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 this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, and lovers.

Foxes and humans lived close together in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto or spirit, and serve as its messengers. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a 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 sacrifices to them as to a deity.

Conversely foxes were often seen as " witch animals", especially during the
Edo period (1603–1867), and were thought of as goblins who could not be trusted (similar to some badgers and cats).

Origins

The oldest relationship between the Japanese people and the fox dates back to the Jomon period necklace made by piercing the canine teeth and jawbone of the fox.Hiromasa Kaneko. (1984) ''貝塚の獣骨の知識―人と動物とのかかわり''. pp.127–128. Tokyo bijutsu. Takayuki Seino. (2009) ''発掘された日本列島2009''. p.27. Agency for Cultural Affairs.

In '' Nihon Shoki'', which was compiled in 720 and is one of the oldest history books in Japan, foxes appeared for the first time as supernatural beings that let people know good omens and bad omens. Various legends about foxes with human personality were first described in ''Nihon Ryōiki'' which was compiled around 822. In this story, a man from Mino Province and a having a female personality get married and have a child, and the as the wife is described as a person who has a deep resentment against dogs. Also, their descendants are depicted as doing evil things by taking advantage of their power.

According to Hiroshi Moriyama, a professor at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, foxes have come to be regarded as sacred by the Japanese because they are the natural enemies of rats that eat up rice or burrow into rice paddies. Because fox urine has a rat-repelling effect, Japanese people placed a stone with fox urine on a ''hokora'' of a Shinto shrine set up near a rice field. In this way, it is assumed that people in Japan acquired the culture of respecting as messengers of Inari Okami.

Folktales from China tell of fox spirits called () that may have up to nine tails. These fox spirits were adopted to Japanese culture through merchants as . Many of the earliest surviving stories are recorded in the , an 11th-century Japanese collection of Japanese, Chinese, and Indian literary narratives.

Smyers (1999) 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.

Etymology

The full etymology is unknown. The oldest known usage of the word is in text ''Shin'yaku Kegonkyō Ongi Shiki'', dating to 794. Other old sources include Nihon Ryōiki (810–824) and Wamyō Ruijushō (c. 934). These old sources are written in Man'yōgana, which clearly identifies the historical form of the word (when rendered into a Latin-alphabet transliteration) as . Following several diachronic phonological changes, this became .

Many etymological suggestions have been made, though there is no general agreement:
*Myōgoki (1268) suggests that it is so called because it is "always () yellow ()".
*The early Kamakura-period indicates that it means "came () nowiki_/>perfective_aspect_particle_''tsu''.html" ;"title="perfective_aspect.html" ;"title="nowiki />perfective aspect">nowiki />perfective aspect particle ''tsu''">perfective_aspect.html" ;"title="nowiki />perfective aspect">nowiki />perfective aspect particle ''tsu''to bedroom ()", from a legend that a could take a human woman form, marry a man, and bear children.
*Arai Hakuseki in (1717) suggests that means 'stench', is a possessive Grammatical particle, particle, and is related to , the word for 'dog'.
*Tanikawa Kotosuga in (1777–1887) suggests that means 'yellow', is a possessive particle, and is related to , the word for 'cat'.
* Ōtsuki Fumihiko in (1932–1935) proposes that the word comes from , which is an onomatopoeia for the bark of a fox, and , which may be an honorific referring to a servant of an Inari shrine.
* Nozaki also suggests that the word was originally onomatopoetic: represented a fox's yelp and came to be the general word for 'fox'; signified an affectionate mood.

is now archaic; in modern Japanese, a fox's cry is transcribed as or .

A widely known folk etymology of the word relates to sleeping and returning home: in classical Japanese, means 'come and sleep', and means 'always comes'. This appears to be tied to a specific story; it is one of the oldest surviving tales, and unlike most of those in which a takes the form of a human woman and marries men, this one does not end tragically. From Hamel's translation:

The folk etymology would have it that because the fox returns to her husband each night as a woman but leaves each morning as a fox she is called .

Characteristics

are believed to possess superior intelligence, long life, and magical powers. They are a type of . The word is sometimes translated as 'fox spirit', which is actually a broader folkloric category. This does not mean that 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 were believed to gain supernatural abilities.

