.^[5] The Nihon Ryakki ) or Nihon Ryakuki (1596[1]) (An Abbreviated Record of Japan) is a chronicle of the history of Japan. ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... Image:Buddhasunset crop. ...

Japan is home to two red fox subspecies: the Hokkaido fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki, pictured), and the Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica).

File links The following pages link to this file: Red Fox Categories: Conditional use images | Wikipedia featured pictures ... File links The following pages link to this file: Red Fox Categories: Conditional use images | Wikipedia featured pictures ... For other uses, see Red Fox (disambiguation). ... This article is about the zoological term. ...

Etymology

The full etymology is unknown. The oldest known usage of the word is in the 794 text Shin'yaku Kegonkyō Ongi Shiki (新訳華厳経音義私記, Shin'yaku Kegonkyō Ongi Shiki^?). Other old sources include Nihon Ryōiki (810–824) and Wamyō Ruijushō (c. 934). These oldest sources are written in Man'yōgana which clearly identifies the historical spelling as ki₁tune. Following several diachronic phonological changes, this becomes kitsune. Events Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital. ... 8-10 is also going to be the Toronto Raptors record as of Dec. ... Events Iñigo Arista revolts against the Franks and establishes the kingdom of Navarre (approximate date). ... The Wamyō ruijushō or Wamyō ruijÅ«shō Japanese names [for things], classified and annotated) is a 938 CE Japanese dictionary of Chinese characters. ... Events The Goryeo army defeats Hubaekje forces in present-day Hongseong County. ... It has been suggested that Shakukun be merged into this article or section. ... Jōdai Tokushu Kanazukai ) is an archaic kanazukai used to write Japanese during the Nara period. ...

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

• Myōgoki (1268) suggests that it is so called because it is "always (tsune) yellow (ki)".
• Early Kamakura period Mizukagami indicates that it means "came (ki) [perfective case particle tsu] to bedroom (ne)" due to a legend that a kitsune would change into one's wife and bear children.
• Arai Hakuseki in Tōga (1717) suggests that ki means "stench", tsu is a possessive particle, and ne is related to inu, the word for "dog".
• Tanikawa Kotosuga in Wakun no Shiori (1777–1887) suggests that ki means "yellow", tsu is a possessive particle, and ne is related to neko, the word for cat.
• Ōtsuki Fumihiko in Daigenkai (1932–1935) proposes that kitsu is an onomatopoeia for the animal, and that ne is an affix or an honorific word meaning a servant of an Inari shrine.

According to Nozaki, the word kitsune was originally onomatopoeia.^[4] Kitsu represented a fox's yelp and came to be the general word for fox. -Ne signifies an affectionate mood, which Nozaki presents as further evidence of an established, non-imported tradition of benevolent foxes in Japanese folklore.^[3] Kitsu is now archaic; in modern Japanese, a fox's cry is transcribed as kon kon or gon gon. Conradin (right) is executed by Charles I of Sicily, thus extinguishing the Hohenstaufen dynasty, in 1268. ... The following text needs to be harmonized with text in the article History of Japan#Kamakura Period. ... Arai Hakuseki (新井 白石 March 24, 1657-June 29, 1725) is a Confucianist, poet and politician in Japan during the middle of Edo Period, who advised the Shogun, Ienobu. ... // Events January 4 — The Netherlands, Britain & France sign Triple Alliance February 26-March 6 What is now the northeastern United States was paralyzed by a series of blizzards that buried the region. ... Bust of Ōtsuki Fumihiko at Sendai Dai-Ichi Elementary School, Miyagi Prefecture Ōtsuki Fumihiko ); (15 October 1847 - 17 February 1928) was a Japanese lexicographer, linguist, and historian. ... For the supervillain, see Onomatopoeia (comics). ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... A torii is a gate leading to a jinja. ... For the supervillain, see Onomatopoeia (comics). ...

One of the oldest surviving kitsune tales provides a widely known folk etymology of the word kitsune; the story is now known to be false.^[6] Unlike most tales of kitsune who become human and marry human males, this one does not end tragically:^[7][8] Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways: A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word, a false etymology. ...

