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This ('monster card') from the early 19th century depicts a kitsune. The associated game involves matching clues from folklore to pictures of specific creatures.Kitsune have as many as nine tails. Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful Kitsune; in fact, some folktales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 100 years. (In the wild, the typical lifespan of a real fox is one to three years, although individuals may live up to ten years in captivity.) One, five, seven, and nine tails are the most common numbers in folktales.
These ( 九尾の狐, 'nine-tailed foxes') gain the abilities to see and hear anything happening anywhere in the world. Other tales credit them with infinite wisdom. After reaching 1,000 years of age and gaining its ninth tail, a kitsune turns a white or golden color, becoming a (, 'heavenly/celestial fox'), the most powerful form of the kitsune, and then ascends to the heavens.Shapeshifting A kitsune may, an ability learned when it reaches a certain age – usually 100 years, although some tales say 50. As a common prerequisite for the transformation, the fox must place reeds, a leaf, or a skull over its head.
Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women, young girls, elderly men, and less often young boys. These shapes are not limited by the fox's own age or gender, and a kitsune can. Kitsune are particularly renowned for impersonating beautiful women. Common belief in was that any woman encountered alone, especially at dusk or night, could be a kitsune. Kitsune-gao ('fox-faced') refers to human females who have a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Traditionally, this facial structure is considered attractive, and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form. Variants on the theme have the kitsune retain other foxy traits, such as a coating of fine hair, a fox-shaped shadow, or a reflection that shows its true form.In some stories, kitsune retain – and have difficulty hiding – their tails when they take human form; looking for the tail, perhaps when the fox gets drunk or careless, is a common method of discerning the creature's true nature.
A particularly devout individual may even be able to see through a fox's disguise merely by perceiving them. Kitsune can also be exposed while in human form by their fear and hatred of dogs, and some become so rattled by their presence that they revert to the form of a fox and flee.One folktale illustrating these imperfections in the kitsune's human shape concerns Koan, a historical person later credited with legendary wisdom and magical powers of.
Sakura Spirit Rising Judo Star Gushiken Takahiro was two weeks away from the match that would make or break his career - a championship match where the winner is then signed up to be a young national athlete for Japan.
According to the story, he was staying at the home of one of his devotees when he scalded his foot entering a bath because the water had been drawn too hot. Then, 'in his pain, he ran out of the bathroom naked. When the people of the household saw him, they were astonished to see that Koan had fur covering much of his body, along with a fox's tail. Then Koan transformed in front of them, becoming an elderly fox and running away.' Other supernatural abilities commonly attributed to kitsune include possession, generating fire or lightning, willful manifestation in the dreams of others, flight, invisibility, and the creation of illusions so elaborate as to be almost indistinguishable from reality.
Some tales speak of kitsune with even greater powers, able to bend time and space, drive people mad, or take fantastic shapes such as an incredibly tall tree or a second moon in the sky. Other kitsune have characteristics reminiscent of or, and feed on the life or spirit of human beings, generally through sexual contact. A depiction of a kitsunetsuki in the Gyokuzan Gafu byKitsunetsuki ( 狐憑き, 狐付き), also written kitsune-tsuki, literally means 'the state of being possessed by a fox'. The victim is usually said to be a young woman, whom the fox enters beneath her fingernails or through her breasts. In some cases, the victims' 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.Folklorist describes the condition in Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan:Strange is the madness of those into whom demon foxes enter.
Sometimes they run naked shouting through the streets. Sometimes they lie down and froth at the mouth, and yelp as a fox yelps. And on some part of the body of the possessed a moving lump appears under the skin, which seems to have a life of its own. Prick it with a needle, and it glides instantly to another place.
By no grasp can it be so tightly compressed by a strong hand that it will not slip from under the fingers. Possessed folk are also said to speak and write languages of which they were totally ignorant prior to possession.
They eat only what foxes are believed to like –, etc. – and they eat a great deal, alleging that not they, but the possessing foxes, are hungry.He goes on to note that, once freed from the possession, the victim would never again be able to eat tofu, azukimeshi, or other foods favored by foxes.Attempting to rid someone of a fox spirit was done via an, often at an. If a priest was not available or if the exorcism failed, alleged victims of kitsunetsuki might be badly burned or beaten in hopes of driving out the fox spirits. The whole family of someone thought to be possessed might be ostracized by their community.In Japan, kitsunetsuki was described as a disease as early as the and remained a common diagnosis for until the early 20th century. Possession was the explanation for the abnormal behavior displayed by the afflicted individuals. In the late 19th century, Shunichi Shimamura noted that physical diseases that caused fever were often considered kitsunetsuki. The superstition has lost favor, but stories of fox possession still occur, such as allegations that members of the cult had been possessed.In modern, the term kitsunetsuki refers to a unique to.
Those who suffer from the condition believe they are possessed by a fox. Symptoms include cravings for rice or sweet adzuki beans, listlessness, restlessness, and aversion to eye contact. This sense of kitsunetsuki is similar to but distinct from.
