Huli jing () are
Chinese mythological creatures usually capable of
shapeshifting
In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shape-shifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through an inherently superhuman ability, divine intervention, demonic manipulation, Magic (paranormal), sorcery, Incantation, ...
, who may either be benevolent or malevolent spirits. In Chinese mythology and folklore, the fox spirit takes variant forms with different meanings, powers, characteristics, and shapes, including ''
huxian
Húxiān ( "Fox Immortal"), also called Húshén ( "Fox God") or Húwáng ( "Fox Ruler") is a deity in Chinese religion whose cult is present in provinces of north China (from Henan and Shandong upwards), but especially in northeast China where i ...
'' (), ''hushen'' (), ''husheng'' (), ''huwang'' (), ''huyao'' (), and ''jiuweihu'' ().
Fox spirits and nine-tailed foxes appear frequently in Chinese folklore, literature, and mythology. Depending on the story, the fox spirit's presence may be a good or a bad omen. The motif of nine-tailed foxes from Chinese culture was eventually transmitted and introduced to Japanese and Korean cultures.
Descriptions
![Yanju's tomb, nine-tailed fox](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Yanju%27s_tomb%2C_nine-tailed_fox.jpg)
The nine-tailed fox occurs in the ''
Shanhaijing
The ''Classic of Mountains and Seas'', also known as ''Shan Hai Jing'', formerly romanized as the ''Shan-hai Ching'', is a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. Early versions of the text may have existed sin ...
'' (''Classic of Mountains and Seas''), compiled from the
Warring States period
The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...
to the
Western Han
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...
period (circa fourth to circa first century BC).
[ The work states:
In chapter 14 of the ''Shanhaijing'', ]Guo Pu
Guo Pu (; AD 276–324), courtesy name Jingchun () was a Chinese historian, poet, and writer during the Eastern Jin period, and is best known as one of China's foremost commentators on ancient texts. Guo was a Taoist mystic, geomancer, collector ...
, a scholar of the Eastern Jin dynasty
Eastern may refer to:
Transportation
*China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai
* Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways
* Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991
*Eastern Air ...
, had commented that the "nine-tailed fox was an auspicious omen that appeared during times of peace."[ However, in chapter 1, another aspect of the nine-tailed fox is described:
In one ancient myth, ]Yu the Great
Yu the Great (大禹) was a legendary king in ancient China who was famed for his introduction of flood control, his establishment of the Xia dynasty which inaugurated dynastic rule in China, and his upright moral character. He figures prominen ...
encountered a white nine-tailed fox, which he interpreted as an auspicious sign that he would marry Nüjiao.[ In Han iconography, the nine-tailed fox is sometimes depicted at ]Mount Kunlun
The Kunlun Mountains ( zh, s=昆仑山, t=崑崙山, p=Kūnlún Shān, ; ug, كۇئېنلۇن تاغ تىزمىسى / قۇرۇم تاغ تىزمىسى ) constitute one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending for more than . In the bro ...
and along with Xi Wangmu
The Queen Mother of the West, known by various local names, is a mother goddess in Chinese religion and mythology, also worshipped in neighbouring Asian countries, and attested from ancient times. From her name alone some of her most importan ...
in her role as the goddess of immortality.[ According to the first-century ''Baihutong'' (''Debates in the White Tiger Hall''), the fox's nine tails symbolize abundant progeny.][
During the ]Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
(202 BC – 9 AD; 25–220 AD), the development of ideas about interspecies transformation had taken place in Chinese culture.[ The idea that non-human creatures with advancing age could assume human form is presented in works such as the '']Lunheng
The ''Lunheng'', also known by numerous English translations, is a wide-ranging Chinese classic text by Wang Chong (27- ). First published in 80, it contains critical essays on natural science and Chinese mythology, philosophy, and literature ...
'' by Wang Chong
Wang Chong (; 27 – c. 97 AD), courtesy name Zhongren (仲任), was a Chinese astronomer, meteorologist, naturalist, philosopher, and writer active during the Han Dynasty. He developed a rational, secular, naturalistic and mechanistic account ...
(27–91).[ As these traditions developed, the fox's capacity for transformation was shaped.]
Describing the transformation and other features of the fox, Guo Pu
Guo Pu (; AD 276–324), courtesy name Jingchun () was a Chinese historian, poet, and writer during the Eastern Jin period, and is best known as one of China's foremost commentators on ancient texts. Guo was a Taoist mystic, geomancer, collector ...