Because the fox returns to her husband each night as a woman but leaves each morning as a fox, she is called Kitsune. In classical Japanese, kitsu-ne means come and sleep, and ki-tsune means always comes.^[8]

Characteristics

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

Kitsune are believed to possess superior intelligence, long life, and magical powers. They are a type of yōkai, or spiritual entity, and the word kitsune is often translated as fox spirit. However, this does not mean that kitsune are ghosts, nor that they are fundamentally different from regular foxes. Because the word spirit is used to reflect a state of knowledge or enlightenment, all long-lived foxes gain supernatural abilities.^[5] Download high resolution version (731x1000, 236 KB)Statue of fox at Shinto Inari shrine adjacent to Todaiji (Todai-ji) Buddhism Buddhist temple Nara Japan. ... Download high resolution version (731x1000, 236 KB)Statue of fox at Shinto Inari shrine adjacent to Todaiji (Todai-ji) Buddhism Buddhist temple Nara Japan. ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... Tōdai-ji (東大寺) (meaning the Eastern Great Temple),[1] is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. ... Image:Buddhasunset crop. ... Nara ) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. ... Not to be confused with Magic (illusion). ... ukiyo-e print of yōkai, by Aotoshi Matsui Yōkai apparitions, spirits, or demons, also romanized youkai, or yokai) are a class of obake, creatures in Japanese folklore (many with Chinese origins) ranging from the evil oni to the mischievous kitsune or snow woman Yuki-onna. ... For other uses, see Ghost (disambiguation). ...

There are two common classifications of kitsune. The myōbu are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes. On the other hand, the wild nogitsune (野狐) (literally, field foxes) tend to be mischievous or even malicious.^[9] Local traditions add further types.^[9] For example, a ninko is an invisible fox spirit that human beings can only perceive when it possesses them. Another tradition classifies kitsune into one of thirteen types defined by which supernatural abilities the kitsune possesses.^[10][11] In Japan, myōbu ) is a title which was given to ladies of the fifth rank in the imperial court or to midrank noblewomen. ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... Spiritual possession is a concept of supernatural and/or superstitious belief systems whereby gods, daemons, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body, resulting in noticeable changes in behaviour. ...

Physically, kitsune are noted for having as many as nine tails.^[12] Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful fox; in fact, some folktales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 1,000 years.^[13] One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in folk stories.^[14] When a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes white or gold.^[12] These kyūbi no kitsune (nine-tailed foxes) gain the abilities to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. Other tales attribute them infinite wisdom (omniscience).^[15] Omniscience is the capacity to know everything infinitely, or at least everything that can be known about a character including thoughts, feelings, life and the universe, etc. ...

This obake karuta (monster card) from the early 19th century depicts a kitsune. The associated game involves matching clues from folklore to pictures of specific creatures.

A kitsune may take on human form, an ability learned when it reaches a certain age — usually 100 years, although some tales say 50.^[13] As a common prerequisite for the transformation, the fox must place reeds, a broad leaf, or a skull over its head.^[16] Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women, young girls, or elderly men. These shapes are not limited by the fox's age or gender,^[5] and a kitsune can duplicate the appearance of a specific person.^[17] Foxes are particularly renowned for impersonating beautiful women. Common belief in medieval Japan was that any woman encountered alone, especially at dusk or night, could be a fox.^[18] Image File history File linksMetadata Obake_Karuta_3-01. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Obake_Karuta_3-01. ... Karuta , loaned from the Portuguese word meaning card (carta)) is a Japanese card game. ... For other uses, see Shapeshifting (disambiguation). ... The written history of Japan began with brief appearances in Chinese history texts from the first century AD. However, archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the upper paleolithic period. ...

