Kyuubi (actually a kitsune). They are considered smart, cunning creatures that can transform into people. They obey Inari, the goddess of cereal plants. These animals have great knowledge, long life, and magical abilities. Chief among them, I repeat, is the ability to take the form of a person; the fox, according to legend, learns to do this after reaching a certain age (usually a hundred years, although in some legends it is fifty). They usually take the form of a seductive beauty, a pretty young girl, but sometimes they also turn into old men. Other capabilities usually attributed kitsune, include the ability to inhabit other people's bodies, breathe or otherwise create fire, appear in other people's dreams, and the ability to create illusions so complex that they are almost indistinguishable from reality. Some of the tales go further, talking about having the ability to bend space and time, drive people crazy, or take on such inhuman or fantastic forms as trees of indescribable height or a second moon in the sky.
Associated with both and beliefs. IN kitsune associated with Inari, the patron deity of rice fields and entrepreneurship. Foxes were originally the messengers (tsukai) of this deity, but now the difference between them has become so blurred that Inari himself is sometimes depicted as a fox. In Buddhism, they gained fame thanks to the Shingon school of secret Buddhism, popular in the 9th-10th centuries in Japan, one of the main deities of which, Dakini, was depicted riding across the sky on a fox.
In folklore kitsune is a type of youkai, that is, a demon. In this context, the word "kitsune" is often translated as "fox spirit." However, this does not necessarily mean that they are not living creatures or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in in this case used in the Eastern sense, reflecting a state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that lives long enough can thus become a "fox spirit." There are two main types of kitsune: the myōbu, or divine fox, often associated with Inari, and the nogitsune, or wild fox (literally "field fox"), often, but not always, described as evil, with malicious intent.
It can have up to nine tails. In general, it is believed that the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Some sources even claim that kitsune grows an additional tail every hundred or thousand years of its life. However, foxes found almost always have one, five, or nine tails.
When nine tails are obtained, their fur turns silver, white, or gold. These kyubi no kitsune (“nine-tailed foxes”) receive the power of infinite insight. Similarly, in Korea it is said that a fox that lives for a thousand years turns into kumiho (literally "nine-tailed fox"), but the Korean fox is always portrayed as evil, unlike Japanese fox, which can be either benevolent or unkind. Chinese folklore also has "fox spirits" in many ways similar to , including the possibility of nine tails.
In some stories, they have difficulty hiding their tail in human form (usually foxes in such stories have only one tail, which may be an indication of the fox's weakness and inexperience). An attentive hero can expose a drunken or careless fox who has turned into a human by seeing its tail through its clothes.
One of the famous ones is also Great Guardian Spirit Kyuubi. This is a guardian spirit and protector who helps young “lost” souls on their path in the current incarnation. Kyubi usually stays for a short time, only a few days, but in the case of attachment to one soul, it can accompany it for years. This a rare type of kitsune that rewards a lucky few with its presence and assistance.
In Japanese folklore, they are often described as tricksters, sometimes very evil ones at that. Kitsune Tricksters use their magical powers for pranks: those that are shown in a benevolent light tend to choose as their targets overly proud samurai, greedy merchants and boastful people, while the more cruel ones kitsune seek to torture poor merchants, farmers and Buddhist monks.
They are also often described as mistresses. In such stories there is usually a young man and a kitsune disguised as a woman. Sometimes kitsune attributed to the role of a seductress, but often similar stories rather romantic. In such stories, a young man usually marries a beauty (not knowing that she is a fox) and gives great value her devotion. Many of these stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of a fox entity, after which she must leave her husband.
The oldest of famous stories about fox wives, which gives the folklore etymology of the word “kitsune”, is an exception in this sense. Here the fox takes the form of a woman and marries a man, after which the two, after spending several happy years together, have several children. Her fox essence is unexpectedly revealed when, in the presence of many witnesses, she is afraid of a dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true appearance. prepares to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying: “Now that we have been together for several years and you have given me several children, I cannot just forget you. Please, let’s go and sleep.” The fox agrees, and since then returns to her husband every night in the form of a woman, leaving the next morning in the form of a fox. After that they began to call her kitsune- because In classical Japanese, kitsu-ne means “let’s go and sleep.”, while ki-tsune means "always coming."
The offspring of marriages between people and kitsune usually attributed special physical and/or supernatural properties. The exact nature of these properties, however, varies greatly from one source to another. Among those believed to have such extraordinary powers is the famous onmyoji Abe no Seimei, who was a han'yō (half-demon), the son of a human and a kitsune.