(276–324) made the following comment:
In ''Duìsúpiān'' (對俗篇) of the '' Baopuzi'', it is written:
In a Tang Dynasty story, foxes could become humans by wearing a skull and worshipping the Big Dipper
The Big Dipper ( US, Canada) or the Plough ( UK, Ireland) is a large asterism consisting of seven bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major; six of them are of second magnitude and one, Megrez (δ), of third magnitude. Four define a "bowl" ...
. They would try multiple skulls until they found one that fit without falling off.
The ''Youyang Zazu
The ''Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang'' () is a book written by Duan Chengshi in the 9th century. It focuses on miscellany of Chinese and foreign legends and hearsay, reports on natural phenomena, short anecdotes, and tales of the wondrous ...
'' made a connection between nine-tailed foxes and the divine:
The fox spirits encountered in tales and legends are usually females and appear as young, beautiful women. One of the most infamous fox spirits in Chinese mythology was Daji
Daji () was the favourite consort of King Zhou of Shang, the last king of the Shang dynasty in History of China, ancient China. In legends and fictions, she is portrayed as a malevolent fox spirit who kills and impersonates the real Daji. Her ide ...
, who is portrayed in the Ming Dynasty
The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
shenmo
Gods and demons fiction () is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that revolves around the deities, immortals, and monsters of Chinese mythology. The term ''shenmo xiaoshuo'', coined in the early 20th century by the writer and literary historian Lu X ...
novel ''Fengshen Yanyi
''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese names () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Cons ...
''. A beautiful daughter of a general, she was married forcibly to the cruel tyrant King Zhou of Shang
King Zhou (; ) was the pejorative posthumous name given to Di Xin of Shang () or King Shou of Shang (), the last king of the Shang dynasty of ancient China. He is also called Zhou Xin (). In Chinese, his name Zhòu (wikt:紂, 紂) also refers to a ...
. A nine-tailed fox spirit who served Nüwa
Nüwa, also read Nügua, is the mother goddess of Chinese mythology. She is credited with creating humanity and repairing the Pillar of Heaven.
As creator of mankind, she molded humans individually by hand with yellow clay.
In the Huainanzi ...
, whom King Zhou had offended, entered into and possessed her body, expelling the true Daji's soul. The spirit, as Daji, and her new husband schemed cruelly and invented many devices of torture, such as forcing righteous officials to hug red-hot metal pillars. Because of such cruelties, many people, including King Zhou's own former generals, revolted and fought against the Shang dynasty
The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty founded by Tang of Shang (Cheng Tang) that ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and ...
. Finally, King Wen of Zhou
King Wen of Zhou (; 1152–1050 BC, the Cultured King) was Count of state of Zhou, Zhou during the late Shang dynasty in ancient China. Although frequently confused with his fourth son Duke of Zhou, also known as "Lord Zhou", they are different hi ...
, one of the vassals of Shang, founded a new dynasty named after his country. The fox spirit in Daji's body was later driven out by Jiang Ziya
Jiang Ziya ( century BC – century BC), also known by several other names, was a Chinese noble who helped kings Wen and Wu of Zhou overthrow the Shang in ancient China. Following their victory at Muye, he continued to serve ...
, the first Prime Minister of the Zhou dynasty
The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by th ...
, and her spirit condemned by Nüwa herself for excessive cruelty.
Traditions
Popular fox worship during the Tang dynasty has been mentioned in a text entitled ''Hu Shen'' (Fox gods):
In the Song dynasty
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
, fox spirit cults, such as those dedicated to Daji
Daji () was the favourite consort of King Zhou of Shang, the last king of the Shang dynasty in History of China, ancient China. In legends and fictions, she is portrayed as a malevolent fox spirit who kills and impersonates the real Daji. Her ide ...
, became outlawed, but their suppression was unsuccessful. For example, in 1111, an imperial edict was issued for the destruction of many spirit shrines within Kaifeng
Kaifeng () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China. It is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is best known for having been the Chinese capital during the Nort ...
, including those of Daji.
On the eve of the Jurchen invasion, a fox went to the throne of Emperor Huizong of Song
Emperor Huizong of Song (7 June 1082 – 4 June 1135), personal name Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Northern Song dynasty of China. He was also a very well-known calligrapher. Born as the 11th son of Emperor Shenzong, he ascended the ...
. This resulted in Huizong ordering the destruction of all fox temples in Kaifeng. The city was invaded the next day, and the dynasty fell after five months.
In late imperial China, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, disruptions in the domestic environment could be attributed to the mischief of fox spirits, which could throw or tear apart objects in a manner similar to a poltergeist. "Hauntings" by foxes were often regarded as both commonplace and essentially harmless, with one seventeenth-century author commenting that "Out of every ten houses in the capital, six or seven have fox demons, but they do no harm and people are used to them".
