Line #264 Main/AsianFoxSpirit


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11	->''"The kitsune is multitalented, appearing in local folklore, historical records, literary texts, theatrical performances, and contemporary popular culture. It can be a dangerous shape-shifter and it can possess people; but it is also a standard feature in Inari worship, and stone statues of kitsune are stationed at shrines throughout the country. With so many different incarnations and meanings, it is fair to say that in Japan today the kitsune -- a charming and cunning deceiver that emanates an aura of danger and malevolence -- is admired, worshipped, and feared."''
12	-->-- ''The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore'', by Michael Dylan Foster
13
14	In East Asia, FantasticFoxes are prominently featured in folklore.
15
16	Broadly speaking, these East-Asian foxes have a number of similarities: they're often intelligent, shapeshifters, and possessed of [[MultipleTailedBeast multiple tails]].
17
18	However, the different cultures of East Asia have within them different names for these supernatural foxes:
19
20	* In China, they are called ''húli jīng'' ("fox spirit") or '' jiǔwěi hú'' ("[[MultipleTailedBeast nine-tailed]] fox").
21	* In Japan, they are called ''bake-gitsune'' ("[[LostInTranslation changed/changing/monstrous]] fox") or ''youko'' ("{{youkai}} fox"), though both are often localised simply as ''kitsune'' ("fox").
22	* In Korea, they are known as ''gumiho''/''kumiho'' ("nine-tailed fox").
23	* In Vietnam, they are referred to as ''hồ ly tinh'' (a direct transliteration of ''huli jing'') or ''yêu hồ'' ("demon fox").
24
25	And likewise, differences exist in the depictions of such beings--for example, the Korean ''gumiho''/''kumiho'' is more often presented as outright malevolent than is the Japanese ''kitsune'' -- often killing humans in order to [[ToServeMan eat their hearts and/or livers]]. The ''kitsune'', on the other hand, is depicted as sometimes marrying humans, in which capacity they prove to be devoted spouses and parents.
26
27	Indeed, kitsune, when benevolent, have come to be closely associated with a UsefulNotes/{{Shinto}} ''kami'', Inari.
28
29	Nevertheless, when the stories of such foxes cross borders, the local word is simply applied: that is, when a story of a ''húli jīng'' is imported to Japan, it is told as a story of a ''kitsune''. For example, the Chinese ''húli jīng'' [[Myth/ChineseMythology Dájǐ]] is usually considered to be the same entity as the Japanese ''kitsune'' Tamamo-no-Mae.
30
31	But it should not be thought that these foxes begin their lives as supernatural beings. Instead, in many depictions, they start as normal foxes. As they grow older, [[StrongerWithAge they grow too in power]] (and number of tails). Eventually they [[UpliftedAnimal gain human-level intelligence (or greater)]], as well as various powers: VoluntaryShapeshifting (in particular to [[HumanityEnsues human form]]), [[DemonicPossession possession]], [[HypnoticCreature enchantment]], [[TheOmniscient supernatural wisdom]], and more.
32
33	A fully nine-tailed fox may be depicted as being incredibly powerful, and dangerous even if they're not [[FoulFox malevolent]].
34
35	Physically, they have a few distinguishing features: as already mentioned, they have multiple tails (up to nine). They may also have squinted eyes or EyesAlwaysShut (which is called ''kitsune no me'' in Japanese, meaning literally "fox eyes" or idiomatically "shifty eyes").
36
37	In behaviour, their activities vary from divine servants (or even [[OurGodsAreDifferent gods of a sort]]), through shapeshifting [[ShapeshiftingTrickster tricksters]] and [[ShapeshiftingSeducer seducers]] -- to bringers of ruin and eaters of men. Or, as mentioned above, they might fall in love and marry, and live happily that way. (And in that last case, their children -- while not foxes themselves -- will inherit magical powers.)
38
39	One particular variety, the small, weasel-like ''kuda-gitsune'' or "pipefox" (sometimes known as ''kanko'', ''izuna'' or ''osaki'')[[note]]in modern Japanese, ''izuna'' is considered a dialectal term for weasels[[/note]] is employed as a {{Familiar}} by human families. In most depictions, they follow commands faithfully but are capable of slowly bringing their masters to ruin (most often by [[ExplosiveBreeder multiplying until they run out of food]]). These are sometimes depicted as "fragments" of more powerful foxes (see Tamamo-no-Mae under Mythology), or even their detached tails come to life.
40
41	In modern fiction, such foxes turn up often: anime in particular has them as a staple whenever mythology appears, while Western writers note the similarities between them as TheFairFolk, and use them thusly.
42
43	Additional fun fact: ''kitsune'' are common AnimalMotifs for Japanese character types, and are often portrayed [[TanukiKitsuneContrast as foils and rivals]] to {{Tanuki}}. In fact, in Japan women are considered to be "tanuki-faced" (square/round) or "kitsune-faced" (inverted triangle/heart-shaped), [[FoxyVixen the latter being considered sexier]], so to call a Japanese woman fox-faced is looked upon as paying them a ''very'' sultry compliment.
44
45	Fortunately, all of these fox-spirit types [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes can be cowed by the presence of dogs]].
46
47	See also {{Youkai}}, LittleBitBeastly, BeastMan, TheFairFolk, and GhostlyAnimals. Compare {{Tanuki}}. FantasticFoxes is the SuperTrope. See FoxFolk for other fox people. The FemmeFatale kitsune is automatically a FoxyVixen, and evil examples fall under FoulFox.
48
49	----
50	!!Example subpages:
51
52	[[index]]
53	* AsianFoxSpirit/AnimeAndManga
54	* AsianFoxSpirit/{{Literature}}
55	* AsianFoxSpirit/VideoGames
56	[[/index]]
57
58	!!Other examples:
59
60	[[foldercontrol]]
61
62	[[folder:Comic Books]]
63	* ''ComicBook/AgentsOfAtlas'': Superspy White Fox (Ami Han) is the last-known surviving ''kumiho'' in Korea, all others having been slaughtered by three-legged canine demons called Samjoksu. She's a VoluntaryShapeshifter, has SuperSenses, SuperSpeed and SuperReflexes, SpeaksFluentAnimal, can hypnotize others with her voice, and can drain life energy using her Yaewoo Guseul (Fox Marble). She is firmly on the side of good and is the top operative of the South Korean National Intelligence Service.