There are two common classifications of :

* The are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes in English.
* On the other hand, the tend to be mischievous or even malicious.

Local traditions add further types. For example, a is an invisible fox spirit that human beings can only perceive when it possesses them.

have as many as nine tails. Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful ; in fact, some folktales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 100 years. (In the wild, the typical lifespan of a real fox is one to three years, although individuals may live up to ten years in captivity.) One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in folktales. These gain the abilities to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. Other tales credit them with infinite wisdom (omniscience). After reaching 1,000 years of age and gaining its ninth tail, a kitsune turns a white or golden color, becoming a , the most powerful form of the , and then ascends to the heavens.

Foxes

A may take on human form, an ability learned when it reaches a certain age—usually 100 years, although some tales say 50. As a common prerequisite for the transformation, the fox must place reeds, a leaf, or a skull over its head. Common forms assumed by include beautiful women, young girls, elderly men, and less often young boys. These shapes are not limited by the fox's own age or gender, and a can duplicate the appearance of a specific person. 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-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. Variants on the theme have the retain other foxy traits, such as a coating of fine hair, a fox-shaped shadow, or a reflection that shows its true form.

In some stories, retain—and 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. A particularly devout individual may even be able to see through a fox's disguise merely by perceiving them. can also be exposed while in human form by their fear and hatred of dogs, and some become so rattled by their presence that they revert to the form of a fox and flee.

One folktale illustrating these imperfections in the 's human shape concerns Koan, a historical person later credited with legendary 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."

Other supernatural abilities commonly attributed to include possession, generating fire or lightning, willful manifestation in the dreams of others, flight, invisibility, and the creation of illusions so elaborate as to be almost indistinguishable from reality. Some tales speak of with even greater powers, able to bend time and space, drive people mad, or take fantastic shapes such as an incredibly tall tree or a second moon in the sky. Other have characteristics reminiscent of vampires or succubi, and feed on the life or spirit of human beings, generally through sexual contact.

''Kitsunetsuki''

, also written , literally means 'the state of being possessed by a fox'. The victim is usually said to be a young woman, whom the fox enters beneath her fingernails or through her breasts. 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. Though foxes in folklore can possess a person of their own will, is often attributed to the malign intents of hereditary fox employers.

Folklorist Lafcadio Hearn describes the condition in ''Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan'':

He goes on to note that, once freed from the possession, the victim would never again be able to eat tofu, , or other foods favored by foxes.

Attempting to rid someone of a fox spirit was done via an exorcism, often at an Inari shrine. If a priest was not available or if the exorcism failed, alleged victims of might be badly burned or beaten in hopes of driving out the fox spirits. The whole family of someone thought to be possessed might be ostracized by their community.

In Japan, was described as a disease as early as the Heian period and remained a common diagnosis for mental illness until the early 20th century. Possession was the explanation for the abnormal behavior displayed by the afflicted individuals. In the late 19th century, Shunichi Shimamura noted that physical diseases that caused fever were often considered . The superstition has lost favor, but stories of fox possession still occur, such as allegations that members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult had been possessed.

In modern psychiatry, the term refers to a culture-bound syndrome unique to Japanese culture. Those who suffer from the condition believe they are possessed by a fox. Symptoms include cravings for rice or sweet adzuki beans, listlessness, restlessness, and aversion to eye contact. This sense of is similar to but distinct from clinical lycanthropy.

Folk beliefs

In folk religion, stories of fox possession can be found in all lands of Japan. Those possessed by a fox are thought to suffer from a mental illness or similar condition.

There are families that tell of protective fox spirits, and in certain regions, possession by a , , , and hito-gitsune are also called . These families are said to have been able to use their fox to gain fortune, but marriage into such a family was considered forbidden as it would enlarge the family. They are also said to be able to bring about illness and curse the possessions, crops, and livestock of ones that they hate, and as a result of being considered taboo by the other families, it has led to societal problems.

The great amount of faith given to foxes can be seen in how, as a result of the Inari belief where foxes were believed to be Inari no Kami or its servant, they were employed in practices of by and practitioners and in the oracles of ; the customs related to can be seen as having developed in such a religious background.