Typically fox spirits were seen as dangerous, but some of the stories in the Qing dynasty book ''Liaozhai Zhiyi
''Liaozhai zhiyi'', sometimes shortened to ''Liaozhai'', known in English as ''Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'' or ''Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio'', is a collection of Classical Chinese stories by Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling, c ...
'' by Pu Songling
Pu Songling (, 5 June 1640 – 25 February 1715) was a Chinese writer during the Qing dynasty, best known as the author of ''Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'' (''Liaozhai zhiyi'').
Biography
Pu was born into a poor merchant family from ...
are love stories between a fox appearing as a beautiful girl and a young human male. In the fantasy novel ''The Three Sui Quash the Demons' Revolt
''The Three Sui Quash the Demons' Revolt'' (; ) also translated as ''Quelling the Demons' Revolt'' and ''The Sorcerer's Revolt'' is a Chinese novel attributed to the 14th-century novelist Luo Guanzhong, although the earliest extant version was com ...
'', a huli jing teaches a young girl magic, enabling her to conjure armies with her spells.
Belief in fox spirits has also been implicated as an explanatory factor in the incidence of attacks of ''koro Koro may refer to:
Geography
*Koro Island, a Fijian island
* Koro Sea, in the Pacific Ocean
* Koro, Ivory Coast
*Koro, Mali
* Koro, Wisconsin, United States, an unincorporated community
Languages
*Koro language (India), an endangered language spo ...
'', a culture-bound syndrome
In medicine and medical anthropology, a culture-bound syndrome, culture-specific syndrome, or folk illness is a combination of psychiatric and somatic symptoms that are considered to be a recognizable disease only within a specific society or cu ...
found in southern China and Malaysia in particular.
There is mention of the fox spirit in Chinese Chán
Chan (; of ), from Sanskrit '' dhyāna'' (meaning " meditation" or "meditative state"), is a Chinese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming especially popular during the Tang and ...
Buddhism, when Linji Yixuan
Linji Yixuan (; ja, 臨済義玄 ''Rinzai Gigen''; died 866 CE) was the founder of the Linji school of Chan Buddhism during Tang Dynasty China.
Línjì yǔlù
Information on Linji is based on the ''Línjì yǔlù'' (臨濟語錄; Japanese: ' ...
compares them to voices that speak of the Dharma
Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for '' ...
, stating "the immature young monks, not understanding this, believe in these fox-spirits..."
In popular culture
Manhua
* ''Fox Spirit Matchmaker
Fox Spirit Matchmaker ( Chinese: 狐妖小红娘, ''pinyin:'' ''Húyāo Xiǎo Hóngniáng''; Japanese: 縁結びの妖狐ちゃん) is a Chinese romance manhua work painted by Tuo Xiaoxin(庹小新) and colored by Pansi Daxian(盘丝大仙). It wa ...
'' (2015)
Film
* ''Painted Skin Painted Skin may refer to:
* "Painted Skin" (short story), short story from Pu Songling's ''Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio''
* ''Painted Skin'' (1992 film), Hong Kong film directed by King Hu
* ''Painted Skin'' (2008 film), Chinese film dir ...
'' (2008) and its sequel (2012)
* '' A Chinese Fairy Tale'' (2011)
* ''League of Gods
''League of Gods'' () is a 2016 Hong Kong-Chinese fantasy film directed by Koan Hui, co-produced by Charles Heung and Wilson Yip, based on the 16th-century novel '' Investiture of the Gods'' by Xu Zhonglin and starring an ensemble cast of Jet Li, ...
'' (2016)
* ''Once Upon a Time
"Once upon a time" is a stock phrase used to introduce a narrative of past events, typically in fairy tales and folk tales. It has been used in some form since at least 1380 (according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'') in storytelling in the ...
'' (2017)
* ''Hanson and the Beast
''Hanson and the Beast'' () is a 2017 Chinese fantasy comedy film starring Feng Shaofeng and Liu Yifei.
Plot
Yuan Shuai, a debt-ridden animal-breeder, tries to get out of his financial predicament by finding a wealthy girlfriend through matchmak ...
'' (2017)
* ''The Legend of Hei'' (2019)
* '' Jiang Ziyia'' (2020)
* '' Soul Snatcher'' (2020)
* ''Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
''Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'' is a 2021 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 25th film ...
'' (2021)
TV series
* ''The Legend of Nezha'' (2003)
* ''Strange Tales of Liao Zhai'' (2005)
* ''The Legend and the Hero
''The Legend and the Hero'' is a 2007 Chinese television series adapted from the 16th-century novel ''Fengshen Yanyi'' (also known as ''Investiture of the Gods'' or ''Creation of the Gods'') written by Xu Zhonglin and Lu Xixing. The first season ...