Rain falling from a clear sky is sometimes called kitsune no yomeiri or “kisune wedding.”
Many people believe that kitsune came to Japan from China.
If you mention the terms "mimic" and "metamorph", most people interested in the world of the paranormal will probably think of .
Regular "pop" werewolves are quite limited in shape and size.
Japan has its own metamorph.
They call him Kitsune. This word means "fox".
Japanese legends say that every fox has the ability to turn into a person, be it a man or a woman.
And like many werewolves that can be found in the world's legends, Kitsune combines a malevolent creature with a calm, helpful essence.
Mostly, however, he acts like a classic deceiver - manipulating people and playing endless mind games with them.
Those Kitsune who possess positive character, are known as Zenko, and those that are evil and dangerous are called Yako.
Harmless Zenko often hide food and various household items, which forces the “target of the prank” to endlessly search for his things.
While dangerous Yakos are looking for unwary people and leading them to various disastrous places, such as swamps, waterfalls, cliffs.
Stories of the Japanese Kitsune are associated with the folklore and mythology of China, where legends of supernatural foxes had thousand-year history. These were stories of paranormal foxes known in China as Huli Jing, which were soon adapted and expanded upon by the Japanese.
Kitsune is considered a material entity. This is not a being that has returned from the grave in ghostly form but is nevertheless an entity that has paranormal abilities and is spiritual in terms of its worldview.
As for them physical fitness, then Kitsune look like ordinary foxes. Except for one thing: they can have up to nine tails.
The forms that Kitsune can take on are numerous and varied. They often take the form beautiful woman, like Scottish kelpies and succubi.
Women and teenage girls are some of the most popular Kitsune disguises. Sometimes they take the form of a wrinkled old man.
As for how exactly the shape change occurs, everything is very strange. To begin the transformation, the Kitsune must carefully place a bunch of reeds on his head.
Japanese legends states that in the event of transformation into a woman or girl, Kitsune also becomes the owner of their mind in a manner similar to, for example, the takeover of a human body by a demonological entity.
All of this points to the decidedly bizarre nature of this incredible werewolf. Of course, there is no doubt that much of this is just myth, legend and folklore.
But maybe there is some truth in all this? We shouldn't completely discount the intriguing ancient stories of a mysterious imitator.
; Vulpes vulpes schrencki).
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✪ MYTHICAL CREATURES. Kitsune
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Folklore
In Japanese folklore, these animals have great knowledge, long life and magical powers. Chief among them is the ability to take the form of a person; the fox, according to legend, learns to do this after reaching a certain age (usually a hundred years, although in some legends it is fifty). Kitsune usually take the form of a seductive beauty, a pretty young girl, but sometimes they also turn into men. It should be noted that in Japanese mythology there was a mixture of indigenous Japanese beliefs that characterized the fox as an attribute of the god Inari (see, for example, the Legend - “Fox-weight”) and Chinese, which considered foxes to be werewolves, a family close to demons.
Other powers commonly attributed to kitsune include the ability to inhabit the bodies of others, to breathe or otherwise create fire, to appear in others' dreams, and the ability to create illusions so complex that they are almost indistinguishable from reality. Some of the tales go further, speaking of kitsune with the ability to bend space and time, drive people mad, or take on such inhuman or fantastic forms as trees of indescribable height or a second moon in the sky. Occasionally, kitsune are credited with characteristics reminiscent of vampires: they feed on the life force or spiritual force of people they come into contact with. Sometimes kitsune are described as guarding a round or pear-shaped object ( Hoshi no Tama, that is, “star ball”); it is stated that whoever takes possession of this ball can force the kitsune to help himself; one theory states that kitsune “store” part of their magic in this ball after transformation. Kitsune are required to keep their promises or face punishment by reducing their rank or power level.
Kitsune are associated with both Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. In Shinto, kitsune are associated with Inari, the patron deity of rice fields and entrepreneurship. Initially, foxes were messengers ( tsukai) this deity, but now the difference between them has become so blurred that Inari himself is sometimes depicted as a fox. In Buddhism, they gained fame thanks to the Shingon school of secret Buddhism, popular in the 9th-10th centuries in Japan, one of the main deities of which, Dakini, was depicted riding across the sky on a fox.