In some stories, kitsune have difficulty hiding their tails when they take human form; looking for the tail, perhaps when the fox gets drunk or careless, is a common method of discerning the creature's true nature.^[19] Variants on the theme have the kitsune retain other foxlike traits, such as a coating of fine hair, a fox-shaped shadow, or a reflection that shows its true form.^[20] Kitsune-gao or fox-faced refers to human females who have a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Traditionally, this facial structure is considered attractive, and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form.^[21] Kitsune have a fear and hatred of dogs even while in human form, and some become so rattled by the presence of dogs that they revert to the shape of a fox and flee. A particularly devout individual may be able to see through a fox's disguise automatically.^[22]

One folk story illustrating these imperfections in the kitsune's human shape concerns Koan, a historical person credited with wisdom and magical powers of divination. According to the story, he was staying at the home of one of his devotees when he scalded his foot entering a bath because the water had been drawn too hot. Then, "in his pain, he ran out of the bathroom naked. When the people of the household saw him, they were astonished to see that Koan had fur covering much of his body, along with a fox's tail. Then Koan transformed in front of them, becoming an elderly fox and running away."^[23] A koan (pronounced ) is a story, dialog, question, or statement in the history and lore of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, generally containing aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet that may be accessible to intuition. ... For other uses, see Divination (disambiguation). ...

Other supernatural abilities commonly attributed to the kitsune include possession, mouths or tails that generate fire or lightning (known as kitsune-bi; literally, fox-fire), willful manifestation in the dreams of others, flight, invisibility, and the creation of illusions so elaborate as to be almost indistinguishable from reality.^[20][16] Some tales speak of kitsune with even greater powers, able to bend time and space, drive people mad, or take fantastic shapes such as a tree of incredible height or a second moon in the sky.^[24][25] Other kitsune have characteristics reminiscent of vampires or succubi and feed on the life or spirit of human beings, generally through sexual contact.^[26] For other uses, see illusion (disambiguation). ... Philip Burne-Jones, The Vampire, 1897 Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings that subsist on human and/or animal lifeforce. ... For other uses, see Succubus (disambiguation). ...

Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade kogitsune-maru (Little Fox) at the end of the 10th century. The legend is the subject of the noh drama Sanjō Kokaji.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1573x2227, 692 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1573x2227, 692 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Katana ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Kitsunetsuki

Kitsunetsuki (狐憑き or 狐付き; also written kitsune-tsuki) literally means the state of being possessed by a fox. The victim is typically a young woman, whom the fox enters beneath her fingernails or through her breasts.^[27] In some cases, the victims' facial expressions are said to change in such a way that they resemble those of a fox. Japanese tradition holds that fox possession can cause illiterate victims to temporarily gain the ability to read.^[28]

Folklorist Lafcadio Hearn describes the condition in the first volume of his Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan: Lafcadio Hearn, aka Koizumi Yakumo. ...

He goes on to note that, once freed from the possession, the victim will never again be able to eat tofu, azukimeshi, or other foods favored by foxes. For other uses, see Tofu (disambiguation). ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Exorcism, often performed at an Inari shrine, may induce a fox to leave its host.^[30] In the past, when such gentle measures failed or a priest was not available, victims of kitsunetsuki were beaten or badly burned in hopes of forcing the fox to leave. Entire families were ostracized by their communities after a member of the family was thought to be possessed.^[29] Saint Francis exorcised demons in Arezzo, fresco of Giotto Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure, correctly pronounced exercism) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed (taken control of). ...

In Japan, kitsunetsuki was noted as a disease as early as the Heian period and remained a common diagnosis for mental illness until the early 20th century.^[31][32] Possession was the explanation for the abnormal behavior displayed by the afflicted individuals. In the late 19th century, Dr. Shunichi Shimamura noted that physical diseases that caused fever were often considered kitsunetsuki.^[33] The belief has lost favor, but stories of fox possession still appear in the tabloid press and popular media. One notable occasion involved allegations that members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult had been possessed.^[34] The following text needs to be harmonized with text in the article History of Japan#Heian Period. ... A mental illness or mental disorder refers to one of many mental health conditions characterized by distress, impaired cognitive functioning, atypical behavior, emotional dysregulation, and/or maladaptive behavior. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In medicine, kitsunetsuki is an ethnic psychosis unique to Japanese culture. Those who suffer from the condition believe they are possessed by a fox.^[35] Symptoms include cravings for rice or sweet red beans, listlessness, restlessness, and aversion to eye contact. Kitsunetsuki is similar to but distinct from clinical lycanthropy.^[36] Psychosis is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a loss of contact with reality. Stedmans Medical Dictionary defines psychosis as a severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration... Japanese culture and language Japans isolation until the arrival of the Black Ships and the Meiji era produced a culture distinctively different from any other, and echoes of this uniqueness persist today. ... Binomial name Vigna angularis (Willd. ... Clinical lycanthropy is a psychiatric syndrome that involves a delusional belief that the affected person is, or has, transformed into an animal. ...

