Kitsune (mythology)

2005-09-30T04:24:07Z

24.43.122.39: /* External links */ Added Link, clarified.

:There is also a character named Kitsune in the comic [[Usagi Yojimbo]].

Kitsune is, literally, Japanese for [[fox]]. However, in English usage, kitsune usually refers to the magical fox-spirit, which a fox can become.

In Japanese mythology, a fox who lives long enough and gains so much knowledge reaches an enlightened state, the Eastern sense of the 'fox spirit'. These supernatural beings serve as the cultural trickster, akin to Loki, Coyote, Eris, and many others; their stories both guide humankind along a proper moral path and explain the mechanics of the physical world. Some kitsune were said to serve [[Inari]] (jovial, rotund god of rice) and guard his shrines, while others were wild and may have been either benevolent or malicious, depending on the particular story they played a role in. Some reward the honest, pious, hardworking or poor. Others manipulate powerful leaders to evil, and still others are given to arson, murder, and rape. Above all they seem to take pleasure in teaching humility, delivering hubris to the proud, greedy and powerful. More information about the traditional kitsune can be found in the links at the end of this article; the rest focuses on the furry concept of the kitsune.

Above all it should be noted that the definition of kitsune has been put together through many oral records, translated, and worked over by many anthropologists and countless fans. There are as many definitions of kitsune as there are kitsune in the fandom.

==The furry mythology==

In furry lore, kitsune are born, either from one or two kitsune parents or a drifting kitsune soul possessing an unborn child's body. Mortals may also be turned into kitsune through 'sharing' spirit with another kitsune, or by divine figures. Some hold that kitsune live to the age of 1000 years, and then 'ascend' past the mortal world to a sort of kitsune nirvana. Others disregard any upper limit. (After all, what is a thousand years to those on other planets or the void of space?)

Kitsune might have been tied to the 13 Oriental elements in the original folklore, but in furry are almost always depicted as belonging to one of many elements, including the 'classical' elements (earth, fire, wind, and water), primal forces (good, evil, time), various scenes in nature (mountain, ocean, river, forest), and various artistic pursuits (dance, music, painting). Other, original elements have been invented for specific characters. To survive, a kitsune must be immersed in his or her element, or drain chi from living beings. Chi may be drained through many ways, but the most common are sexual intercourse and stealing breath. Because of this, many kitsune in old stories are depicted as 'evil', intent on killing humans.

Kitsune are rated in power by the number of [[tail]]s they have. Very young kitsune have one tail; the most powerful mortal kitsune (kyubi) have nine tails. In furry lore, the Goddess of Kitsune is usually depicted as being the only ten-tailed kitsune. (The goddess is also sometimes depicted in furry lore as a hermaphrodite, a symbol of fertility, power, and immortality.) In most stories, age is the sole determinant of the number of tails, and the number of tails determines the kitsune's power. In others tails may be awarded by more powerful forces as a reward for services performed or exceptional deeds accomplished.

Kitsune powers typically involve illusion, although some mind-affecting magic tricks and kitsunebi ("foxfire") are known. However, a kitsune's greatest asset is not his or her magic, but intelligence, wit, and misdirection. Traditionally, kitsune were vulnerable to faith, blessed weapons, and 'men of the cloth' from religions other than Shinto or Buddhism. Oni demons were said to be able to strip a kitsune's spirit away and devour it with little more than a glance. Within the fandom these weaknesses are usually glossed over and ignored.

A kitsune may manifest in diferent forms: a fox, a fox-headed person, or a normal but very attractive person. Each of those options is more draining than the previous one. In all cases, the tail will still be visible, unless the kitsune expends additional effort on hiding it. The tail can still reappear if the kitsune gets too careless, for instance, by getting drunk. All this will increase the kitsune's need to feed, which depending on the amount of power it possesses can mean a blight for the land.

Kitsune can feed on live beings, but also on elements. Whatever is being fed on will weaken, but won't necessarily be destroyed. In the case of live beings they will weaken and become pale. When feeding on elements, the kitsune can snuff out flames, cause the land to dry and crack, water to become still and stale, and sealife to die. Young kitsune may not have a very noticeable effect, but older and more powerful ones could present a considerable problem for the area where they decided to manifest.

==In roleplay==
A fair proportion of furries have chosen kitsune as their personas; in some roleplaying spheres kitsune match or outnumber normal foxes. Kitsune are popular for being aged, enlightened, yet energetic and adventurous (and for being foxlike, but more unique and exotic than foxes). They're attractive for their gender/shapeshifting powers.

Ironically some kitsune seem more proud and arrogant than mortal foxes, even showy with their powers. Kitsune are stereotypically lithe, feminine, aggressively sexual figures. In contrast, others are played as hyper, cheerful, silly characters, the furry version of Kender. Stereotypes are, of course, meant to be broken.

==In modern media==
Kitsune are playable characters in the roleplaying games [[Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East]] and [[Mystic China]].

Kitsune also became Magic: The Gathering cards (in the Kamigawa block). Most Kitsune were white creatures.

The titular character of the manga Naruto is a reincarnated kitsune. So, too, are Shippo from InuYasha, Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho, and Sakura from [[Hyper Police]]. Although he has multiple tails and was undoubtedly inspired by old Japanese myth to at least a small degree, Miles "Tails" Prower is not. The jury is still out on [[Kaiketsu Zorori]].

==See also==
*[[Kumiho]]
*[[Tanuki]]

==External links==
*[http://academia.issendai.com/fox-index.shtml Fox spirits in Asia]
*[http://www.comnet.ca/~foxtrot/kitsune/kitsune.html Foxtrot's Guide to Kitsune Lore] - A definitive guide to kitsune, with a PDF link to the original Kitsune book.
*[http://www.kitsune.org Kitsune.org]
*[http://blackpawproductions.tripod.com/KitsuneClan/kitinfo.htm Kitsune Information] - Although written for one setting (uses an old version of Foxtrot's Guide), this page collects much of the information known about kitsune.
*[http://www.coyotes.org/kitsune/kitsune.html The Kitsune page]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune Kitsune on Wikipedia]

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FurryFaire MUCK

2005-08-21T04:10:18Z

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FurryFaire is an online MUCK set in the mythical land of Kith Kanaan. Kith Kanaan is divided into a number of nations, each with a specific theme associated with them. The central region, and the primary role-playing area, is called the Shire Lands.

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Kitsune (mythology)

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