64	* ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'': The spin-off ''Fairest'' shows bisexual Rapunzel once had a relationship with a female kitsune named Tomoko, (who mostly looks like a human woman with three fox-tails but would gain various other vulpine attributes while having sex and [[HemoErotic drinking the blood she drew from bites]]), and they still mean a great deal to each other.
65	* ''ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW'': Kitsune appears to be named after the Japanese fox spirits, [[spoiler:although she might be a bit odder than that, having recently been implied to be from a whole family of ancient, powerful animal spirits]].
66	* ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'': The spin-off ''The Dream Hunters'' is a kitsune tale in which a fox falls for a monk targeted by a cruel [[UsefulNotes/{{Onmyodo}} Onmyoji]] and goes to Morpheus for help.
67	* ''ComicBook/ShangChi'': One of the species of mystical beasts from Chinese mythology found in [[HomeOfTheGods Ta-Lo]] are ''jiuweihu'', white fox-like creatures with multiple tails. Despite existing in the same universe as White Fox, it's not clear if they're related to the Korean ''kumiho''.
68	* ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo'' has Kitsune the [[GentlemanThief gentlewomanly thief]] who is a wily fox but not a magical one, a fake kitsune in the background of [[ScoobyDooHoax "The Inn on Moonshadow Hill"]] and two ''real'' kitsune who teach Gen a lesson. While in "Fox Fire" Usagi saves what looks like a mundane fox from hunters, then is bewitched by a fox woman, only for the fox he rescued to come to his aid.
69	* ''ComicBook/{{Vampirella}}'': The Warren run had the series "The Fox", featuring ''huli jing'' Ming Toi in ancient China.
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Card Games]]
73	* ''TabletopGame/KitsuneOfFoxesAndFools'' has the players take the roles of kitsune inflicting karma on sinful humans (fools) by way of "tricks" in order to gain tails. Or they could scheme against one another instead.
74	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': The Kitsune of Kamigawa are patterned off of this. Per WordOfGod, it was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally intended]] for the sets to have a wide variety of Kitsune types, such as Blue to represent tricksters and White for shrine foxes. However, the plans were scrapped and they became the purely White-aligned clan seen in the final version. Much like their mythological counterparts, they grow tails the wiser they get. A notable feature is their faces, which are depicted as kabuki theater kitsune masks instead of conventional fox heads.
75	[[/folder]]
76
77	[[folder:Fan Works]]
78	[[AC:{{Crossover}}s]]
79	* In ''Fanfic/TheBridge'', a gumiho features as an ArcVillain. [[ShownTheirWork Lifted almost exactly]] from the Korean fable "The Fox Sister", she's a cannibalistic sadist who stalked an immigrant across the ocean to Equestria after murdering her fiance and his family.
80	* In ''Fanfic/{{Constellations}}'', a pair of twin kitsunes appear to cause mischief, and a young one adopts Assault as her father after he buys some fried tofu for her.
81	* In ''Fanfic/LightingCandles'', when Tadashi Hamada becomes a guardian spirit, he is able to turn into a fire kitsune (particularly ironic since [[DeathByIrony he died in a fire]]).
82
83	[[AC:Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}]]
84	* In Metamatronic's Monster AU, [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc Leon Kuwata]] is [[https://metamatronic.tumblr.com/post/666978492016132096/meanwhile-im-also-drawing-the-same-idiots-i portrayed as a kitsune]]. He only has five tails because, in the author's words, he's incompetent.
85
86	[[AC:''Franchise/HarryPotter'']]
87	* ''Fanfic/HarryIsADragonAndThatsOK'' has twin kitsune Tyler and Anne Smith, depicted here as beings with some innate magical abilities and who can shift between fox, human, and human/fox hybrid forms. The two are among the first of many non-human students that are enrolled in Hogwarts after Harry's arrival, and they swiftly enter a FriendlyRivalry with Fred and George Weasley (the ''other'' mischief-inclined twins at Hogwarts).
88	* In ''Fanfic/MakeAWish'', Harry Potter finds a young kitsune that attempts to prank him. Harry puts her in touch with the Weasley twins.
89
90	[[AC:''Franchise/MyHeroAcademia'']]
91	* In ''Fanfic/TurningANewLeaf'', Chairwoman Kannazuki Shizuka has fox-like characteristics that evoke the kitsune.
92
93	[[AC:''Franchise/OnePiece'']]
94	* In ''Fanfic/ThisBites'', in order to keep up with the rest of the crew, Su, the cloud fox, decides to gain kitsune-like powers by finding "the Children of Inari". [[spoiler:It's implied that this will be the training she undergoes during the two-year TimeSkip.]]
95
96	[[AC:''WesternAnimation/PuppyInMyPocketAdventuresInPocketville'']]
97	* ''Fanfic/NihonversePocketville'':
98	** Kitsune are prominent characters in the series, one of the most important being Amaterasu, the High Priestess of Onmyou.
99	** Kyuubi Emiko, also known as Queen Elaine, is a six-tailed kitsune gijinka who is one of the most important Otherworlders who stepped foot onto the queendom, being the Seventh Folklorist.
100
101	[[AC:''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'']]
102	* ''Fanfic/{{Kitsune}}'': References the concept by title, and is a reference to the fox-girl nature of its protagonist.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
106	* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania3SummerVacation'': One of the film's extras is a female, posh-looking kitsune, being the only Eastern creature among a cast made up entirely of Western monsters. She makes another cameo in [[WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvaniaTransformania the sequel.]]
