Kitsune have always followed the goddess Inari. Foxes were not only companions of the goddess, but also spoke her will.
Kitsune have 5 or 9 tails. Basically, they turn into a person in order to fool people, but there are many legends about how a kitsune, taking the guise of a woman, got married and became a devoted wife. However, if the lover exposed the kitsune (for example, by seeing her tails), the fox would run away, leaving the house.
A kitsune's magic grows with age and experience. If the abilities of a one-tailed young kitsune are very small, then over time they gain the abilities of strong hypnosis and the creation of cunning illusions. Thanks to magical pearls, kitsune can protect themselves with fire and lightning. Sometimes one acquires the art of floating, being invisible and taking on all sorts of forms. Old kitsune control time, can become dragons, giant trees, the second moon in the sky; They know how to induce madness in people and conquer them en masse.
As they get older, foxes change: they have 3, 5, 7 and 9 tails. Interestingly, 3-tailed foxes are especially rare - perhaps at this stage they are serving somewhere (or honing their skills...). 5- and 7-tailed kitsune, often black in color, mainly appear in front of people when they need it, without hiding own essence. The 9-tails are the elite kitsune, their age is more than a thousand years. 9-tailed foxes mainly have silver, snow-white or golden skin, and a lot of huge magical abilities. When joining the retinue of Inari no Kami, they can serve her, or be alone. Although, some, following the goddess, cannot resist creating small and large nasty things - the great Tamamo no Mae, instilling fear in Asia from India to the Country rising sun, was just a 9-tailed kitsune...
In Japanese mythology, foxes are divided into 2 groups: those serving Inari "Tenko" (Heavenly kitsune), and "Nogitsune" (Free kitsune). They say that at times these foxes can possess a person, creating an impression similar to the Christian “possession of a demon.”
In ancient times, such people, according to custom, were burned - especially if “exorcism of the demon” did not help in any way, and the fox was not expelled; and their families were subject to obstruction, and were often forced to leave their own homes.
According to Japanese beliefs, “fox blood” can also be detected by appearance. Suspicion of werewolves was aroused by those who had very thick hair or close-set eyes, a narrow face, a long and snub (“fox”) nose, and high cheekbones. It was believed that in order to detect a kitsune you need to use mirrors or shadows, this was the most reliable way, however, it was not applicable to the elders and half-breeds. And also the principled and mutual hatred of foxes and their descendants for dogs.
For China, myths about love between people and foxes are uncharacteristic, as are stories about their relationships in general. Moreover, in China, unlike Japan, it is believed that meeting a kitsune is a bad sign.
This is what they are, these creatures, subjects of the goddess Inari. Funny and snide, dreamy and sassy. They can commit a terrible crime and sacrifice themselves for a higher purpose. Owning enormous power and magic, can lose due to ordinary human weaknesses. They thirst for human blood and energy, but having made friends with people, they become the most loyal friends and lovers.
Fox - fox, fox, red, Patrikeevna, godfather.
Fox is bright female image in the animal world, the companion and embodiment of Mokosha - the goddess of fate and harvest. The Slavs revered the fox for its cunning, resourcefulness and ingenuity, and affectionately called it godfather and sister. Because of its red color, the fox was compared to fire, and also to a thundercloud due to the brown tint of its fur coat. It's pre-dawn twilight in Siberia, when Sun rays painted the sky dark-orange color, called fox darkness. But the fox was also associated with the winter cold, illnesses and illnesses caused by the cold. The fox owes this relationship to Mara, the goddess of winter, possibly an incarnation of Mokosh.
Fox - Beast Makoshev.
Fox time is the beginning and middle of winter. Colors – red, red, brown.
IN Slavic mythology The goddess Makosh occupies a special place. In the pantheon Slavic gods it appeared when Prince Vladimir began to impose faith in new gods on the people. Makosh thus took her place, becoming the goddess of fertility and human wealth. In addition, Makosh was associated with the god Veles, considering the goddess his wife. Among the numerous male idols, one could very often find a statue dedicated to Mokosha, and besides, various things are said about this goddess. historical sources and chronicles. In people's minds, Makosh looked like a beautiful woman with long arms. Faith in Makosh was primarily associated with faith in the earth and its fertility. Very often you can find that Makosh was called the Mother of Cheese Earth. If we consider the etymology of the word Makosh, it becomes clear that the goddess symbolized both good luck and good fortune. After all, all Indo-European languages retained the word “Ma”, meaning mother. The morpheme “Kosh” speaks of a connection with goodness, prosperity and luck. That is why Makosh is a goddess who was responsible for a good harvest, and accordingly for prosperity in the house.