In folklore, a kitsune is a type of yokai, that is, a demon. In this context, the word "kitsune" is often translated as "fox spirit." However, this does not necessarily mean that they are not living creatures or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in this case is used in the Eastern sense, reflecting a state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that lives long enough can thus become a "fox spirit." There are two main types of kitsune: myobu, or divine fox, often associated with Inari, and nogitsune, or wild fox (literally "field fox"), often, but not always, described as evil, having malicious intent.
Kitsune can have up to nine tails. In general, it is believed that the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Some sources even claim that kitsune grows an additional tail every hundred or thousand years of its life. However, foxes found in fairy tales almost always have one, five, or nine tails.
When kitsune receive nine tails, their fur turns silver, white, or gold. These kyuubi no kitsune(“nine-tailed foxes”) gains the power of infinite insight. Similarly, in Korea it is said that a fox that lives for a thousand years turns into gumiho(Kumiho) (literally "nine-tailed fox"), but the Korean fox is usually depicted as evil, unlike the Japanese fox, which can be either benevolent or malevolent. Chinese folklore also features “fox spirits” (huli jing), which are similar in many ways to kitsune, including the possibility of possessing nine tails.
In some stories, kitsune have difficulty hiding their tail in human form (usually foxes in such stories have only one tail, which may be an indication of the fox's weakness and inexperience). An attentive hero can expose a drunken or careless fox who has turned into a human by seeing his tail through his clothes.
One of the famous kitsune is also a great guardian spirit Kyubi. This is a guardian spirit and protector who helps young “lost” souls on their path in the current incarnation. Kyuubi usually stays for a short time, only a few days, but if attached to one soul, it can accompany it for years. This is a rare type of kitsune that rewards a lucky few with its presence and assistance. Kyuubi can control natural phenomena, time and take people to other worlds, from where they soon return as very old people. But, as a rule, such foxes rarely harm people.
In Japanese folklore, kitsune are often described as tricksters, sometimes very evil ones. Trickster kitsune use their magical powers to play pranks: those shown in a benevolent light tend to target overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful people, while more cruel kitsune seek to torment poor merchants, farmers, and Buddhist monks.
Kitsune are also often described as lovers. Such stories usually involve a young man and a kitsune disguised as a woman. Sometimes the kitsune is assigned the role of a seductress, but often such stories are rather romantic. In such stories, the young man usually marries the beauty (not knowing that she is a fox) and attaches great importance to her devotion. Many such stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of a fox entity, after which the kitsune must leave her husband.
The oldest known story about fox wives, which provides the folkloric etymology of the word "kitsune", is an exception in this sense. Here the fox takes the form of a woman and marries a man, after which the two, after spending several happy years together, have several children. Her fox essence is unexpectedly revealed when, in the presence of many witnesses, she is afraid of a dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true appearance. Kitsune prepares to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying: “Now that we have been together for several years and you have given me several children, I cannot simply forget you. Please, let’s go and sleep.” The fox agrees, and since then returns to her husband every night in the form of a woman, leaving the next morning in the form of a fox. After that they began to call her kitsune- because in classical Japanese kitsu-ne means "let's go and sleep", while ki-tsune means "always coming."
Chinese and Japanese mythologies are rich in spirits, deities and their heroes. In addition, they have many animals endowed with special powers. Kitsune is one of them.
General information about kitsune foxes
Kitsune is a fox spirit with multiple tails. They say that the more tails they have, the older and wiser they are. However, most often the limit is nine tails, although sometimes fewer are found. Kitsune is an evil and cunning spirit, a trickster, who often does evil to people: from entangling travelers to murder. Most often he is just joking, because foxes are not negative heroes, but rather antiheroes. So, usually people get off with fear or embarrassment. There are, however, worse situations, but in these situations the kitsune do not set themselves the task of making a joke, but purposefully cause harm to a person.
Kitsune are magical creatures. In addition to intelligence and cunning, they are endowed with magical abilities: they can create and control fire, inhabit people, create illusions indistinguishable from reality, and turn into people. Most often - in young girls, although sometimes you can see a man. There are many legends where kitsune, having turned into a girl, scared and made fun of passers-by. There are, however, stories where women lived in human form for so long that they started a family, children, and only then their essence was revealed. In one of these stories, the husband, having loved his wife so much, persuaded her to stay in the family, despite her origin.
Vengeful foxes are more common in Chinese mythology, where the kitsune is more of an antagonist than an anti-hero. IN Chinese myths foxes, turning into humans, could force samurai to commit seppuku (or harakiri) if he somehow harmed them.