107	* ''Animation/JiangZiya'': ''Huli jing'', referred to as Fox Devils in the localization, are a recurring antagonistic force, with their leader Daji/Nine-Tailed -- a colossal four-armed nine-tailed fox-monster -- being the BigBad.
108	* In [[WhatCouldHaveBeen an earlier version]] of ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the red panda spirits sported eight or nine tails, similar to ''huli jing''.
109	* ''Animation/WhiteSnake2019'': The owner of the Precious Jade Workshop is a fox-demon named Baoqing, who appears as a child-sized woman with [[TwoFaced a human face on one side of her head and a fox face on the other]]. She returns in [[Animation/GreenSnake2021 the sequel]] as a more prominent character, and at one point even transforms into her true form -- a colossal pink eight-tailed fox.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
113	!!Directors
114	* Creator/AkiraKurosawa films:
115	** ''Film/{{Ran}}'' is an adaptation of ''Theatre/KingLear'' for Japanese audiences. One of the three sons of the elderly Great Lord has a wife who is [[HoneyTrap clearly manipulating him to his downfall]]. She has her husband send his right-hand man off to kill a rival woman and return with her head encased in salt. The would-be assassin [[UsefulNotes/TheThirtySixStratagems takes a page from Zhuge Liang]] and returns telling a tall tale about how he beheaded a kitsune. He opens his satchel and reveals the head of a kitsune statue, then curses the "demon" who got away, likes to disguise itself as a beautiful woman, and seeks to corrupt and ruin men. The wife reacts with fury. Sadly, the [[TooDumbToLive son does nothing]]. It doesn't end well.
116	** ''Film/AkiraKurosawasDreams'' has a segment in which a little boy wanders into the woods and seeks a kitsune wedding procession.
117	!! Specific Films
118	* ''Film/FortySevenRonin'': Witch is a malevolent kitsune with heterochromia who serves as TheDragon to the main antagonist.
119	* ''Film/PaintedSkin'': Xiao Wei is a malicious nine-tailed ''huli jing'' who maintains her youthful human form by eating men's hearts, but falls in love with a human general who saves her life. She conspires to take the place of his wife, [[spoiler: and nearly succeeds, but ultimately sacrifices her power in order to undo the damage she caused.]] In the sequel, set 500 years later, she escapes the glacier she was [[SealedEvilInACan imprisoned in]] and conspires to [[HumanityEnsues become a human]] by getting a human to willfully give her their heart during [[TotalEclipseOfThePlot a solar eclipse]], initiating a love triangle between herself, a RebelliousPrincess with a [[PhysicalScarsPsychologicalScars scarred visage]], and the princess' BodyguardCrush to accomplish this.
120	* ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'': White-furred fox-spirits -- referred to as ''jiuweihu'', another name for ''huli jing'', by tie-in merchandise -- are seen among the supernatural wildlife present in Ta-Lo, with a three-tailed kit being shown playing with its nine-tailed parent.
121	* ''Film/{{Umma}}'': After the delivery of Amanda's mother's cremains, Amanda finds the kumiho (nine-tailed fox from Korean mythology) that was eating her chickens.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
125	* ''Series/Akumaizer3'': Episode 33 features Kitsunen of the Akuma Clan, a white fox-like demon who runs a bathhouse that lures in unsuspecting people and carries with her a pot to boil people in.
126	* ''Series/AvatarTheLastAirbender2024'''s world draws heavily from Eastern mythology. In a deviation from the cartoon, the beautiful Princess Yue first appears to Sokka in the spirit world as a multi-tailed white fox.
127	* ''Series/ForbiddenLove'' has a race of nine-tailed fox-people, one of whom falls in love with a human.
128	* The Fuchsbau Wesen in ''Series/{{Grimm}}'' are very similar to Kitsunes. In-Universe, however, Fuchsbau are Wesen of Europoean descent and distinct from Kitsune, who are later revealed to be Japanese Wesen who are also fox-like but have white fur. According to legend, Kitsune are one of the very few Wesen to have a tail--nine, in fact.
129	* ''Series/GumihoTaleOfTheFoxsChild'' is a Korean {{Thriller}} TV miniseries about a gumiho who has to endure 10 years of marriage to become human. On the eve of her 10th anniversary, her husband breaks his vows, leaving her and the 9-year-old daughter who has inherited her abilities. Oddly, the gumiho in this story is sympathetic, only wishing a normal life as a human. It is only when her daughter is lynched that she becomes vengeful.
130	* ''Series/LostGirl''. Inari, the VillainOfTheWeek of "The Kenzi Scale" is a kitsune (constantly mispronounced as "kit-soon") fae who does a kidnap-and-replace of Kenzi, [[IJustWantToHaveFriends desiring the strong friendship she has with Bo]]. She's apparently insane as the other kitsune fae shown in the episode aren't villainous.
131	* ''Franchise/KamenRider'':
132	** The eponymous ''Series/KamenRiderGeats'' aka Ace Ukiyo is based on the kitsune, and not only is he an ExperiencedProtagonist, he's also willing to manipulate and lie - though he's also got his softer side.
133	** In ''Series/KamenRiderGotchard'', one of the "Chemy" {{Mons}} is a kitsune named Ninetail, and as with other Chemies it ended up in a FusionDance with a host to become a Malgam MonsterOfTheWeek. The Kyubi Malgam's host turns out to be [[spoiler:an actual kitsune spirit, who was guardian of a dying village. In keeping with their [[TheTrickster Trickster]] aspect, neither kitsune was malicious, and they were instead working together to put up a MonsterFacade; by goading Gotchard into a fight, the impact of the battle dug out a hot spring that could revitalize the town.]]
134	* ''Series/LovecraftCountry'': Meeh Ji-Ah is a Korean woman possessed by a kumiho/nine-tailed fox, and she must kill 100 men and absorb their souls through her tails during sex to become a human again. She's convinced to stop at 99 and learn to accept herself as she is.