Mokosh’s constant attribute was a kind of cornucopia or a vessel filled to the very brim. This is precisely what suggests that Makosh brought wealth and prosperity to the house, the patroness of which she was. It was also believed that Makosh was every woman’s housewife. She was responsible for needlework and spinning, and vigilantly ensured that women did not work on holidays. Over time, when the Slavs adopted Orthodoxy, Makosh transformed into another deity, Paraskeva Friday. With the change of name, the functions of this pagan goddess did not change. As before, people revered their patroness, asking her for the harvest and fertility of the land. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa also took away Mokosha’s ability to control water and sources. Women believed that Paraskeva Friday would bring them good luck in household chores.
The world of Eastern mythology is full of amazing creatures that are little understood by Westerners. Each mystical creature has a story and its own character. With the gradual increase in Russians' interest in Japanese culture, corresponding questions arose: why do different films and anime show the same character? Who is he, this nine-tailed demon fox, and what do you need to know about him in order to fully perceive other people's cultural realities?
Who are kitsune?
Fans of Japanese literature and cinema are probably already familiar with the concept of “kitsune”. This is the hieroglyph for fox in the language of the Land of the Rising Sun. The term also refers to the mythical nine-tailed demons.
In classical Japanese mythology, a fox who has lived for many years and gained wisdom reaches enlightenment and becomes supernatural being. Such an animal often takes on the role of a storyteller and moral mentor of people, in the form of parables it tells about the laws of existence of the material world. There are versions that the nine-tailed kitsune fox is called upon to serve Inari Okami (the gods of rice) and protect their shrines, but various sources also mention wild spirits of animals - both benevolent and hostile towards people. Some foxes offer rewards to those who are honest, pious, hardworking, or poor. Others become advisors to great rulers and persuade them to evil. However, the majority cultural monuments In Japan, kitsune are credited with a tendency to humiliate the proud, greedy and power-hungry.
Nine-tailed fox: mythology and fiction
Currently, questions of the character, appearance and individual characteristics of kitsune are considered simultaneously from the point of view of mythology and fiction. Why? The fact is that the initial information about folklore demons was passed on by word of mouth. Information recorded in in writing, vary depending on the source. In addition, over the years, legends in which the main character was the nine-tailed fox were translated into many languages and subjected to in-depth anthropological analysis. As a result, scattered data, of course, can be generalized, but the information offered below may not correspond to the motives of certain legends or works of art.
Kitsune are born in one of two ways: either they are born as ordinary foxes from two kitsune parents, or they arise as disembodied spirits and inhabit the bodies of unborn babies. In addition, the nine-tailed fox may be in the past an ordinary person, who “shared” the soul with a kitsune or was transformed into a mythical creature by some deity. It is believed that amazing creatures dwell in the mortal world until they reach a thousand years, and then ascend beyond the boundaries of the material world and achieve a state similar to nirvana. If the fox spirit becomes bored with this timeless immaterial state, he will gain the possibility of rebirth - and his life in the mortal world will begin anew.
Magic power
Interestingly, the nine-tailed fox was not always like this. The number of tails a magical animal has reflects the degree of its supernatural power. As a rule, very young foxes have one tail. Nine, accordingly, symbolizes the greatest power. Some sources mention a single ten-tailed fox - the goddess kitsune.
The main magic of a kitsune is the power over illusions. Be that as it may, magical animals are distinguished not so much by their supernatural abilities as by their intelligence, wit and cunning. Traditionally they retreat to faith, blessed weapons and monks of any religion except Buddhism.
Kinds
Typically, the nine-tailed fox belongs to one of two types: the kitsune itself - or the nogitsune. The fundamental difference is commitment to good or evil. Kitsune has a certain set of rules or laws that all foxes must obey. One of the standard rules is not to kill. The actions of a nogitsune are not limited by any regulations or laws. It's interesting that all the nine-tailed foxes in the myths of others Asian countries, including China, fall under the definition of "nogitsune", while Japanese foxes are often benevolent creatures.
The fox, found in the myths of Japan, China, and Korea, is a spirit, but not endowed with evil or good character traits. In the mythology of these countries, foxes are different, they have both similarities and differences. Their purpose is to monitor the balance of good and evil. The fox in Japanese mythology is called Kitsune.
