Kitsune:
Spirit Foxes
or
Psy-Vamps of a different Breed.
General
Giving a simple definition of what a kitsune is is not an easy task. While there is much speculation and adoration of these magical creatures, information about their true origins is rare and at times conflicting as well. The legend of the Kitsune race began in India. Travelers carried tales of them to China, Korea, and eventually Japan where they took deep root in popular folklore and one type; The Inari (White) kitsune became religious icons.
Spirituality
Kitsune are neither good nor evil as a race, though each individual is defined by his or her own choices and attitudes, most kitsune seem to be without spiritual influence there are some very large exceptions. Most notable are the Oinari Kitsune. These are said to have pledged themselves to the rice god Inari, and serve as go betweens, ferrying messages back and forth between humans and the god. Brother and sister pairs are often depicted as guardians at the foot of a Torii (celestial gate).
Physical
Some things that many texts seem to agree on: Kitsune are flesh and blood living creatures. They shift between fox form, and human (Usually that of a seductively beautiful youth.) They are close to immortal by human standards, with a possible lifespan of around a thousand years. They can be injured or even killed by normal means. They have their own forms of magic that vary wildly in nature from one fox to the next.
Magical Abilities
In addition to having the power to switch back and forth between fox and human form Kitsune have a huge range of other magical abilities. Which abilities a particular kitsune has seems to be part genetic and part pure chance. Some of the more common ones are, the ability to create powerful illusions, healing, possession, and the ability to use magical fire as a weapon. A kitsune grows more powerful as it ages and can live to be around a century old. When they have achieved a new level of personal growth, they gain a tail (up to 9). The higher their level the more energy they need to survive and do magic. A young one-tail kitsune need only a minimal amount, but a nine-tailed would need a staggering amount just to exist. Some sources do imply that this energy can be taken from other non-living sources by older and more experienced foxes.
Interaction with humans
Tales of them closely mirror many of the American Indian coyote *trickster* stories, revealing the majority of Kitsune to be playful, and fascinated by humans. Sometimes playing pranks on them, other times helping them, and on occasion even falling in love with them. They have volatile natures and are unlikely to forget a slight or let it go. They are just as unlikely to forget a kindness or favor, and can be fiercely loyal and protective friends.
Feeding
Kitsune need energy both for survival, and for their magic. The most common source of this energy is human beings. A kitsune would seduce a human partner and take the energy during lovemaking. Unfortunately, this is not without harm for the human. Depending on the amount of energy, taken severe burns can appear on the victim’s body, and they can even be weakened to the point of death. If the energy is given freely, the feeding causes less damage to the human and is of greater benefit to the fox. A kitsune and a human falling in love presents a difficult set of problems, for the fox and the human alike. Repeated *feedings* upon the same human, however willing they may be, will not only exponentially diminish their life force, but also cause them to become foxed (Slowly go mad) Still such pairings are common in the folklore often with tragic results. There are also many tales of fox mates giving their human companions children. Assuming Kitsune might have been real and not pure fiction there could be many humans out there with a smattering of kitsune blood in their veins.
Exposure
Thanks to their quicksilver temperaments, and distractibility it isn’t hard to expose a kitsune for what it is. It would seem that it takes a great deal of concentration to maintain a completely human form. An excited or upset kitsune loses that control and *pop* the ears or tails are suddenly visible. There are many other ways in which kitsune are revealed in the folklore. One says that they revert to full fox form immediately after seeing their own reflections.
Sources and Links for more information:
The Kitsune Page.
http://www.coyotes.org/kitsune/kitsune.html
FoxTrot’s Research on Kitsune Lore
http://www.comnet.ca/~foxtrot/kitsune/kitsune1.htm
Kitsune no Yume
http://www.fox-dream.com/
“Kitsune: Japan’s Fox of mystery, romance, and humor,” by : Kiyoshi
Nozaki
http://www.antiqbook.com/boox/reb/17936.shtml
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