Folk beliefs In, stories of fox possession can be found in all lands of Japan. Those possessed by a fox are thought to suffer from a or similar condition.There are families that tell of protective fox spirits, and in certain regions, possession by a, and are also called kitsunetsuki. These families are said to have been able to use their fox to gain fortune, but marriage into such a family was considered forbidden as it would enlarge the family. They are also said to be able to bring about illness and curse the possessions, crops, and livestock of ones that they hate, and as a result of being considered taboo by the other families, it has led to societal problems.The great amount of faith given to foxes can be seen in how, as a result of the Inari belief where foxes were believed to be or its servant, they were employed in practices of by and shugendō practitioners and in the oracles of miko; the customs related to kitsunetsuki can be seen as having developed in such a religious background. Hoshi no tama. ' on New Year's Night under the Enoki Tree near Ōji' in the by Hiroshige.
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Each fox has a kitsunebi floating close to its face.Depictions of kitsune or people possessed by them may feature round white balls known as hoshi no tama ( ほしのたま, star balls). Tales describe these as glowing with.
Some stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls. When not in human form or possessing a human, a kitsune keeps the ball in its mouth or carries it on its tail. Jewels are a common symbol of Inari and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them are rare.One belief is that when a kitsune changes shape, its hoshi no tama holds a portion of its magical power. Another tradition is that the pearl represents the kitsune's soul; the kitsune will die if separated from it for too long. Those who obtain the ball may be able to extract a promise from the kitsune to help them in exchange for its return. For example, a 12th-century tale describes a man using a fox's hoshi no tama to secure a favor;'Confound you!'
Snapped the fox. 'Give me back my ball!' The man ignored its pleas till finally it said tearfully, 'All right, you've got the ball, but you don't know how to keep it. It won't be any good to you. For me, it's a terrible loss.
I tell you, if you don't give it back, I'll be your enemy forever. If you do give it back though, I'll stick to you like a protector god.' The fox later saves his life by leading him past a band of armed robbers.
Portrayal. Inari Ōkami appears to a warrior accompanied by a kitsune. This portrayal shows the influence of concepts from Buddhism. Print by.Embedded in Japanese folklore as they are, kitsune appear in numerous Japanese works., and plays derived from folk tales feature them, as do contemporary works such as,. Japanese metal idol band refer to the kitsune myth in their lyrics and include the use of fox masks, hand signs, and animation interludes during live shows.
Western authors of fiction have also made use of the kitsune legends. Servants of Inari Kitsune are associated with Inari, the deity of rice. This association has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. Originally, kitsune were Inari's messengers, but the line between the two is now blurred so that Inari Ōkami may be depicted as a fox. Likewise, entire shrines are dedicated to kitsune, where devotees can leave. Fox spirits are said to be particularly fond of a fried sliced of tofu called, which is accordingly found in the noodle-based dishes kitsune and kitsune.
Similarly, Inari-zushi is a type of named for Inari Ōkami that consists of rice-filled pouches of fried tofu. There is speculation among folklorists as to whether another Shinto fox deity existed in the past. Foxes have long been worshipped as kami.Inari's kitsune are white, a color of a good.
They possess the power to ward off evil, and they sometimes serve as guardian spirits. In addition to protecting Inari shrines, they are petitioned to intervene on behalf of the locals and particularly to aid against troublesome nogitsune, those spirit foxes who do not serve Inari. Black foxes and nine-tailed foxes are likewise considered good omens.According to beliefs derived from fusui ( ), the fox's power over evil is such that a mere statue of a fox can dispel the evil, or energy, that flows from the northeast. Many Inari shrines, such as the famous shrine in, feature such statues, sometimes large numbers of them.Kitsune are connected to the Buddhist religion through the, goddesses conflated with Inari's female aspect. Dakiniten is depicted as a female wielding a sword and riding a flying white fox. Tricksters.
The shrine in features numerous kitsune statues.Kitsune are often presented as, with motives that vary from mischief to malevolence. Stories tell of kitsune playing tricks on overly proud, greedy merchants, and boastful commoners, while the crueler ones abuse poor tradesmen and farmers or devout Buddhist monks. Their victims are usually men; women are possessed instead. For example, kitsune are thought to employ their to lead travelers astray in the manner of a. Another tactic is for the kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions. Other common goals of trickster kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.A traditional game called kitsune-ken ('fox-fist') references the kitsune's powers over human beings.
The game is similar to, but the three hand positions signify a fox, a hunter, and a village headman. The headman beats the hunter, whom he outranks; the hunter beats the fox, whom he shoots; the fox beats the headman, whom he bewitches.This ambiguous portrayal, coupled with their reputation for vengefulness, leads people to try to discover a troublesome fox's motives. In one case, the 16th-century leader wrote a letter to the kami Inari:To Inari Daimyojin,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.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. A legendary kitsune featured in and plays. Print by.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: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!' Other kitsune use their magic for the benefit of their companion or hosts as long as the human beings treat them with respect. As, however, kitsune do not share human morality, and a kitsune who has adopted a house in this manner may, for example, bring its host money or items that it has stolen from the neighbors. Accordingly, common households thought to harbor kitsune are treated with suspicion. Oddly, samurai families were often reputed to share similar arrangements with kitsune, but these foxes were considered zenko and the use of their magic a sign of prestige. Abandoned homes were common haunts for kitsune. One 12th-century story tells of a minister moving into an old mansion only to discover a family of foxes living there.