Types of foxes in mythology
In Japanese mythology there are two types of foxes, red kitsune And Hokkaido fox. They are both endowed with knowledge, they have a long life, they have magical abilities. Foxes, according to myths, are able to move quickly, they have very good vision and smell, read people's secret thoughts. It is believed that the life of a fox is not much different from the life of people, they walk on two legs,
Japanese mythology and folklore about foxes Kitsune - translated from Japanese, fox spirit. If you pay attention to folklore in Japan, then a kitsune is a type of demon, although it is more accurate to say a mischief maker rather than a demon.
The sacred meaning of the fox
Any part of the fox's body is equipped with magic; by hitting it with its tail, it 
may cause a fire. She can change her appearance, turning either into a beautiful girl or into an old man, but this is possible to do when the fox reaches 100 years of age, before that she cannot do this. But this is not her main skill, she can move into a person, has magical knowledge, can travel in people’s dreams, and, like a fire-breathing dragon, breathes out fire.
In addition, they are often credited with such incredible abilities as turning into plants of unusual height and shape or creating a second celestial body. This all shows how powerful they are. Some myths describe how kitsune guard certain objects whose shape resembles a ball or pear. There is an assumption that whoever becomes the owner of this item will be able to subjugate the kutsine.
Since this ball contains part of their magic, they will be forced to obey, otherwise they will face a decrease in their level and the loss of part of their power.
In mythology there are two types of Kitsune:
- Myobu- a divine fox, she is often associated with Inari, and she is the goddess of rice, which is why she is considered the messenger of God.
- Nogitsune- a wild fox, according to myths she is often evil, her intentions are unkind.
The special significance of the fox in Japanese mythology is quite understandable; the fox is the messenger of the god Inari, who often does good deeds for people. In some cases, foxes are credited with unusual skills; they can create illusions when a person can lose reality.
Changing meaning of the fox in mythology
Having reached the age of 1000 years, the fox in Japanese mythology becomes stronger, it grows from 1 to 9 tails, the color of the fur also changes, it can be white or silver or even gold. In general, according to myths, foxes live a very long time, up to 8000 years. nine tailed fox in Japanese mythology - a creature endowed 
great abilities. According to myth, the god Inari brought the silver foxes closer to him, they began to serve him, swearing that they must always keep this oath.
In some legends, Inari is also represented as a fox, but in fact, this is a deity; there are always figurines of foxes next to his shrines, and before, live foxes were always kept near Inari temples.
The most famous and revered is the spirit - guardian of the Kyuubi, this is also a fox, they are considered the most intelligent and cunning creatures. They choose a lost soul and protect it for 2 days, but for some there is an exception and Kyuubi stays with this soul for much longer. The role of such a fox is to protect the lost soul; it accompanies them until incarnation. These foxes may even have multiple souls that they help.
Often evil kutsine are shown to be deceivers, but for their pranks they choose people with the shortcomings of the proud, evil, and greedy.
Fox is the guardian of the family
The belief that foxes can become guardians of the family in Japan has been preserved, but the owner of a fox cannot be an ordinary person; this is only available to certain groups that belong to the same community. It is possible to join it only by becoming related to them, or by purchasing a house or land from them. Usually they try to reduce communication with such people because the neighbors are afraid of how their defender may react to them.
Some tales tell stories of foxes turning into beautiful women, cunning, dexterous foxes were skilled seductresses. They skillfully used this, seduced men and often became their wives. In such marriages, children were born who had special qualities.
The devotion of foxes' wives is noted in legends; they could live long enough, hiding their appearance, but if the real essence is revealed, the fox must leave her husband. But there are exceptions, according to one of the legends: the wife, frightened by the dogs, turned into a fox, but the husband, who loved her very much, could not part with her, especially since they had children. Lisa could not leave her family and returned every night.
If translated literally, kutsine means, let's go get some sleep. But this story is an exception; in all the others, the foxes left. It should be noted that children born from the wives of foxes had special abilities that are not available to humans, but they could not turn into foxes. Some of the stories tell about unsuccessful stories of foxes seducing men, when, due to inexperience, she poorly disguised her tail. 
But it should be noted that the listed species of foxes are not all, there are many more of them.
For example, White fox Byakko, good sign, she is a real messenger of the gods. black fox There is no need to be afraid either, it is associated with goodness. And here Fox Cuco this is an evil creature that needs to be feared, but it should be noted that the Japanese love their foxes, treat them with respect, it is believed that the souls of dead people move into the fox, these explain the fact that fox holes can often be found near burial places of people .