'' (2007) and its sequel (2009)
* ''The Investiture of the Gods
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'' (2014) and ''The Investiture of the Gods 2'' (2015)
* ''Legend of Nine Tails Fox
''Legend of Nine Tails Fox'' () is a 2016 Chinese television series based on six tales in ''Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio'' by Pu Songling. It originally aired two episodes daily on Hunan TV, Sunday through Tuesday at 22:00 as well as simu ...
'' (2016)
* ''Fox in the Screen'' (2016)
* '' Eternal Love'' (2017)
* ''Moonshine and Valentine
''Moonshine and Valentine'' (Chinese: 结爱·千岁大人的初恋), also known as ''The Love Knot: His Excellency's First Love'', is a 2018 Chinese streaming television series based on the novel ''Jie Ai·Yihe Fenghuan'' (Chinese: 结爱·异客 ...
'' (2017)
* ''Beauties in the Closet'' (2018)
* ''Investiture of the Gods
''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese names () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Cons ...
'' (2019)
* ''Love, Death & Robots
''Love, Death & Robots'' (stylized as ''LOVE DEATH + R⬮BOTS'', and represented in emoji form as ❤️❌🤖) is an adult animated anthology streaming television series created by Tim Miller and streaming on Netflix. Produced by Blur Studio ...
'' Episode 8 (2019)
* ''The Life of White Fox'' (2019)
* ''Eternal Love of Dream
''Eternal Love of Dream'' (), also known as ''Three Lives Three Worlds, The Pillow Book'', directed by Yang Hsuan, is a 2020 Chinese streaming television series starring Dilraba Dilmurat and Vengo Gao It is based on the novel '' Three Lives Thr ...
'' (2020)
See also
*Daji
Daji () was the favourite consort of King Zhou of Shang, the last king of the Shang dynasty in History of China, ancient China. In legends and fictions, she is portrayed as a malevolent fox spirit who kills and impersonates the real Daji. Her ide ...
, a well-known character who was a fox spirit in the ''Fengshen Yanyi
''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese names () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Cons ...
''
*Nine-tailed fox
The nine-tailed fox () is a mythical fox entity originating from Chinese mythology that is a common motif in East Asian mythology and the most famous fox spirit in Chinese culture.
In Chinese and East Asian folklore, foxes are depicted as spiri ...
, the most well-known fox spirit in Chinese mythology
*Huxian
Húxiān ( "Fox Immortal"), also called Húshén ( "Fox God") or Húwáng ( "Fox Ruler") is a deity in Chinese religion whose cult is present in provinces of north China (from Henan and Shandong upwards), but especially in northeast China where i ...
, the fox immortals, highly cultivated fox spirits in Chinese tradition
*Kitsune
In Japanese folklore, , are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. According to ''yōkai'' folklore, all foxes have the ability to shapeshift into human form. While some folktales speak of employing t ...
, a similar fox spirit from Japan
*Kumiho
A kumiho or gumiho (, literally " nine-tailed fox") is a creature that appears in the folktales on East Asia and legends of Korea. It is similar to the Chinese and the Japanese . It can freely transform, among other things, into a beautiful woma ...
, a similar fox spirit from Korea
*Hồ ly tinh
Hồ ly tinh ( vi-hantu, 狐狸精, link=no) also known as Hồ tiên (狐仙), Hồ ly (狐狸), Hồ tinh (狐精), Hồ yêu (狐妖), Yêu hồ (妖狐) or Cáo tinh (Chữ Nôm: 𤞺精). Vietnamese nine-tailed fox do not have a specific p ...
, a similar fox spirit from Vietnam
*''Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
''Liaozhai zhiyi'', sometimes shortened to ''Liaozhai'', known in English as ''Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'' or ''Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio'', is a collection of Classical Chinese stories by Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling, c ...
'', a compilation of supernatural stories of which many have fox spirits as a theme
References
Literature
*
*
*
*
* Ting, Nai-tung. "A Comparative Study of Three Chinese and North-American Indian Folktale Types." Asian Folklore Studies 44, no. 1 (1985): 42–43. Accessed July 1, 2020. doi:10.2307/1177982.
*Anatole, Alex. "Tao of Celestial Foxes -The Way to Immortality" Volumes I, II, III)(2015)
External links
Fox Spirits in Asia
{{Chinese mythology
Chinese legendary creatures
Yaoguai
Fairies
Inari faith
Mythological canines
Mythological foxes
Shapeshifting