Kitsune Mythology

What is Kitsune?

In the Japanese language, Kitsune can mean both a regular Japanese fox, a divine fox, or a demon fox.

They can be found all over Japan, and the history Of The Japanese Kitsune goes back to the beginning of Japan Itself.

In Japanese culture 9 tailed foxes are called "Kitsune", in Chinese it is "Huli Jing" and in Korean it is "Kumiho".

Actually, there Are 13 different types of Kitsune. The thirteen different kinds of Kitsune each have their own element, including Heaven, Dark, Wind, Spirit, Fire, Earth, River, Ocean, Mountain, Forest, Thunder, Time and Sound. But what is a Kitsune, and how do you know if you are dealing with a good (Zenko) or a bad (Nogitsune) Japanese fox?

Good foxes: Zenko

Zenko are benevolent celestial Japanese foxes are associated with the god Inari. They are sometimes simply called Inari foxes. Even if they do not have nine tails, these Kitsune are always depicted as being white in color. Inari foxes in Japanese folklore are particularly fond of fried sliced tofu called Aburage.

These Japanese foxes have the power to ward off evil, and they sometimes serve as guardian spirits. Besides protecting Inari shrines, they also protect the local villages from the evil Kitsune and other malevolent Japanese foxes.

Bad foxes: Nogitsune

Nogitsune are also part of the yōkai category, the demons of Japan.

In Japanese folklore, there are stories about Kitsune tricking people from all manners of life.

The cruel Japanese foxes target the bad traits of humans such as: pride, greed, and vanity.

For their own entertainment Nogitsune can bring down even the most devout priest.

They rarely attack women but prefer to possess them instead (Kitsunetsuki).

Using their fox fire Kitsune ability "kitsunebi" they lure unsuspecting men to their doom.