Video: Kitsune Fox Fashion Show
What is the meaning of kitsune? This concept refers to foxes that have supernatural skills, the main one of which is to transform or inhabit a person. The first mentions of them are found in and only later, the mystical belief in kitsune appeared in Japan, where it acquired specific details, turning into an independent folk element. According to legend, the deity Inari once descended to earth on a snow-white fox, giving people prosperity and fertility. Inari does not have a specific gender, and can appear before a person either in the form of a lovely girl or in the form of a gray-haired old man. The deity was accompanied by subordinates - magical foxes with a mischievous rather than a good disposition. The Japanese name for fox is kitsune. They will be discussed in the article.
Classification of kitsune species
Kitsune are extraordinary creatures of Japanese folklore. There are two types of them in myths. One of them is called the Hokkaido fox, and the second is called Kitsune. Both types are carriers of ancient knowledge, used as needed magical powers, live long life, and over time transform into a more advanced form. They have incredibly fine hearing and are able to see past and future events. When meeting such a red-haired prankster, you need to be on your guard, she knows how to read minds and will definitely try to fool the person she meets.
In Japanese mythology, kitsune is represented as an evil demon, but more often than not, the cunning werewolf spends his time creating traps and laughing at gullible travelers. There is another classification of foxes:
- Myobu provides support to people and serves the deity Inari.
- Nogitsune - a fox with an evil disposition, becomes a werewolf, terrifying the entire area with bloodthirsty actions.
Kitsune are unsurpassed hypnotists, capable of transporting a person to the future and past, and performing entire theatrical performances.
Always Coming: The Legend of the Kitsune
The Japanese composed a romantic legend, tinged with a touch of sadness, about mysterious girl, who turned out to be actually a kitsune. A young man from the Mino region named Ono set out to find a girl of extraordinary beauty. He asked his neighbors, looked closely at all the local beauties, but all in vain. One day the guy was completely exhausted from grief and his feet themselves led him to an abandoned wasteland. Among the milky fog, a fantastic sight opened up to him - a sophisticated charmer stood in a cloud of reddish hair, a spark of mischief splashed in her almond-shaped eyes.
Soon the wedding ended, and the young couple had a baby. At the same hour, the owner’s dog gave birth to a puppy, who disliked the lady. He attacked the young mistress, and she turned into a fox and ran towards the wasteland. It began to call her in desperation: “Stay a fox if you like it better, but the doors of my house are always open for you. Come to me and our son, we will always be glad to see you.” Every night the mistress returned home, where she again acquired a human form, but in the morning she became a red fox. Therefore, “kitsu-ne” can be translated literally as “always coming.”
Kitsunetsuki - obsession or medical syndrome
There are two categories of foxes in Japanese mysticism: “Nogitsune” or free foxes and “Tenko”, who serve their mistress - the goddess Inari. In some cases, the spirit of a fox can enter a person in moments of weakness or anger. During its stay in human form, the spirit restores strength after injury.
In medical practice, the invasion of a fox or Kitsunetsuki is sometimes noted. The possessed person can be recognized by his changed gastronomic tastes: love for poultry, tofu, rice, as well as nervousness and increased sexual activity. There is an opinion that this is how “fox blood” manifests itself. In ancient times, the possessed were given over to exorcists, and then purified by fire. Suspicion fell on people with a special type of appearance - thick hair, close-set almond-shaped eyes, an elongated and slightly snub nose. A kitsune can be recognized by its reflection in a mirror or by a cast shadow, although this statement does not apply to half-breeds and higher kitsune.
Magic Abilities: Kitsune Tail
As foxes grow older, they acquire increasingly powerful magical abilities. The youngest kitsune have only one tail. While learning the art of transformation, they cannot hide it well enough under their clothes. Over time, a fox may develop three, five, seven or even nine tails. The ability to hypnosis, create illusions, the ability to become invisible, fly and change the original form appears. Young foxes play pranks among people and love tricks and deception. There are known stories of romantic relationships between humans and one-tailed kitsune.
Creatures with five or seven tails have black fur; they are no longer afraid to appear in their real form. The elite among foxes are the nine-tailed kitsune, who have reached the venerable age of thousands of years. Such creatures have incredible magical abilities, and their skin takes on a golden, white or silver color. Higher ranks of foxes can live on their own or form the retinue of Inari no Kami. They have unlimited power over time and space, they can transform into any creature or object - a huge tree, a second moon in the sky, fire breathing dragon. They subjugate masses of people to their will or bring madness to an entire settlement.