Hoshi no tama

Kitsune glowing with fox-fire gather near Edo. Print by Hiroshige.

Depictions of kitsune or their possessed victims may feature round or onion-shaped white balls known as hoshi no tama (star balls). Tales describe these as glowing with kitsune-bi, or fox-fire.^[37] Some stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls.^[38] When not in human form or possessing a human, a kitsune keeps the ball in its mouth or carries it on its tail.^[13] Jewels are a common symbol of Inari, and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them are rare.^[39] Image File history File links Hiroshige-100-views-of-edo-fox-fires. ... Image File history File links Hiroshige-100-views-of-edo-fox-fires. ... Edo (Japanese: , literally: bay-door, estuary, pronounced //), once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo. ... Memorial portrait of Hiroshige by Kunisada. ...

One belief is that when a kitsune changes shape, its hoshi no tama holds a portion of its magical power. Another tradition is that the pearl represents the kitsune's soul; the kitsune will die if separated from it for long. Those who obtain the ball may be able to extract a promise from the kitsune to help them in exchange for its return.^[40] For example, a 12th-century tale describes a man using a fox's hoshi no tama to secure a favor:

The fox later saves his life by leading him past a band of armed bandits.^[41]

Portrayal

Inari appears to a warrior. This portrayal of Inari shows the influence of Dakiniten concepts from Buddhism. Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1841x2621, 1487 KB) Source: http://visipix. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1841x2621, 1487 KB) Source: http://visipix. ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... A dakini (Sanskrit: sky dancer; Chinese language: 空行女) is a Tantric priestess of ancient India who carried the souls of the dead to the sky. This Buddhist figure is particularly upheld in Tibetan Buddhism. ... Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese: 歌川国芳) (1798 - 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese woodblock print. ...

Servants of Inari

Kitsune are associated with Inari, the Shinto deity of rice.^[42] This association has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance.^[43] Originally, kitsune were Inari's messengers, but the line between the two is now blurred so that Inari himself may be depicted as a fox. Likewise, entire shrines are dedicated to kitsune, where devotees can leave offerings.^[9] Fox spirits are particularly fond of a fried sliced tofu called aburage, which is accordingly found in kitsune udon and kitsune soba. Similarly, Inari-zushi is a type of sushi named for Inari that consists of rice-filled pouches of fried tofu.^[44] There is speculation among folklorists as to whether another Shinto fox deity existed in the past. Foxes have long been worshipped as kami.^[45] Shinto ) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ... Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the practice of offering food, or the lives of animals or people to the gods, as an act of propitiation or worship. ... Aburage (properly called abura-age = 油揚げ) is a Japanese food product made from soybeans. ... This article is about the Japanese noodle dish. ... Soba served on a zaru Soba ) is the Japanese word for buckwheat. ... This article is about Japanese cuisine. ...

Inari's kitsune are white, a color of good omen.^[9] They possess the power to ward off evil, and they sometimes serve as guardian spirits. In addition to protecting Inari shrines, they are petitioned to intervene on behalf of the locals and particularly to aid against troublesome nogitsune. Black foxes and nine-tailed foxes are likewise considered good omens.^[19] Examples of omens from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493): natural phenomena and strange births. ...

According to beliefs derived from fusui (feng shui), the fox's power over evil is such that a mere statue of a fox can dispel the evil kimon, or energy, that flows from the northeast. Many Inari shrines, such as the famous Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, feature such statues, sometimes large numbers of them. Fēng Shuǐ (風水 – literally, wind and water pronounced fung shuway), which may be more than 3000 years old, is the ancient practice of placement to achieve harmony with the environment. ... For other uses, see Qi (disambiguation). ... The gates at Fushimi Inari Fushimi Inari Taisha is a shinto jinja dedicated to Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. ... Kyoto )   is a city in the central part of the island of HonshÅ«, Japan. ...