135	* ''Series/MyGirlfriendIsANineTailedFox'' involves an IdiotHero freeing a trapped gumiho spirit from a painting. It goes about as well as one would expect. In this version, however, the stories of her eating men's livers in order to become human are deliberate slander, intended to discourage human menfolk from pursuing her beauty and thus leaving the local human women bereft.
136	* ''Series/MyRoommateIsAGumiho'': As evidenced by the title, Woo-yeo is a gumiho. He spends most of the show in his human form but will occasionally transform into the full fox-spirit form. He takes the life force from women and absorbs it in order to slowly become human. Dam has swallowed his fox bead and the two need to work together to get it out of her.
137	* The ''{{Series/Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS07E03TheGirlNextDoor "The Girl Next Door"]] features a kitsune with the alias [[Series/DoctorWho Amy Pond]]. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the portrayal of the creature is [[SadlyMythtaken almost wholly inaccurate]]. Here, the kitsune is presented as a being of human appearance with the ability to transform its hands into deadly claws. Amy and others like her must [[BrainFood feed on human brains]] in order to survive and can only be killed with a stab to the heart. About the only thing the show's kitsune have in common with the mythical creature is their foxlike eyes.
138	* ''Franchise/SuperSentai''
139	** Kyuemon Izayoi from ''Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger'', who fits the trickster archetype because he's extremely secretive and manipulative, and you never really know where his loyalties lie [[spoiler:until late in the series, where it turns out he's BigBad Gengetsu Kibaoni's firstborn son]]. The same goes for his ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'' counterpart, [[ShesAManInJapan Madame]] Odius, who [[spoiler:ends up usurping Galvanax as the BigBad]].
140	** Kitsune have appeared as a MonsterOfTheWeek in certain series:
141	*** ''Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman'': Fox Evo, while nominally based on a normal fox, possesses many of the magical powers associated with kitsune like shapeshifting and illusions.
142	*** ''Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger'' featured a nine-tailed kitsune who wrapped most of her tails around her body like feather boas. She appeared in ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' as Katastrophe, the result of Rita Repulsa turning Katherine, the soon-to-be second Pink Ranger, into a monster.
143	*** ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'': The ayakashi Isagitsune is based on kitsune (and InUniverse is the basis for them), which is exemplified by the array of magic spells that he uses to befuddle and overpower the Shinkengers. He appeared in ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' as Vulpes.
144	* ''Series/TaleOfTheNineTailed'' features a whole bunch of Korean fox spirits. The protagonist is an ancient and powerful former deity (he resigned), but the more common "liver-eating monster pretending to be a beautiful woman" also appears.
145	* On ''Series/TeenWolf'', the second half of the third season deals with kitsune mythology. Kira Yukimura is revealed to be a kitsune and possesses a golden spiritual aura in the shape of a fox. In keeping with the idea that the kitsune can create fire or lightning by rubbing its tails together, Kira has the ability to [[ShockAndAwe manipulate electrical currents]]. Her mother has these powers as well. There are said to be 13 different types of kitsune, including the nogitsune -- a trickster spirit that feeds on chaos, strife, and pain. [[spoiler:The latter comes into [[DemonicPossession possession]] of Stiles' body for the remainder of the season.]]
146	* ''Series/UltramanTaro'': Appropriately for a series inspired by Japanese fairy tales, had a kitsune kaiju called Miegon as a MonsterOfTheWeek. While its appearance was rather reptilian for a fox, Miegon possessed all the qualities one would expect, like nine tails, illusory tricks, and various fire-based abilities.
147	[[/folder]]
148
149	[[folder:Manhua]]
150	* The extended ''Manhua/OldMasterQ'' epic, "[[https://kknews.cc/zh-my/comic/lzg23rz.html Master Q and the Fox Spirit]]" have the titular character randomly befriending a millennia-old Fox Spirit (who spends the entire story disguised as a human) who decides to bestow Master Q superpowers in return for ''breakfast''. But then ''another'' fox spirit, one assuming the form of a gorgeous young woman, starts stalking Master Q and blackmailing him as an accomplice to help her steal an enchanted diamond. [[spoiler:Turns out the second, gorgeous fox spirit is the ''wife'' of the first, who's tasked with arresting her after she escapes from her heaven prison, but is unable to do so and thus manipulates Master Q into completing the job for him]]. Which Master Q isn't too happy about to say the least...
151	[[/folder]]
152
153	[[folder:Manhwa]]
154	* ''Shin Gumiho'' retells the myth of the Gumiho who wanted to become human.
155	* ''Manhwa/{{Laon}}'': The eponymous Laon is a mischievous -- and occasionally malicious -- gender-bending nine-tailed ''kumiho'' who was stripped of all but one of their tails as punishment for losing a bet, and departs to the human realm; allying with amnesiac journalist Taeha Gwon to get them back.
156	* ''Webcomic/NowhereBoy'': The gumiho, who is actually one of the thirteen people who have to save the world. She still has her cravings when her [[WhatYouAreInTheDark animalistic side gets tempted]].
157	[[/folder]]
158
159	[[folder:Music]]
160	* Music/{{Babymetal}} uses kitsune as a recurring motif, especially as the main theme for the song "Megitsune", which compares women to ''kitsune'' -- specifically, how women can disguise their appearances with makeup, much like how ''kitsune'' can disguise themselves with illusions.
161	* "Kitsune" by O'Hooley & Tidow is a rare western example that has the narrator falling for a girl who turns out to be a Kitsune and disappears in fox form every now and then. Until she gets run over by a car while in that form. The ending is somewhat ambiguous as to whether she survives or not.
162	* In Music/AkikoShikata's song "Otoshimono" (from her album ''Wokashi''), a girl speaks of her brother who was taken by foxes as a child, and apparently turned into a kitsune himself.
