Okay, it's about time I posted SOMETHING. I put up a poll on the Facebook page promoting this blog, asking whomever cared, from whence I should draw my next myth. The vote was nearly unanimous: Japan. Now, I don't know very much about Japanese folklore, so a relative of mine suggested I research the kitsune.
The kitsune are, to sum it up in a couple of words, Japanese fox spirits. That's the Mythology-for-Dummies version. Some stories portray them as trickster spirits, as foxes are often portrayed in myths throughout the world. Other myths tell of them as fiercely loyal companions, and even wives or lovers.They are said to be very intelligent and possess magical powers. They also live a very, very long time. Oh, and they can have up to nine tales.
Kitsune have the power to shapeshift into human form. They often use this power to change into young girls, old men, or beautiful women (in which form they often marry men and even bear children). Some tales say that even though a transformed kitsune looks nearly identical to a regular human being, there is some trait (usually the tail) that it retains. Dogs seem to be able to sense whether a man or a woman is actually a fox in disguise, and often the very presence of a dog can make a kitsune change back to its original form and flee.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune (Okay, I know it's not the best source, but I was lazy.)
Song lyric in title:
"The Black Fox" by Heather Dale
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