Kitsune are connected to the Buddhist religion through the Dakiniten, goddesses conflated with Inari's female aspect. Dakiniten is depicted as a female boddhisattva wielding a sword and riding a flying white fox.^[46] A dakini (Sanskrit: sky dancer; Chinese language: 空行女) is a Tantric priestess of ancient India who carried the souls of the dead to the sky. This Buddhist figure is particularly upheld in Tibetan Buddhism. ... Prince Siddhartha Gautama as a bodhisattva, before becoming a Buddha. ...

Tricksters

The Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto features numerous kitsune statues.

Kitsune are often presented as tricksters, with motives that vary from mischief to malevolence. Stories tell of kitsune playing tricks on overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful commoners, while the crueler ones abuse poor tradesmen and farmers or devout Buddhist monks. Their victims are usually men; women are possessed instead.^[18] For example, kitsune are thought to employ their kitsune-bi or fox-fire to lead travelers astray in the manner of a will o' the wisp.^[47][48] Another tactic is for the kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions.^[18] Other common goals of trickster kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight. Image File history File linksMetadata Fushimi_Inari_mini_torii. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Fushimi_Inari_mini_torii. ... The gates at Fushimi Inari Fushimi Inari Taisha is a shinto jinja dedicated to Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. ... Location of Kyoto, on the main island of Japan Kyoto (Japanese: 京都市; Kyōto-shi) is a city in Japan that has a population of 1. ... The trickster figure Reynard the Fox as depicted in an 1869 childrens book by Michel Rodange. ... For other uses, see Samurai (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Will-o-the-wisp (disambiguation). ...

A traditional game called kitsune-ken (fox-fist) references the kitsune's powers over human beings. The game is similar to rock, paper, scissors, but the three hand positions signify a fox, a hunter, and a village headman. The headman beats the hunter, whom he outranks; the hunter beats the fox, whom he shoots; the fox beats the headman, whom he bewitches.^[49][50] Rock, Paper, Scissors chart Listen to this article ( info/dl) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-07-13, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...

This ambiguous portrayal, coupled with their reputation for vengefulness, leads people to try to discover a troublesome fox's motives. In one case, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a high government official, wrote a letter to the kami Inari: This is a Japanese name; the family name is Toyotomi Toyotomi Hideyoshi ) February 2, 1536 or March 26, 1537 – September 18, 1598) was a sengoku daimyo who unified Japan. ...

Tamamo-no-Mae, a legendary kitsune featured in noh and kyogen plays. Print by Yoshitoshi.

Kitsune keep their promises and strive to repay any favor. Occasionally a kitsune attaches itself to a person or household, where they can cause all sorts of mischief. In one story from the 12th century, only the homeowner's threat to exterminate the foxes convinces them to behave. The kitsune patriarch appears in the man's dreams: Image File history File links Tamamo-no-mae-woodblock. ... Image File history File links Tamamo-no-mae-woodblock. ... Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻前) is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Kyogen (Japanese: 狂言 Kyōgen, literally mad words or wild speech) is a form of traditional Japanese theater. ... Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Owariya Yonejiro): 1839 - 1892 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839 - June 9, 1892) (Japanese: 月岡 芳年; also named Taiso Yoshitoshi 大蘇 芳年) was the last great master - and one of the great innovative and creative geniuses - of the Japanese woodblock print, Ukiyo-e. ...