Depictions of or people possessed by them may feature round white balls known as . Tales describe these as glowing with . Some stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls. When not in human form or possessing a human, a kitsune keeps the ball in its mouth or carries it on its tail. Jewels are a common symbol of Inari and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them are rare.

One belief is that when a changes shape, its 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 too long. Those who obtain the ball may be able to extract a promise from the to help them in exchange for its return. For example, a 12th-century tale describes a man using a fox's to secure a favor;

The fox later saves his life by leading him past a band of armed robbers.

Portrayal

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, as do contemporary works such as native animations, comic books and video games. Japanese metal idol band Babymetal refer to the kitsune myth in their lyrics and include the use of fox masks, hand signs, and animation interludes during live shows. Western authors of fiction have also made use of the kitsune legends although not in extensive detail.

Servants of Inari

Kitsune are associated with Inari, the Shinto deity of rice. This association has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. Originally, kitsune were Inari's messengers, but the line between the two is now blurred so that Inari Ōkami may be depicted as a fox. Likewise, entire shrines are dedicated to kitsune, where devotees can leave offerings. Fox spirits are said to be particularly fond of a fried slice of tofu called ''abura-age'', which is accordingly found in the noodle-based dishes kitsune udon and kitsune soba. Similarly, ''Inari-zushi'' is a type of sushi named for Inari Ōkami that consists of rice-filled pouches of fried tofu. There is speculation among folklorists as to whether another Shinto fox deity existed in the past. Foxes have long been worshipped as ''kami''.

Inari's kitsune are white, a color of a good omen. 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'', those spirit foxes who do not serve Inari. Black foxes and nine-tailed foxes are likewise considered good omens.

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.

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.

Tricksters

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. For example, kitsune are thought to employ their kitsunebi to lead travelers astray in the manner of a will-o'-the-wisp. Another tactic is for the kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions. Other common goals of trickster kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.

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.

This ambiguous portrayal, coupled with their reputation for vengefulness, leads people to try to discover a troublesome fox's motives. In one case, the 16th-century leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi wrote a letter to the ''kami'' Inari:

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:

Other kitsune use their magic for the benefit of their companion or hosts as long as the humans 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. Oddly, samurai families were often reputed to share similar arrangements with kitsune, but these foxes were considered ''zenko'' and the use of their magic a sign of prestige. Abandoned homes were common haunts for kitsune. 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.

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. True kitsune gifts are usually intangibles, such as protection, knowledge, or long life.

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. The kitsune may be a seductress, but these stories are more often romantic in nature. 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. The astrologer-magician Abe no Seimei was reputed to have inherited such extraordinary powers.

Other stories tell of kitsune marrying one another. Rain falling from a clear sky—a sunshower—is 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. The event is considered a good omen, but the kitsune will seek revenge on any uninvited guests, as is depicted in the 1990 Akira Kurosawa film ''Dreams''.

Stephen Turnbull, in ''Nagashino 1575'', relates the tale of the Takeda clan's involvement with a fox-woman. The warlord Takeda Shingen, in 1544, defeated in battle a lesser local warlord named Suwa Yorishige and drove him to suicide after a "humiliating and spurious" peace conference, after which Shingen forced marriage on Suwa Yorishige's beautiful 14-year-old daughter Lady Koi—Shingen's own niece. Shingen, Turnbull writes, "was so obsessed with the girl that his superstitious followers became alarmed and believed her to be an incarnation of the white fox-spirit of the Suwa Shrine, who had bewitched him in order to gain revenge." When their son Takeda Katsuyori proved to be a disastrous leader and led the clan to their devastating defeat at the battle of Nagashino, Turnbull writes, "wise old heads nodded, remembering the unhappy circumstances of his birth and his magical mother".

See also

* Fox spirit, a general overview about this being in East Asian folklore
**  – a Chinese fox spirit
**  – a Korean fox spirit
**  – a Vietnamese fox spirit
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* ''The Sacred Book of the Werewolf''
* '' The Sandman: The Dream Hunters''
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* Wild fox koan

Notes

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