Research Files: Kitsune, the Trickster Fox

Disclaimer: I am not a myths scholar. I am simply interested in myths and folklore and how they shape human behavior and stories. The post below is a synthesis of my research about the Kitsune and my personal thoughts and should not be taken as verified fact, though I have done my best to ensure its accuracy. My sources are included at the end of the post.

Since today is April Fool’s Day in the United States of America, I decided it would be fun—even if a little on the nose—to focus on a figure often associated with trickster tendencies or deception: the Japanese kitsune.

What is a kitsune?

The word “kitsune” literally means “fox” in Japanese. But there is disagreement about the exact etymology of the word. For a being with so many variations of form and power, it seems fitting the origin of its name is also elusive.

It is commonly accepted that the kitsune came to Japan from China and has a similar counterpart in Korea.

In the Japanese Shinto religion, foxes were messenger servants of the spirit of rice and agriculture (among other things), Inari. They had white fur and were thought to serve as protectors because they had the ability to ward off evil.

The white fox also makes an appearance in Buddhism as the flying mount of the dakini-ten.

Attributes

Kitsune can be either good (zenko) or mischievous/malevolent (yako). But all kitsune are foxes that have reached a heightened level of knowledge and enlightenment.

Though depictions vary, some details commonly appear across tales about the spirit foxes. They are often shown carrying a white ball, either in their mouths or tails. This white ball is thought to be the kitsune’s power source or its soul, occasionally both.

According to legend, kitsune can have up to nine tails, growing a new tail after each one hundred years lived. Once the fox earns its final tail, its fur turns white or golden, and has reach the pinnacle of spiritual knowledge.

Kitsune keep their promises and return favors.

(Want more mythical foxes? Check out this related post– Research Files: The Teumessian Fox)

Powers

A kitsune’s list of possible powers is as long as its name’s potential origin. But a few powers commonly attributed to the spirit fox are:

Shapeshifting
Entering dreams and communicating
Flying
Invisibility
Creating realistic illusions
Possession

Kitsune are considered tricksters because of their ability to shapeshift or possess a human, as well as the actions they choose to take. The form a kitsune can take depends on its level of knowledge, but common ones are a beautiful woman, a young girl, or an old man. Some spirit foxes can also replicate a specific person’s likeness. Sometimes a kitsune keeps its tail(s) when it assumes a human form, and often the inability to conceal the tail(s) leads to the fox’s true nature being exposed.

How to Use the Kitsune as Inspiration

My character Azeria (Zeri) the Spirit Fox in the Sezna Seer series is inspired by the Japanese kitsune. Zeri can shapeshift and has the gifts of prophecy and entering dreams to relay prophecy to Seers. She’s vague and a bit of a trickster, but once she makes a promise, her magic binds her to keep it. Other than changing her form, she is unable to lie.

Some questions you can use to inspire your own stories:

What forms can your kitsune take? Why?
Do you have a character who can shapeshift? How does this help or hinder them?
What kinds of trouble could a human get into when dealing (knowingly or unknowingly) with a kitsune?
Is there a character that stirs up trouble just for fun? What kind of problems could that cause for your protagonist?
How would a kitsune be a good ally or a formidable antagonist?
Could a character with the gift of prophecy help your story?
How could you play with the idea of deception? How would your characters react to deception?
Does your story have a spiritual guardian? How could it protect or fail to protect your characters?
What if your character deceives another for a good reason? How could this affect how others see them?

This is not meant to be an exhaustive account of the Japanese kitsune. On the contrary. It is merely an introduction to the folkloric fox that can be either good, mischievous, or evil. If you have any additional resources about the kitsune or any works inspired by them, please share in the comments!