Other kitsune use their magic for the benefit of their companion or hosts as long as the human beings treat them with respect. As yōkai, however, kitsune do not share human morality, and a kitsune who has adopted a house in this manner may, for example, bring its host money or items that it has stolen from the neighbors. Accordingly, common households thought to harbor kitsune are treated with suspicion.^[53] Oddly, samurai families were often reputed to share similar arrangements with kitsune, but these foxes were considered myōbu and the use of their magic a sign of prestige.^[54] Abandoned homes were common haunts for kitsune.^[18] One 12th-century story tells of a minister moving into an old mansion only to discover a family of foxes living there. They first try to scare him away, then claim that the house "has been ours for many years, and . . . we wish to register a vigorous protest." The man refuses, and the foxes resign themselves to moving to an abandoned lot nearby.^[55]

Tales distinguish kitsune gifts from kitsune payments. If a kitsune offers a payment or reward that includes money or material wealth, part or all of the sum will consist of old paper, leaves, twigs, stones, or similar valueless items under a magical illusion.^[56][57] True kitsune gifts are usually intangibles, such as protection, knowledge, or long life.^[57]

The kitsune Kuzunoha casts a fox's shadow even in human form. Kuzunoha is a popular figure in folklore and the subject of kabuki plays. Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (500x698, 120 KB) Kuniyoshi Ichiyusai, ukiyo-e color print of Kuzunoha the fox woman. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (500x698, 120 KB) Kuniyoshi Ichiyusai, ukiyo-e color print of Kuzunoha the fox woman. ... kitsune of folklore. ... The oldest Kabuki theatre in Japan: the Minamiza in Kyoto The Kabukiza in Ginza is one of Tokyos leading kabuki theaters. ... Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese: 歌川国芳) (1798 - 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese woodblock print. ...

Wives and lovers

Kitsune are commonly portrayed as lovers, usually in stories involving a young human male and a kitsune who takes the form of a human woman.^[58] The kitsune may be a seductress, but these stories are more often romantic in nature.^[59] Typically, the young man unknowingly marries the fox, who proves a devoted wife. The man eventually discovers the fox's true nature, and the fox-wife is forced to leave him. In some cases, the husband wakes as if from a dream, filthy, disoriented, and far from home. He must then return to confront his abandoned family in shame.

Many stories tell of fox-wives bearing children. When such progeny are human, they possess special physical or supernatural qualities that often pass to their own children.^[19] The astrologer-magician Abe no Seimei was reputed to have inherited such extraordinary powers.^[60] Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Hand-coloured version of the anonymous Flammarion woodcut (1888). ... Abe no Seimei ) (921?-1005?) was an onmyoji, a leading specialist of onmyodo during the middle of the Heian Period in Japan. ...

Other stories tell of kitsune marrying one another. Rain falling from a clear sky — a sunshower — is sometimes called kitsune no yomeiri or the kitsune's wedding, in reference to a folktale describing a wedding ceremony between the creatures being held during such conditions.^[61] The event is considered a good omen, but the kitsune will seek revenge on any uninvited guests.^[62] Sunshower is an expression which refers to rain while the sun shines in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and also in parts of Britain. ...

In fiction

Netsuke carving featuring a dancing kitsune.

Embedded in Japanese folklore as they are, kitsune appear in numerous Japanese works. Noh, kyogen, bunraku, and kabuki plays derived from folk tales feature them,^[63][64] as do contemporary works such as manga and video games, for example Miles "Tails" Prower from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. In the one of the most famous manga and anime Naruto the title character Naruto Uzumaki is a living prison for a nine tailed fox. In the popular cartoon and game Pokemon, Vulpix and its evolved form Ninetails are fox-like pokemon, with Vulpix resembling a fox with six tails and Ninetails resembling a fox with nine talis (hence its name). Another famous kitsune is Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho. Western authors of fiction have begun to make use of the kitsune legends. Although these portrayals vary considerably, kitsune are generally depicted in accordance with folk stories, as wise, cunning, and powerful beings. Image File history File linksMetadata Gechu-dancing-fox. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Gechu-dancing-fox. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Kyogen (Japanese: 狂言 Kyōgen, literally mad words or wild speech) is a form of traditional Japanese theater. ... Bunraku (Japanese: 文楽), also known as Ningyō jōruri (人形浄瑠璃), is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684. ... The oldest Kabuki theatre in Japan: the Minamiza in Kyoto The Kabukiza in Ginza is one of Tokyos leading kabuki theaters. ... This article is about the comics published in East Asian countries. ... “Computer and video games” redirects here. ... Sonic the Hedgehog comics, see Tails (comic character). ... Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump Shonen Jump BANZAI! Shonen Jump Weekly Comic Original run November 1999 – Ongoing No. ... Naruto Uzumaki ) is the title character and protagonist in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. ... “Pokemon” redirects here. ... Vulpix Rokon in original Japanese language versions) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the Japanese Pokémon media franchise. ... Ninetales (Kyukon (キュウコン Kyuukon) in the original Japanese) is the evolved form of Vulpix. ... Kurama (蔵馬), also known as Shuichi Minamino (南野秀一 Minamino ShÅ«ichi) (The Japanese spelling of his name is Minamino Shuuichi) is one of the main four characters of the popular anime and manga series YuYu Hakusho created by Yoshihiro Togashi. ... YuYu Hakusho logo (English manga) YuYu Hakusho (幽★遊★白書 YūYū Hakusho, literally The Playful Ghost White Paper, meaning Ghost Files/Poltergeist Report) is a manga and anime series by Yoshihiro Togashi. ...

