Horimono XX: the Japanese fox or kitsune

The roots of japanese legends about the fox seem to come from Chinese, Korean, Hindu and Greek folklore although in Japan they acquire their own cultural approach; in fact, the foxes of these cultures are evil beings, unlike the Kitsune, which can be good or bad.
The nine-tailed fox It is one of the most appreciated representations in the Horimono, since it is considered that the more tails it has, the older and more powerful it will be. When he reaches a thousand years he achieves the ninth tail (the maximum number), his fur turns white or gold and he acquires infinite wisdom and divinatory ability.

Foxes with black fur they are also symbols of good omens.

Inari and Kitsune

Inari is the god of fertility, agriculture and rice. Kitsune is his servant and messenger and carries in his mouth or on his tail a star sphere called hoshi no tama, a jewel that symbolizes the god and his fur is white, although he is sometimes represented with a fur of fire.

They drive away evil, they are spiritual guardians and if invoked, they defend the peasants and protect them. They also always keep their promises and can give magical gifts if treated with respect.

Yako Foxes

Yako foxes are wild and tend to be mischievous and even evil: they make fun of people, they become wisps, they steal, they cheat, they do magic to confuse ...

Foxes get the power to acquire human form with the years; For this reason, it is not uncommon to find love stories between humans (who do not know that they are actually foxes) and kitsunes; especially fox women with whom they can have children; These can be born foxes, but if they are born humans, they will have magical powers.

Other kitsune, however, are succubi that feed off the life energy or spirit of human beings, usually through sex and can possess them. Until the XNUMXth century, exorcisms to expel them from the bodies as was done with diabolical possessions, so now you know: find out well before tattooing it, you never know ...