163	[[/folder]]
164
165	[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
166	* Myth/ChineseMythology:
167	** ''Huli jing'' are thought to form the template for the Japanese ''kitsune'' and Korean ''kumiho'', transmitted across East Asia by Buddhist monks. First described in the ancient text called the ''Classic of Mountains and Seas'', the specific traits of ''huli jing'' have evolved over time, but they generally start out as regular foxes who cultivate spiritual power through Taoism. As their power and knowledge grows, they sprout up to nine tails that serve as a marker of their wisdom and power, develop shape-shifting abilities (sometimes by placing a human skull on their heads), and practise Taoist sorcery to cast curses and illusions. ''Huli jing'' can be good or evil -- often seeking to gain power by draining yang energy via sex -- and nine-tailed ''huli jing'', or ''jiuweihu'', were sometimes said to ascend to become celestial beings akin to the gods.
168	** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daji Daji]] -- featured as an antagonist in the ''Literature/FengshenYanyi''-- was a woman possessed by a sadistic nine-tailed fox who became the favorite consort of King Zhou of Shang and brought about the downfall of his dynasty to the point that fox cults were outlawed in China. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai Katsushika Hokusai]] and other Japanese artists expanded the narrative by drawing from the Hindu legend of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmashapada Kalmashapada]] and stating that after her plot was uncovered, Daji fled China for India, where she resumed her activities under the name Lady Kayō, concubine of Prince Banzoku -- who she corrupted into a cannibalistic tyrant. She later returned to China as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bao_Si Bao Si]], becoming the concubine of King You of Zhou, before fleeing to Japan as Tamamo-no-Mae.
169	* Myth/KoreanMythology: ''Kumiho'' or ''gumiho'' are the Korean version of fox-spirits, and over time diverged from the Chinese template to acquire culturally-specific attributes. ''Kumiho'' are almost always evil, seeking to cultivate power by devouring the hearts or livers of men, and draining their victims' life force through a magic orb called the "''yeowoo guseul''". If a would-be victim swallows a ''kumiho''[='=]s ''yeowoo guseul'', however, they will gain supernatural powers and wisdom. Some legends state that ''kumiho'' can permanently become human if they abstain from consuming human flesh for a prolonged period of time.
170	* Myth/JapaneseMythology:
171	** ''Kitsune'' are the Japanese version of fox-spirits, introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks, and over time became associated with the ''kami'' Inari, deity of commerce. By the Edo Period, a bureaucratic hierarchy of fox-spirts had developed with the malicious or mischievous ''nogitsune'' at the bottom, while the benevolent ''zenko'' -- servants of Inari -- are permitted to apotheosize and progress through the ranks of ''kiko'', ''myōbu'', ''tenko'', and ''kūko''. Some legends hold that kitsune are also categorized though the color of their fur -- gold, silver, white, or black.
172	** Kuzunoha, the mother of the astrologer/onmyouji UsefulNotes/AbeNoSeimei, was a benevolent white fox and emissary of Inari. According to legend, a noble named Abe no Yasuna was travelling to Shinoda shrine when he came across a hunter who had trapped a white fox, intending to harvest its liver for medicine. Yasuna fought off the hunter and freed the fox, but was wounded in the process. A beautiful young woman named Kuzunoha appeared and helped him to his home, and they eventually married and had a son, Seimei. Eventually, Kuzunoha is revealed to be the fox that Yasuna saved, but due to her true nature having been revealed she must return to the forest. She leaves a poem asking Yasuna and Seimei to come find her, and it is revealed she is the ''kami'' of Shinoda shrine, bestowing Seimei with the [[SpeaksFluentAnimal power to understand animals]]. The earliest version of the narrative had the fox-spirit commit suicide out of despair, and some later iterations have Kuzunoha be a human woman who Yasuna was in love with, and who the kitsune impersonates to woo him.
173	** The [[AmbiguousGender gender-ambiguous]] and occasionally tripartite ''kami'' Inari has white ''kitsune'' as servants, and is often depicted as being one - though this is discouraged by Shinto and Buddhist priests. Due to Inari's close association with kitsune, shrines and temples dedicated to them have statues of foxes wearing red votive bibs.
174	** Warring States period warlord Shingen Takeda is said to have caused the downfall of his clan by forcibly marrying a kitsune in human form. Their son, Katsuyori, was defeated at the Battle of Nagashino by Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa, leading to the effective end of the Takeda clan.
175	** Tamamo-no-Mae was a beautiful fortune teller who could answer any question, and whose [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished beauty was never tarnished]]. The Emperor Konoe fell in love with her and made her one of his courtesans, but after several years the Emperor fell seriously ill. Eventually, Abe no Yasuchika, an [[UsefulNotes/{{Onmyodo}} onmyoji]] descended from Abe no Seimei, told him that Tamamo was a powerful ''kitsune'' -- in later versions the same fox-spirit as Daji from the ''Literature/FengshenYanyi'' -- that had been poisoning him. Her identity exposed, Tamamo fled, and the Emperor sent his army to kill her. The army tracked Tamamo to the Nara plains, but after [[Mystical108 108 days]] only Kazusa-no-suke and Miura-no-suke -- the two most powerful warriors in Japan -- remained. Tamamo appeared to Miura-no-suke in a dream, prophesying he would kill her and pleading for her life, but the following day Miura-no-suke shot and killed her. In the original narrative, Tamamo's body was taken to Edo, and miraculous treasures were found inside, but in later iterations it [[TakenForGranite became a cursed stone]] called the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sessho-seki Sessho-seki]]'' (Killing Stone) and Tamamo's spirit an [[StringyHairedGhostGirl onryo]] who haunted it. In an addendum to the tale written in 1653, Tamamo-no-Mae was eventually exorcized by a Buddhist monk named Genno, allowing her to pass on in peace and be enshrined as the fox-goddess Sasahara Inari. In some versions, the ''Sessho-seki'' was shattered and its pieces scattered across Japan, manifesting as lesser ''kitsune'' called ''kuda-gitsune'' and other ''yokai''; this latter myth got scrutinized a lot more closely when the ''real'' stone [[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/japans-killing-stone-splits-in-two-releasing-superstitions-and-toxic-gases split on 5 March 2022]].