Kuzunoha, mother of Abe no Seimei, is a well-known kitsune character in traditional Japanese theater. She is featured in the five-part bunraku and kabuki play Ashiya Dōman Ōuchi Kagami (The Mirror of Ashiya Dōman and Ōuchi). The fourth part, Kuzunoha or The Fox of Shinoda Wood, is often performed independently of the other scenes and tells of the discovery of Kuzunoha's kitsune nature and her subsequent departure from her husband and child.^[65][66] kitsune of folklore. ... Abe no Seimei ) (921?-1005?) was an onmyoji, a leading specialist of onmyodo during the middle of the Heian Period in Japan. ...

Tamamo-no-Mae is the subject of the noh drama Sesshoseki (The Death Stone) and of kabuki and kyogen plays titled Tamamonomae (The Beautiful Fox Witch). Tamamo-no-Mae commits evil deeds in India, China, and Japan but is discovered and dies. Her spirit transforms into the "killing stone" of the noh play's title. She is eventually redeemed by the Buddhist priest Gennō.^[67][68][69] Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻前) is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. ...

Genkurō is a kitsune renowned for his filial piety. In the bunraku and kabuki drama Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees), Yoshitsune's lover, Lady Shizuka, owns a hand-drum made from the skins of Genkuro's parents. The fox takes human form and becomes his retainer, Satō Tadanobu, but his identity is revealed. The kitsune explains that he hears the voice of his parents when the drum is struck. Yoshitsune and Shizuka give him the drum, so Genkuro grants Yoshitsune magical protection.^[70][71][72] Genkurō (源九郎) is a shapechanging kitsune (fox-spirit) character who features prominently in the famous jōruri and kabuki play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees). Spoiler warning: Disguising himself as Satō Tadanobu, a retainer of Yoshitsunes, he rescues Yoshitsunes lover Shizuka Gozen from agents of... Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (義経千本桜), or Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, is a Japanese play, one of the three most popular and famous in the Kabuki repertoire[1]. Originally written in 1747 for the jōruri puppet theater by Takeda Izumo II, Miyoshi Shōraku and Namiki SenryÅ« I, it was... Yoshitsune by Kikuchi Yosai Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms, by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka Minamoto no Yoshitsune () (1159 – June 15, 1189) was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. ... Lady Shizuka, in a book illustration by Kikuchi Yōsai. ... A tsuzumi is an hourglass-shaped drum introduced from Asia in the 17th century. ...

