Kitsunetsuki

State of being possessed by an Kitsune

Kitsunetsuki is one of many abilities a Kitsune has.

Kitsunetsuki literally means the state of being possessed by a fox.

The victim are usually young woman, whom the fox enters beneath her fingernails or through her breasts.

In some cases the victim's 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, kitsunetsuki is often attributed to the malign intents of hereditary fox employers or tsukimono-suji (family possesed by a Kitsune).

There are three main types of kitsunetsuki: possession of an individual, possession of a family, and possession for use as a medium.

Individual possesion: Kitsune can speak through their hosts mouths and victims are often able to speak and read languages that they previously had no knowledge of.

Kitsune can even control their hosts like a puppet causing them to do all sorts of evil things.

According to folklore women are more susceptible to possession than men.

Kitsune are also said to possess people who are weak-minded.

Family possesion: When a Kitsune possesses a family that family becomes rich and fertile.

These families were called "kitsune mochi" and were able to manipulate the possessing Kitsune spirits in addition to bringing prosperity to their owners.

Kitsune could be used to bring ruin upon a family’s enemies.

Kitsune mochi people used these spirits to place curses, possess, or bring sickness to others.

Medium possession:

Kitsunetsuki for use as a medium involves inviting a Kitsune to possess a willing person in order to perform divinations.

A Kitsune would enter the medium’s body and speak through her mouth, predicting the future or giving secret knowledge.

This was a very dangerous practice, as it relies on the willingness of the Kitsune to leave the body after the possession and Kitsune are very powerful creatures.