176	%% Plagiarism - please reword ** From Website/{{Wikipedia}}:
177	%%--->One of the oldest surviving kitsune tales provides a widely known folk etymology of the word kitsune. Unlike most tales of kitsune who become human and marry human males, this one does not end tragically:\
178	''Ono, an inhabitant of Mino (says an ancient Japanese legend of A.D. 545), spent the seasons longing for his ideal of female beauty. He met her one evening on a vast moor and married her. Simultaneously with the birth of their son, Ono's dog was delivered of a pup which as it grew up became more and more hostile to the lady of the moors. She begged her husband to kill it, but he refused. At last one day the dog attacked her so furiously that she lost courage, resumed vulpine shape, leaped over a fence and fled.
179	%%--->"You may be a fox," Ono called after her, "but you are the mother of my son and I love you. Come back when you please; you will always be welcome."\
180	So every evening she stole back and slept in his arms.''\
181	Because the fox returns to her husband each night as a woman but leaves each morning as a fox, she is called Kitsune. In classical Japanese, kitsu-ne means come and sleep, and ki-tsune means always comes.
182	%%** Another story from Wikipedia:
183	%%--->Kitsune keep their promises and strive to repay any favor. Occasionally a kitsune attaches itself to a person or household, where they can cause all sorts of mischief. In one story from the 12th century, only the homeowner's threat to exterminate the foxes convinces them to behave. The kitsune patriarch appears in the man's dreams:\
184	%%''"My father lived here before me, sir, and by now I have many children and grandchildren. They get into a lot of mischief, I'm afraid, and I'm always after them to stop, but they never listen. And now, sir, you're understandably fed up with us. I gather that you're going to kill us all. But I just want you to know, sir, how sorry I am that this is our last night of life. Won't you pardon us, one more time? If we ever make trouble again, then of course you must act as you think best. But the young ones, sir — I'm sure they'll understand when I explain to them why you're so upset. We'll do everything we can to protect you from now on, if only you'll forgive us, and we'll be sure to let you know when anything good is going to happen!"''
185	%%** UsefulNotes/ToyotomiHideyoshi once even wrote a personal letter, directly addressed to the Japanese deity, Inari, regarding Kitsune.
186	%%--->''To Inari Daimyojin,\
187	%%My lord, I have the honor to inform you that one of the foxes under your jurisdiction has bewitched one of my servants, causing her and others a great deal of trouble. I have to request that you make minute inquiries into the matter, and endeavor to find out the reason of your subject misbehaving in this way, and let me know the result.\
188	If it turns out that the fox has no adequate reason to give for his behavior, you are to arrest and punish him at once. If you hesitate to take action in this matter I shall issue orders for the destruction of every fox in the land. Any other particulars that you may wish to be informed of in reference to what has occurred, you can learn from the high priest of Yoshida.''
189	[[/folder]]
190
191	[[folder:Podcasts]]
192	* In ''Podcast/ResidentsOfProserpinaPark'' Mirai encounters a kitsune, whom she names Fox Ears, while riding on a bus in Japan. Fox Ears, true to her name, takes the form of a woman with fox ears and a tail. She is haughty and high-strung but also provides helpful information to Mirai.
193	[[/folder]]
194
195	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
196	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
197	** The 1st edition supplement ''Oriental Adventures'' had a fox spirit creature called a "hu hsien".
198	** ''Kitsunemori'', a 3rd edition supplement, is a campaign setting with kitsune as a playable race.
199	%%* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': Seven Devils Clever is a young Lunar Exalt of the Changing Moon caste and with a fox as her totem.
200	* In ''TabletopGame/GoldenSkyStories'', the player characters are shapeshifting animal spirits called henge, with fox henge being one of the available options. In general, fox henge have powerful magical abilities and are often worshipped as gods, but have very little inclination for socializing or menial work.
201	* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': The ''Shapeshifters'' supplement includes a detailed template for kitsune characters.
202	* The card game ''TabletopGame/KitsuneOfFoxesAndFools'' has the players taking on the role of mischievous fox spirits playing pranks on mortals who deserve it. It does however draw some inspiration from other mythologies than that of the kitsune--for instance, the "Bloodthirst" consequence temporarily causes them to acquire the "appetites" of gumiho.
203	* ''TabletopGame/NinjasAndSuperspies'' adds shapeshifting fox spirits as an available player race in its ''Mystic China'' sourcebook.
204	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''
205	** The ''Pathfinder Campaign Setting Dragon Empires Gazetteer'' introduced kitsune as a playable race. They can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shift]] between their true [[BeastMan humanoid fox form]] and a specific human one, can gain the abilities to outright change into [[CunningLikeAFox foxes]] or [[{{Humanshifting}} humans they have met]], have [[MageSpecies some degree of innate magical ability]], and tend to be neutrally-aligned {{Shapeshifting Trickster}}s. There are also nogitsune, either kitsune women possessed by {{Oni}} spirits [[DependingOnTheWriter or]] Oni who formed facsimiles to kitsune bodies, who fill the "corruptive evil fox" version.
206	** The ''Pathfinder Advanced Race Guide'' includes a new Kitsune-Only Feat called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Magical Tail]] that gives the Kitsune a new tail each time it's taken and a new magical ability to go along with it. While in 2nd edition Kitsune can grow tails every time they attain a new spell level (either from classes or ancestry feats).
207	* ''TabletopGame/RuneQuest'': Fox women are magical shape-changers, spend most of their time in their animal forms, and occasionally change into their human forms. As humans, fox women are legendary for their beauty and lust, and they often seduce human males.
208	* ''Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness'':
209	** ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'': During the 1998 "Year of the Lotus" releases, ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' received an Asian-themed expansion called ''Hengeyokai'' which introduced the Kitsune werefoxes.[[note]]There was a similar creature already in this setting, but this book really fleshed them out.[[/note]] They are described as the youngest of the Changing Breeds and are the most spiritually inclined. While physically weakest, they are skilled in elemental sorcery as well as paper-themed origami sorcery. As a character goes up in rank, their vulpine forms grow additional tails, generally up to five (the games' level cap), but the legendary Bai Mianxi got up to nine tails.
