Myths and Legends. In Japanese Folklore Foxes have many varied and strong roles to play or as in Japanese “Kitsune”. In ancient Japan Foxes and Humans lives side by side in close companionship which both tolerated each others existence. As the Cat and Dog have become domesticated and evolved into the placid lovely creatures we see imagine how it would be if this had happened with Foxes? With their amazing intellect , beauty and sharp character. In the Myths it was believe that a Fox would posses magical powers and could take human form, and is associated with Shinto (Inari Ōkami) . The red torii were all along the pathways as far as the road would go on, it took many many hours to reach the top of the mountain shrine of Fushimi-ku in Kyoto, often getting lost because of the intersecting small walk ways and the mosquito were nothing to play with. This place was really something which gave you a feeling of wonder and as an adult to be there walking for hours on end in the pathway of the Red Torii makes you feel like a child again. On the legend of the Fox again (Kitsune), the more tails it has and can have as many as nine the more wiser, magical and other worldly it is. Maybe the close companionship and bond that once humans of ancient Japan gave rise to stories and legends of the Fox in a way to pay tribute and show respect for this beautiful and ferocious creature. Maybe people then would dream that the Fox they kept as companions would shape shift into humans and giving legends of this order as well.
It’s amazing to think now how such a old legend with so many shrines has translated now to popular culture from Film , books and other media , mainly in Japan interpreted in Manga and Anime. Also now it is seen in the west more and more. Back to the fox itself tho, this is such a beautiful and mysterious creature it has always been a part of my imagination and gave me wonder as it continues to do so to many other people. What to me it represents , a Fox in all the legends and in Kyoto is Guardians and Companions. What a wonderful adventure to be there and experience that place!