In netsuke

Kitsune are frequently depicted in netsuke, small carved objects originally intended to fasten a pouch to the sash of a garment. Netsuke have become a form of art known for their depiction of folklore and noh characters. a monkey-shaped netsuke a netsuke maintains an inro (box) in the obi (belt) Japanese artists starting in the 17th century cleverly invented the miniature sculptures known as netsuke (Japanese:根付) to serve a very practical function. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Other sources

For other uses, see Shapeshifting (disambiguation). ... Lafcadio Hearn, aka Koizumi Yakumo. ... is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Inari (Japanese: 稲荷) is the Shinto god of fertility, rice, and foxes. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Kitsune

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

	Japanese mythology and folklore Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Amaterasu_cave_crop. ... Japanese mythology is a very complex system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculture-based folk religion. ... Japanese folklore is the folklore of Japan. ...
	Mythic texts and folktales: Kojiki | Nihon Shoki | Otogizōshi | Yotsuya Kaidan Urashima Tarō | Kintarō | Momotarō | Tamamo-no-Mae Divinities: Izanami | Izanagi | Amaterasu Susanoo | Ama-no-Uzume | Inari List of divinities | Kami | Seven Lucky Gods Legendary creatures: Oni | Kappa | Tengu | Tanuki | Fox | Yōkai | Dragon Mythical and sacred locations: Mt. Hiei | Mt. Fuji | Izumo | Ryūgū-jō | Takamagahara | Yomi Kojiki or Furukotofumi (古事記), also known in English as the Records of Ancient Matters, is the oldest surviving historical book recounting events of ancient earth in the Japanese language. ... Nihonshoki (日本書紀) is the second oldest history book about the ancient history of Japan. ... Illustration from otogizōshi tale, published c. ... Yotsuya Kaidan (四つ谷怪談) is a Japanese ghost story. ... Urashima Tarō ) is a Japanese fairy tale about a fisherman who rescues a turtle and is rewarded with a visit to the RyÅ«gÅ«-jō, the Dragon Palace. ... This article is about the Japanese folklore hero; for the Mortal Kombat character, see Kintaro (Mortal Kombat character). ... Bisque doll of Momotarō Momotarō (桃太郎) is a hero from Japanese folklore. ... Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻前) is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. ... In Japanese mythology, Izanami (Katakana: イザナミ; Kanji: 伊弉冉尊 or 伊邪那美命, meaning She who invites) is a goddess of both creation and death, as well as the former wife of the god Izanagi. ... 天瓊を以て滄海を探るの図. Painting by Eitaku Kobayashi (Meiji period). ... The Sun goddess emerging out of a cave, bringing sunlight back to the universe. ... Susanoo, (Japanese: 須佐之男命, Susa-no-O-no-Mikoto; also romanized as Susanoo, Susa-no-O, and Susanowo) in Shinto is the god of the sea and storms. ... Categories: Stub | Japanese goddesses ... Inari and her fox spirits help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ko-kitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. ... This is a list of divinities native to Japanese beliefs and religious traditions. ... “Megami” redirects here. ... The seven fortune gods (七福神, shichi fukujin) in Japan refer to the seven gods of good fortune in Japanese folklore: ; . They are often the subject of netsuke carvings and other representations. ... This article is about the creatures of Japanese folklore. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Tengu and a Buddhist monk, by Kawanabe Kyōsai. ... Pottery statue of tanuki Wild Tanuki Mt. ... ukiyo-e print of yōkai, by Aotoshi Matsui Yōkai apparitions, spirits, or demons, also romanized youkai, or yokai) are a class of obake, creatures in Japanese folklore (many with Chinese origins) ranging from the evil oni to the mischievous kitsune or snow woman Yuki-onna. ... Japanese Dragon water fountain in Fujiyoshida. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Mount Fuji Mount Fuji , IPA: )  , is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,338 ft). ... Izumo (Japanese: 出雲国; Izumo no kuni) was an old province of Japan which today consists of the eastern part of Shimane prefecture in the Chugoku region. ... In Japanese mythology, RyÅ«gÅ«-jō (竜宮城) is the undersea palace of RyÅ«jin, the dragon god of the sea. ... Takama-ga-hara (Japanese: 高天原), or The High Plain of Heaven, is a place in Japanese mythology. ... This article is about the location in japanese mythology. ...
	Religions | Sacred objects | Creatures and spirits

The primary religions of Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism (the latter is a pagan, animist religion). ... The following is a list of sacred objects in Japanese mythology. ... The following is a list of yōkai, obake, yūrei and other legendary creatures which are notable in Japanese folklore, mythology, literature and art. ...