210	** In ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness'', the kitsune are a type of fox-spirit. Due to [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheForsaken Father Wolf]] coercing their progenitor Inari to rein them in during the ancient times, they're divided into two factions: benign Inari Seha (obedient foxes of Inari) and malevolent Inari Kihar (foxes who abandoned Inari). They are most commonly encountered as allies or enemies of werewolves (depending on faction), but kitsune bonded to human hosts are playable.
211	[[/folder]]
212
213	[[folder:Theatre]]
214	* ''Sesshōseki'' is a 17th century noh play adapting the legend of Tamamo-no-Mae as related in ''Tamamo no sōshi'', with Tamamo no Mae being a wicked ''kitsune'' who attempts to assassinate Emperor Toba, only to be slain--her body petrifying into the titular killing stone. Centuries later, her vengeful spirit is exorcised by the Buddhist monk Genno, who shatters the Sesshōseki and scatters its shards across Japan.
215	* The Music/{{Tsukiuta}} stage plays feature Hajime and Shun as Kurotenko and Shirotenko, majestic four-tailed LittleBitBeastly figures who seem to act as rulers of the ayakashi realm.
216	[[/folder]]
217
218	[[folder:Toys]]
219	* In a case of WhatCouldHaveBeen, the ''Toys/MonsterHigh''/''Toys/EverAfterHigh'' crossover movie would have introduced a humanoid kumiho character named Euna. However, with the movie's cancellation, she was unable to properly join either franchise.
220	[[/folder]]
221
222	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
223	* ''VisualNovel/EnchantedInTheMoonlight'': Miyabi is a ''kitsune'' with the usual shapeshifting powers, ghostly blue fox-fire, and trickster attitude. He appears variously as a handsome young human man, a longer-haired version of his human form with fox ears and a tail, and an actual fox with supernatural markings.
224	* ''VisualNovel/HiiroNoKakera'': Yuuichi Komura is descended from a ''kitsune'' and can partially transform into one.
225	* ''VisualNovel/{{Kanon}}'': [[spoiler:Makoto Sawatari]] turns out to be a fox [[spoiler:that Yuuichi cared for when he was young, but he set her free when he had to leave town. Her wish to see him again lets her become human, but despite being able to meet him again years later she has no memories of being a fox, or really anything about her former life at all]].
226	* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'': "The Monstrous Turnabout" involves a legend regarding the Nine-Tailed Fox, a ''kitsune'' that defeated the {{tengu}} Tenma Taro, providing the namesake for the village of Nine-Tails Vale and inspiring the MaskedLuchador called the Amazing Nine-Tails.
227	* ''VisualNovel/PleaseBeHappy'':
228	** The protagonist is a Korean fox-spirit who goes by Miho and is searching for a traveler who showed her kindness when she was a normal fox, wandering the Earth while relying on her mysterious ability to be forgotten after 24 hours by anyone who meets her to survive through thievery. When her travels take her to the floating island city of Wellington, New Zealand, Miho ends up befriending--and perhaps falling in love with--the human barista[=/=]aspiring novelist Aspen and the vampire librarian Juliet, [[spoiler:and can end the game having ascended into a divine nine-tailed fox once her ''yeowoo guseul'' is fully charged]].
229	** After Miho starts settling down in Wellington, [[spoiler:she encounters a belligerent ''gumiho'' who she nicknames Silver, who hates humans and sees Miho as weak and a traitor to their kind for wanting to adapt to civilization. However, Miho's kindness and empathy can break through Silver's bad attitude and they can part ways as friends... [[{{Tsundere}} not that Silver would ever admit it]] to Miho's face]].
230	* ''VisualNovel/ShallWeDate'' franchise:
231	** Sascha in ''VisualNovel/ShallWeDateBloodInRoses''.
232	** Enojo from ''Mononoke Kiss'', though he is called a "[[CallAPegasusAHippogriff humanoid fox]]."
233	** In ''VisualNovel/ShallWeDateWizardessHeart'', [[spoiler:Hisoka]] turns out to be a half-human half-Kitsune.
234	* Kakuya, the BigBad of ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'', is a flute-playing spirit with [[LittleBitBeastly fox ears]], who can manipulate other spirits and has a fondness for games. Unfortunately, said games have a tendency to put the competitors in grave danger.
235	[[/folder]]
236
237	[[folder:Webcomics]]
238	* The main character of [[https://journeytomonkiekid.tumblr.com/ Eclipse Apprentice]] is a human/Huli-Jing hybrid whose powers are a bit late to develop compared to the rest of her family, leading her to seek assistance from some other demons.
239	* One issue of Marvel's ''Webcomic/EternalsTheFiveHundredYearWar'' (a {{prequel}} to the 2021 ''Film/{{Eternals}}'' film) has Kingo and Sprite in 12th century Korea, where the murderous Deviants they're hunting are mistaken for Kumiho by humans who encounter them
240	* ''Webcomic/TheFoxSister'' presents a very dark and vicious gumiho who serves as the main antagonist; she has a habit of [[KillAndReplace impersonating her victims after she feasts on them]] (such as the protagonist’s sister), alluding to Korean folklore where they're typically portrayed as malevolent.
241	* ''Webcomic/TheGodOfHighSchool'': Legends speak of a kumiho that once served God but He feared its power and ordered its execution, and it retaliated by rebelling against Him and destroying half of Heaven before swearing revenge. [[spoiler: In the present day, Ilpyo is able to draw on its power through his [[SupernaturalMartialArts Charyeok]] and take on a sort of hybrid form vaguely reminiscent of Naruto's.]]
242	* ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'' features Great Kitsune as the DM of the [[CosmicChessGame tabletop fantasy game]] that is being played, with our protagonists as pieces. He's smart enough to be the DM, and has an obvious trickster side, but is also somewhat impulsive and a bit short-sighted despite his best attempts to be the BigGood the pets need. [[spoiler:Turns out that there's already been another kitsune in the comic... Great Kitsune's little brother is none other than ''Karishad'', handily explaining the latter's weirdness and seeming ability to bend reality to his odd whims]].