In Japanese mythology, kitsune were servants of the goddess (or god, in different sources in different ways) Inari, “connecting” with the world of people. It was believed that if a fox went against a person, then he had somehow offended Inari and was thus punished. However, there is the opposite opinion: the spirit that brings evil is an exile and acts without divine direction. Moreover, in Japan it was believed that any fox was associated with Inari, and later a cult of foxes was formed. For example, emperors were given figurines of byakko (“white fox,” the highest rank of kitsune), and monuments to the kitsune themselves were erected in some temples.
Types of kitsune
The type of kitsune depends on its gender, age, abilities, whether it can harm people, and even the time of day when it is most active. There are thirteen types in total, two of which are “main”: byakko and nogitsune. As you might guess, byakko is the most positive fox, “divine” and “white,” and nogitsune is its complete opposite.
1 Byakko
The most positive and kind fox. A servant of Inari, in the temple of this goddess (god) in Kyoto there is a byakko shrine, where barren and unfortunate women came to pray, asking for blessings and mercy. Since ancient times, seeing a white fox has been a sign of good luck, and figurines of these foxes were often given as gifts to emperors.
2 Genko
Genko is essentially the same as byakko, but black. Also a good omen, also a benevolent spirit. However, it is much less common.
3 Reiko
Reiko - "Ghost Fox" Most often used in stories about kitsune - tricksters who possessed people or played pranks on them. By the way, in modern Japan exists female name Reiko is widely used.
4 Yakan
Initially, it was mistakenly believed that “yakan” was more ancient name kitsune. Later it was believed that it was a synonym. But then it was proven that “yakan” was the name of a small animal with a tail that could climb trees; it was even closer to a dog than to a fox. But already at the end of the 17th century they began to believe that the Yakan was one of the most terrible, evil and dangerous kitsune.
5 Current
Toka is the name of the kitsune that walks at night. In the province of Hitachi, this name is used to describe the most common white fox, byakko. The toka is said to bring rice, which is why the name of this species is translated as “rice-bringer.”
6
Koryo is a kitsune that possesses a person. This is what any kitsune was called when they inhabited a person. This word does not play a greater role.
7 Cuco
Kuko - "Air Fox". A character from Chinese mythology who did not take root in Japan. One of common names kitsune as a spirit.
8 Tenko
Tenko is another divine fox (or air fox). According to some sources, tenko is a fox that has reached a thousand or eight hundred years. For Japanese mythology it is nothing special, but for the Chinese it may have been compared with tengu (air spirits).
9 Jinko
Jinko is a male kitsune. Due to the fact that in myths and legends foxes usually turn into girls, a special name was invented for those who turned into boys. This name is used both for those men who have turned into kitsune and for those kitsune who have turned into men.
10 Shakko
Shakko - "Red Fox". It was not found in Japanese myths, but in China it was considered both a good and a bad omen. Externally, it differs from an ordinary red fox only in the large number of tails.
11 Yako
Yako - "Field Fox". Just the name kitsune, it does not carry any positive or negative things.
12 Tome and Miobu
These names are associated with the cult of Inari. Tome was only used in temples, and "myobu" originally meant court ladies or soothsayers. Due to the presence of soothsayers in the temples, the name could have passed on to the foxes themselves. Apart from temples, these names were not seen anywhere.
13 Nogitsune
Nogitsune - "Wild Fox". An evil spirit of a kitsune, close to the yakan and reiko. This name was used only in cases where they talked about revenge or murder by foxes. However, it was used quite infrequently in literature, but secured its status as an evil spirit.
IN modern world about kitsune besides those who are keen eastern culture, few have heard. The popularity of this creature was brought by the series “Teen Wolf”, where the plot was twisted around the spirit. But in the series the kitsune himself is shown a little differently in great shape: they don’t turn into it and the heroes remain human all the time, and their tails are kept in a special box and they are made of metal.
But in any case, Asian mythology is full of various interesting creatures that are worth your attention.
KITSUNEKitsune (Japanese: 狐)- Japanese name for fox. There are two subspecies of foxes in Japan: the Japanese red fox (Hondo kitsune, native to Honshu; Vulpes japonica) and the Hokkaido fox (kita kitsune, native to Hokkaido; Vulpes schrencki).
