Kitsune: The Fox Spirits of Japan
Kitsune is the Japanese word for fox, and also for the fox spirits of Japanese folklore. These are not one doctrine or one creature. They are a large body of stories collected over many centuries, which is why they contradict each other so often.
Age, tails and shape-shifting
In the stories, a fox gains power as it ages. A common motif is that a kitsune grows more tails over time, up to nine, and that more tails mean more age and ability. Foxes in these tales can take human form, most often a woman, and some stories turn on a fox who lives for years as a wife before being discovered. One of the best known is the tale of Kuzunoha, a fox who becomes the mother of the legendary onmyōji Abe no Seimei.
Inari and the shrines
Kitsune are closely tied to Inari, the Shinto deity associated with rice, harvest and prosperity. At Inari shrines you will see fox statues, often holding a key or a jewel in the mouth. The foxes are usually described as Inari’s messengers rather than the deity itself. Fried tofu, aburaage, is the traditional offering, and the sushi called inarizushi takes its name from it.
Helpful and troublesome foxes
Folklore sorts foxes loosely into helpful ones, often called zenko, and wild or mischievous ones, called yako or nogitsune. The same animal can be either. Respectful treatment brings help; insult or cruelty brings trouble. There is also kitsunebi, fox fire, the strings of lights seen at night that were once put down to foxes.
Fox possession
Historically, some illnesses and unusual behaviour were explained as kitsunetsuki, possession by a fox. Today we look for medical explanations instead, and it is worth keeping that in mind when you read these stories. They are culture and folklore, not diagnosis.
What I take from it
I do not read kitsune as a belief to adopt. I read it as a character study of intelligence: the clever being that is useful when respected and dangerous when underestimated. It is a good way to think about anyone, or any situation, that looks simpler than it is. For the wider picture, see fox symbolism around the world.
A free guide
If you like reading about yoga and the older traditions, I go deeper on my YouTube channel, The Slow Initiation. Leave your email, confirm it, and I will send you a free PDF guide, Yoga Starts Before the Poses. After that you will hear about new videos. Nothing else.
I use your email only for this. You get a confirmation email first, and every email has an unsubscribe link. See the privacy policy.