243	* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' Lari the ninja mistakes Molly the Monster for one of these and becomes infatuated with her. He's a little {{squick}}ed out when he realizes that she can't actually change into a regular human.
244	* The cast of ''Webcomic/KarinDou4koma'' are primarily {{youkai}}, so of course this type is included. Shizuki grows her second tail early on in the series, while Sachi (a kuuko) doesn't show off hers.
245	* Komugiko Sawatari from ''Webcomic/{{Megatokyo}}'' is later revealed to be a kitsune, and she comes from a whole clan of them. Some of them [[{{Glamour}} hide their fox ears and tails]], while others display them openly.
246	[[/folder]]
247
248	[[folder:Web Original]]
249	* David Kintobor has the ability to morph into one in Creator/DavidGonterman's ''American Kitsune''.
250	* In ''Literature/BritsuneGardenSeries'', kitsune are very important to the setting, connected to goddess Kanako Okami and a four-tailed kitsune even appears on the English coat of arms. Kitsune are also the inspiration for the titular species. Even one particular character, Hinata, though she is actually a Kamitsu Britsune, resembles a nine-tailed one. However, their fear of dogs is rather downplayed, instead of being downright terrified, kitsune are known to get startled if they suddenly encounter a dog.
251	* Gensho Yasuda's series of animated shorts feature [[https://twitter.com/gensho_yasuda/status/1577614581525975041 a kitsune named Uka]] as a recurring character, living at the Shinto shrine overseen by Mamiko the ''miko''. [[spoiler:After Mamiko is killed by a samurai and reanimated as a one-armed undead, Uka [[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KuVX039qjwk tries her best to help out]].]]
252	* The 3D graphics marketplace [[https://www.daz3d.com DAZ 3D]] features [[https://www.daz3d.com/kiko-81 Kiko 8.1]], a kitsune girl of the LittleBitBeastly variety.
253	* ''Literature/TheKindnessOfDevils'':
254	** ''Literature/LovesLostAndFound'' has Oyuki Akamine, who shows up to assist Sun-hyo in defeating malevolent supernatural creatures.
255	** ''Literature/AConspiracyOfSerpents'' has Oyuki's daughter, Kasumi, who helps Grete and her allies fight against the villainous serpents.
256	* Firefox-ko, an unofficial mascot for UsefulNotes/MozillaFirefox.
257	* ''WebAnimation/MysterySkullsAnimated'': Mystery is a kitsune disguised as a dog; in the past, he was a trickster spirit that led samurai to their deaths, but after a fateful encounter with a particularly strong one, he became a guardian spirit to her family and stayed that way since.
258	* Fox vtuber WebVideo/{{Nebride}}'s usual appearance is that of a modern ''kitsune'', specifically a fennec foxgirl with not very desert-like colors (black, red, white) on her fluffy ears and tail.
259	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'':
260	** [[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-953 SCP-953]] is a kumiho, straight out of Korean myth down to killing humans to eat their livers. Calling her a kitsune [[BerserkButton sends her into a violent rage]]... though she has [[TheFakeCutie taken advantage of the confusion]] on occasion. Her profile notes that the difference between kumiho and kitsune seems to be a matter of ethnicity and culture akin to "the difference between a Cherokee Indian and a New Delhi Indian."
261	** [[http://scp-jp.wikidot.com/scp-150-jp SCP-150-JP]], available on the Japanese site, is codenamed "the Kitsune" due to being a red fox with supernatural powers -- in its case the ability to warp reality by swapping the properties of objects -- though unlike SCP-953 it doesn't appear to actually be a fox-spirit.
262	* ''WebAnimation/WartimeStories'' has an episode that covers the titular creature in detail, from its legend in Japanese folklore to a US Marine's encounter with one on the island of Okinawa. Interestingly, despite being a {{Yokai}}, it's shown to be hurt by gunfire and can be killed with the force of an explosion.
263	[[/folder]]
264
265	[[folder:Western Animation]]
266	* In ''WesternAnimation/HellboyAnimated: Sword of Storms'', a kitsune is pretty much the only youkai on Hellboy's side when he is transported to a Japanese folklore-inspired MagicalLand.
267	* ''WesternAnimation/LoveDeathAndRobots'': One of the main characters in the episode "[[Recap/LoveDeathAndRobotsGoodHunting Good Hunting]]" is Yan, a young ''huli jing'' who befriends Liang -- the son of a demon-hunter who kills her mother. As the English colonize China, Yan loses her magic and gets [[ShapeshifterModeLock stuck]] in human form as the world is [[MagicVersusScience taken over by technology]]. When she's victimized and turned into a steampunk cyborg, Liang builds her a new body with the ability to [[CyberneticMythicalBeast shift back into a nine-tailed fox-like form]] so that she can seek revenge.
268	* In ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'', Volpina is a fox-themed supervillain who has illusionary abilities and is known for lying. She is based on a real fox-themed superhero empowered by the incarnation of Illusion which is a fox-like spirit.
269	* ''WesternAnimation/SonicPrime'': The alternate universe version of Miles "Tails" Prower -- who as a two-tailed fox was already based on the ''kitsune'' -- from New Yoke City is shown giving himself seven extra mechanized tails that double as CombatTentacles, bringing him up to a total of nine. This coincides with his MeaningfulRename of "Nine", based on a legend of a ''kitsune'' gaining nine tails total upon reaching full maturity. His shadow in the recap of his backstory highlights his hardened nature, showing his usual two-tailed form before going to a menacingly posed nine-tailed version.
270	[[/folder]]
271
272	[[folder:Real Life]]
273	* In China, calling a woman ''huli jing'' implies that she's a homewrecker.
274	* In Japan, calling a woman "megitsune" implies she goes out of her way to seduce men to amuse herself.
275	[[/folder]]
276

Context Main / AsianFoxSpirit