The image of a werewolf fox is characteristic only of Far Eastern mythology. Originating in China in ancient times, it was borrowed by the Koreans and Japanese. In China, werefoxes are called hu (huli) jing, in Korea - kumiho, and in Japan - kitsune. Photo (Creative Commons license): gingiber
Folklore
In Japanese folklore, these animals have great knowledge, long life and magical powers. Chief among them is the ability to take the form of a person; the fox, according to legend, learns to do this after reaching a certain age (usually a hundred years, although in some legends it is fifty). Kitsune usually take the form of a seductive beauty, a pretty young girl, but sometimes they also turn into old men.
It should be noted that in Japanese mythology there was a mixture of indigenous Japanese beliefs that characterized the fox as an attribute of the god Inari (see, for example, the Legend - “Fox-weight”) and Chinese, which considered foxes to be werewolves, a race close to demons.
Other powers commonly attributed to kitsune include the ability to inhabit other people's bodies, breathe or otherwise create fire, appear in others' dreams, and the ability to create illusions so complex that they are almost indistinguishable from reality.
Some of the tales go further, speaking of kitsune with the ability to bend space and time, drive people mad, or take on such inhuman or fantastic forms as trees of indescribable height or a second moon in the sky. Occasionally, kitsune are credited with characteristics reminiscent of vampires: they feed on the life force or spiritual force of people they come into contact with.
Sometimes kitsune are described as guarding a round or pear-shaped object (hoshi no tama, that is, “star ball”); it is stated that whoever takes possession of this ball can force the kitsune to help himself; one theory states that kitsune “store” part of their magic in this ball after transformation. Kitsune are required to keep their promises or face punishment by reducing their rank or power level.
Kitsune are associated with both Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. In Shinto, kitsune are associated with Inari, the patron deity of rice fields and entrepreneurship. Foxes were originally the messengers (tsukai) of this deity, but now the difference between them has become so blurred that Inari himself is sometimes depicted as a fox. In Buddhism, they became famous thanks to the Shingon school of secret Buddhism, popular in the 9th-10th centuries in Japan, one of the main deities of which, Dakini, was depicted riding across the sky on a fox.
In folklore, a kitsune is a type of yokai, that is, a demon. In this context, the word "kitsune" is often translated as "fox spirit." However, this does not necessarily mean that they are not living creatures or that they are anything other than foxes. The word "spirit" in this case is used in the Eastern sense, reflecting a state of knowledge or insight. Any fox that lives long enough can thus become a “fox spirit.” There are two main types of kitsune: the myobu, or divine fox, often associated with Inari, and the nogitsune, or wild fox (literally "field fox"), often, but not always, described as evil, with malicious intent.
Kitsune can have up to nine tails. In general, it is believed that the older and stronger the fox, the more tails it has. Some sources even claim that kitsune grows an additional tail every hundred or thousand years of its life. However, foxes found in fairy tales almost always have one, five, or nine tails.
ONE TAIL =
In some stories, kitsune have difficulty hiding their tail in human form (usually foxes in such stories have only one tail, which may be an indication of the fox's weakness and inexperience). An attentive hero can expose a drunken or careless fox who has turned into a human by seeing its tail through its clothes.
TWO TAILS ==
THREE TAILS ===
FIVE TAILS =====
NINE TAILS =========
When kitsune receive nine tails, their fur turns silver, white, or gold. These kyubi no kitsune ("nine-tailed foxes") gain the power of infinite insight. Similarly, in Korea it is said that a fox that has lived for a thousand years turns into a Kumiho (literally "nine-tailed fox"), but the Korean fox is always depicted as evil, unlike the Japanese fox, which can be either benevolent or malevolent. Chinese folklore also features "fox spirits" (Huli jing) with many similarities to kitsune, including the possibility of nine tails.
One of the famous Kitsune is also the great guardian spirit Kyuubi. This is a guardian spirit and protector who helps young “lost” souls on their path in the current incarnation. Kyuubi usually stays for a short time, only a few days, but if attached to one soul, it can accompany it for years. This is a rare type of kitsune that rewards a lucky few with its presence and assistance.
The Japanese have a twofold attitude towards charming and intelligent creatures from another world. It's a mixture of adoration and fear. Kitsune has a complex character that can turn a demon into a best friend man and mortal enemy. Depending on who the fox is with
In Japanese folklore, kitsune are often described as tricksters, sometimes very evil ones. Trickster kitsune use their magical powers to play pranks: those shown in a benevolent light tend to target overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful people, while more cruel kitsune seek to torment poor merchants, farmers, and Buddhist monks.
It is believed that red foxes can set fire to homes, carrying fire in their paws. It is considered a very bad omen to see such a werewolf in a dream.