Foxes and flames
Since ancient times, there has been a legend that a werefox can cause a flame by hitting its tail on the ground. Kitsune are creatures who knew how to light a fire that did not cause harm, but real disasters also happened from the actions of werewolves. One of the monks was worried about a dream about a kitsune fox, so he began building a 7-story pagoda. As soon as it was built, a fire started, after which not only the pagoda burned down, but also many inhabitants died.
By the will-o'-the-wisps in the swamp they know where the kitsune are now frolicking. Red foxes breathe bluish flames or produce them from the tips of their tails. Before the New Year, kitsune from the nearest eight provinces gather to light a fox fire at the foot of an ancient tree. Residents of Japan believed that if a bright flame is visible far away, it means that heavenly foxes will bring prosperity and a rich harvest to the field.
The Art of Deception
Foxes have inexhaustible possibilities to create fantastic illusions and make people crazy. They create hallucinations that can briefly deprive a person of the ability to perceive reality adequately. One fox found out about the old man's greed and decided to laugh at him. He saw a huge field of beautiful chrysanthemums in the spring and rushed to collect armfuls of them. After all, in the fall, chrysanthemums bloom everywhere, and in the spring they can bring considerable income if you sell them on the market. Another kitsune decided to play a prank on an old woman who loved going to theatrical festivals. One day my grandmother was returning home through a mountain pass and found herself in a real theater, where she saw touching story love between a courageous samurai and a snow-white fox.
Revenge for the offense caused
The fox Kitsune takes revenge on her offenders with particular cruelty. A samurai once scared a werewolf, and he harbored a grudge. Two envoys from the master arrived at the warrior’s home with orders to immediately commit seppuku. The warrior wanted to immediately follow the order, but at the last moment the dogs recognized the werewolves, revealing the deception.
In another story, a samurai severely wounded a werewolf during a hunt, for which he turned into a man and burned down the offender’s house.
Avoid kitsune - avoid deception
Although in Japanese folklore the antics of a kitsune are treated with condescension, it is better not to meet her on the road, and if this happens, try to appease her. To dispel hallucinations, you need to read a Buddhist prayer or sprinkle salt around a fainted person, saying: “Werewolf, go away!” You can recognize a werewolf with the help of fire: if you bring it to a kitsune, it takes on its true form.
Fox lights or "kitsune-bi"
Werewolves can reveal their presence late at night music or twinkling lights on the wasteland. If a person shows interest and goes to find out what is happening, then no one can guarantee his safety. The source of the lights are star pearls that resemble gems or pearls endowed magical properties. Kitsune in fox form wear pearls around their necks or in their mouths. If you manage to take possession of such an artifact, the fox will grant any wish for the return of the valuable item.
It is worth remembering that a werewolf can call his friends for help, and then it is not a reward that awaits, but punishment. But the magical creature is obliged to fulfill the wish of the insolent person, otherwise he will be demoted in status and position. In exchange for a pearl, a fox can give many gifts, but you should not ask for material items, because kitsune are masters of lies and tricks. In your hands, gold bars crumble into pieces of bark, money turns into leaves, and precious stones become pebbles. Intangible gifts from kitsune are extremely valuable - longevity, health, good luck in all matters.
Inari Shrines - Kitsune Worship
The god Inari has been associated with foxes in the Japanese minds for several centuries. There are now about 30 thousand Shinto shrines in the country, which indicates the proximity of the deity to every home. Shrines can be recognized from afar - the torii gates are painted red, which is considered a talismanic color. The gates are painted with cinnabar, which has been applied to the face since ancient times to protect against the influence of evil forces. Over time, they stopped painting faces, but they still paint the gates of the god Inari, and also use red when creating kitsune. On both sides of the entrance to the temple territory there are foxes with their mouths closed or open; some hold in their teeth the keys to a barn with grain, ears of corn or a ball, symbolizing a stone that fulfills all wishes. Foxes are considered the patrons of trade, which is associated with the red color of the coat, denoting prosperity and wealth.
Symbolism of the kitsune mask
The Japanese purchase ceramic foxes and kitsune masks to decorate their homes, and families also go to the temple to ask the deity for wealth and prosperity. When creating a Japanese kitsune mask, two colors are traditionally used - white and red. White is considered a symbol of nothingness, and red is perceived as the sun and fire. Just as fire can appear in two forms, so a kitsune can either bring blessing and warmth, or destruction and fire.