They first try to scare him away, then claim that the house 'has been ours for many years,. We wish to register a vigorous protest.' The man refuses, and the foxes resign themselves to moving to an abandoned lot nearby.Tales distinguish kitsune gifts from kitsune payments. If a kitsune offers a payment or reward that includes money or material wealth, part or all of the sum will consist of old paper, leaves, twigs, stones, or similar valueless items under a magical illusion.
True kitsune gifts are usually intangibles, such as protection, knowledge, or long life. The kitsune casts a fox's shadow even in human form. Kuzunoha is a popular figure in folklore and the subject of plays. Wives and lovers Kitsune are commonly portrayed as lovers, usually in stories involving a young human male and a kitsune who takes the form of a human woman. The kitsune may be a seductress, but these stories are more often romantic in nature. Typically, the young man unknowingly marries the fox, who proves a devoted wife.
The man eventually discovers the fox's true nature, and the fox-wife is forced to leave him. In some cases, the husband wakes as if from a dream, filthy, disoriented, and far from home. He must then return to confront his abandoned family in shame.Many stories tell of fox-wives bearing children. When such progeny are human, they possess special physical or qualities that often pass to their own children. The -magician was reputed to have inherited such extraordinary powers.Other stories tell of kitsune marrying one another. Rain falling from a clear sky – a – is called or the kitsune's wedding, in reference to a folktale describing a wedding ceremony between the creatures being held during such conditions.
The event is considered a good omen, but the kitsune will seek revenge on any uninvited guests, as is depicted in the 1990 film.Stephen Turnbull, in 'Nagashino 1575', relates the tale of the Takeda clan's involvement with a fox-woman. The warlord, in 1544, defeated in battle a lesser local warlord named and drove him to suicide after a 'humiliating and spurious' peace conference, after which Shingen forced marriage on Suwa Yorishige's beautiful 14-year-old daughter Lady Koi – Shingen's own niece. Shingen, Turnbull writes, 'was so obsessed with the girl that his superstitious followers became alarmed and believed her to be an incarnation of the white fox-spirit of the, who had bewitched him in order to gain revenge.' When their son proved to be a disastrous leader and led the clan to their devastating defeat at the, Turnbull writes, 'wise old heads nodded, remembering the unhappy circumstances of his birth and his magical mother'. Casal, U.A.
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^ 佐藤米司他 (1977). 稲田浩二他編 (ed.). Pp. 250–1., p. 183., pp. 169–170., pp. 112–4., p. 149., pp. 299–300., pp. 162–3., pp. 109–124. Metal Hammer. Retrieved 2015-08-14. Johnson, Kij (2001).
Tom Doherty.; Edghill, Rosemary (2001). Pp. 91–. Highbridge, Dianne (1999).
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Osprey.References.
Finally, the moment we have been waiting for in Sakura Spirit. Things sure escalated quickly.
From very little boobies to many boobies at once. Who do you think is the cutest girl in Sakura Spirit? Let me know if I should stop my annoying voice acting:p. It'll take a few episodes to take in effect.Sakura Spirit Steam Page:Judo Star, Gushiken Takahiro, was about to have the match that would make or break his career in two weeks. A championship match where the winner is then signed up to be a young national athlete for Japan. He was very determined to win, in order to fulfill his dreams of finally representing his country for a sport he loves so much.He was prepared and ready, but that doesn't stop him from being nervous for his upcoming battle.
With the suggestion of his friends and classmates, he goes to a shrine that was rumoured to grant any wish or prayer. He poured all the coins from his already full coin bank into the offering box and made his prayer. After praying, he becomes dizzy and nauseous and eventually faints. When he woke up, he was already in an ancient place he didn't recognize.While searching for a way back to his village, he stumbles upon two girl wielding swords chasing after two. He questions his brain at first, but then follows them, only to be caught in on their shenanigans as well. 'Finally, the moment we have been waiting for in Sakura Spirit.
Things sure escalated quickly. From very little boobies to many boobies at once.
Who do you think is the cutest girl in Sakura Spirit? Let me know if I should stop my annoying voice acting:p.
It'll take a few episodes to take in effect.Sakura Spirit Steam Page:Rising Judo Star, Gushiken Takahiro, was about to have the match that would make or break his career in two weeks. A championship match where the winner is then signed up to be a young national athlete for Japan. He was very determined to win, in order to fulfill his dreams of finally representing his country for a sport he loves so much.He was prepared and ready, but that doesn't stop him from being nervous for his upcoming battle. With the suggestion of his friends and classmates, he goes to a shrine that was rumoured to grant any wish or prayer.
He poured all the coins from his already full coin bank into the offering box and made his prayer. After praying, he becomes dizzy and nauseous and eventually faints.
When he woke up, he was already in an ancient place he didn't recognize.While searching for a way back to his village, he stumbles upon two girl wielding swords chasing after two. He questions his brain at first, but then follows them, only to be caught in on their shenanigans as well.'
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