In addition, silver foxes bring good luck in trade, and white and silver foxes generally swore an oath to the deity of cereals, Inari, to help all humanity. Very lucky will be those people who, by chance, suddenly settle on land sacred to kitsune. Such happy families are called “kitsune-mochi”: the foxes are obliged to watch them everywhere, protect them from all sorts of harm, and anyone who offends the kitsune-mochi will face serious illness.
By the way, foxes also suffered a lot from people. For a long time, the Japanese believed that a person who tasted kitsune meat became strong and wise. If someone became seriously ill, relatives wrote a letter to the deity Inari, but if the patient did not recover after that, foxes throughout the entire area were mercilessly exterminated.
Kitsune are also often described as lovers. Such stories usually involve a young man and a kitsune disguised as a woman. Sometimes the kitsune is assigned the role of a seductress, but often such stories are rather romantic. In such stories, the young man usually marries the beauty (not knowing that she is a fox) and attaches great importance to her devotion. Many such stories have a tragic element: they end with the discovery of a fox entity, after which the kitsune must leave her husband.
And at the same time, there is no sweeter bride and wife than a kitsune. Having fallen in love, they are ready to make any sacrifice for their chosen one.
The oldest known story of fox wives, which provides the folk etymology of the word kitsune, is an exception in this sense. Here the fox takes the form of a woman and marries a man, after which the two, after spending several happy years together, have several children. Her fox essence is unexpectedly revealed when, in the presence of many witnesses, she is afraid of a dog, and in order to hide, she takes on her true appearance. Kitsune prepares to leave home, but her husband stops her, saying: “Now that we have been together for several years and you have given me several children, I cannot simply forget you. Please, let’s go and sleep.” The fox agrees, and since then returns to her husband every night in the form of a woman, leaving the next morning in the form of a fox. After that, she began to be called kitsune - because in classical Japanese, kitsu-ne means “let's go and sleep,” while ki-tsune means “always coming.”
The offspring of marriages between humans and kitsune are usually attributed special physical and/or supernatural properties. The exact nature of these properties, however, varies greatly from one source to another. Among those believed to have such extraordinary powers is the famous onmyoji Abe no Seimei, who was a han'yō (half-demon), the son of a human and a kitsune.
Rain falling from a clear sky is sometimes called kitsune no yomeiri, or “kitsune wedding.”
Many people believe that kitsune came to Japan from China.
"Types" and names of kitsune:
Bakemono-Kitsune- magical or demonic foxes, such as Reiko, Kiko or Koryo, that is, some kind of immaterial fox.
Byakko- “white fox”, a very good omen, usually has a sign of service to Inari and acts as a messenger of the Gods.
Genko- "black fox". Usually - good sign.
Yako or Yakan- almost any fox, the same as Kitsune.
Kiko- "spiritual fox", a type of Reiko.
Corio- "stalking fox", a type of Reiko.
Cuco or Cuyuco(in the sense of “u” with the sound “yu”) - “air fox”, extremely bad and harmful. Has an equal place with Tengu in the pantheon.
Nogitsune- "wild fox", at the same time used to distinguish between "good" and "bad" foxes. Sometimes the Japanese use "Kitsune" to name a good fox messenger from Inari and "Nogitsune" - foxes that commit mischief and trick people. However, this is not a real demon, but rather a mischief-maker, prankster and trickster. Their behavior is reminiscent of Loki from Scandinavian mythology.
Reiko- "ghost fox", sometimes not on the side of Evil, but definitely not good.
Tenko- "divine fox". Kitsune who reached the age of 1000 years. They usually have 9 tails (and sometimes a golden skin), but each of them is either very “bad” or benevolent and wise, like Inari’s messenger.
Shakko- "red fox". Can be both on the side of Good and on the side of Evil, the same as Kitsune.
SOURCES:
All pictures belong to their respective owners. I do not in any way appropriate them.
I just wanted to illustrate interesting articles.
I've included sources where possible, but I found most of them through Google.
If there are any complaints, write to me in a personal message, I will fix everything.
http://ru.wikipedia.org
http://www.coyotes.org/kitsune/kitsune.html
http://htalen-castle.narod.ru/Beast/Kitsune.htm
http://www.rhpotter.com/tattoos/kitsunetattoo3.html
http://www.site/users/3187892/post100958952/
http://news.deviantart.com/article/119296/
http://isismashiro.deviantart.com/
http://www.vokrugsveta.ru/telegraph/theory/1164/
And finally, this kawaii cutie ^_____^ 