Nine-tailed fox

Nine-tailed fox
The nine-tailed fox is a mythical fox entity originating from Chinese mythology that is a common motif in East Asian mythology and the most famous fox spirit in Chinese culture.
In Chinese and East Asian folklore, foxes are depicted as spirits possessed of magic powers. These foxes are often depicted as mischievous, usually tricking other people, with the ability to disguise themselves as a beautiful woman.
Origin
The earliest mention of the nine-tailed fox is the Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), compiled from the Warring States period (475 BC–221 BC) to the Western Han (202 BC – 9 AD; 25 AD –220 AD) period. The work states:
In chapter 14 of the Shanhaijing, Guo Pu had commented that the nine-tailed fox was an auspicious omen that appeared during times of peace. However, in chapter 1, another aspect of the nine-tailed fox is described:
In one ancient myth, Yu the Great encountered a white nine-tailed fox, which he interpreted as an auspicious sign that he would marry Nüjiao. In Han iconography, the nine-tailed fox is sometimes depicted at Mount Kunlun and along with Xi Wangmu in her role as the goddess of immortality. According to the first-century Baihutong (Debates in the White Tiger Hall), the fox's nine tails symbolize abundant progeny.
Describing the transformation and other features of the fox, Guo Pu (276–324) made the following comment:
The Youyang Zazu made a connection between nine-tailed foxes and the divine:
Popular fox worship during the Tang dynasty has been mentioned in a text entitled Hu Shen (Fox gods):
In popular culture
Each of the nine-tailed fox appearances are listed in each section in order by year:
Games
Ninetales in Pokémon (1996)
Ninetails, a boss in Okami (2006)
Ahri in League of Legends (2009)
Kyubi in Yo-kai Watch (2013)
Kurama in Naruto and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2002)
Literature, graphic novels, comics
Kurama in Yuyu Hakusho (1990)
Kurama The Nine Tails Fox Kiyubi Naruto (1999)
Nine tails Guardian The God of Highschool (2011)
The Sandman: The Dream Hunters (1999)
Lico in The Demon Girl Next Door (2014)
Fox Spirit Matchmaker (2015)
The Helpful Fox Senko-san (2017)
Shuos Jedao in Machineries of Empire (2016)
One Hundred Ghost Tales From China and Japan by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1865)
Film
Painted Skin (2008) and its sequel (2012)
A Chinese Fairy Tale (2011)
League of Gods (2016)
Once Upon a Time (2017)
Hanson and the Beast (2017)
The Legend of Hei (2019)
Jiang Ziyia (2020)
Soul Snatcher (2020)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), the Jiu Wei Hu is among the creatures residing in Ta Lo
Umma (2022)
TV series
The Legend of Nezha (2003)
Strange Tales of Liao Zhai (2005)
The Legend and the Hero (2007) and its sequel (2009)
My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010)
The Investiture of the Gods (2014) and The Investiture of the Gods 2 (2015)
Legend of Nine Tails Fox (2016)
Fox in the Screen (2016)
Eternal Love (2017)
Moonshine and Valentine (2017)
Beauties in the Closet (2018)
Investiture of the Gods (2019)
Love, Death & Robots Episode 8 (2019)
The Life of White Fox (2019)
Eternal Love of Dream (2020)
Kumiho in Lovecraft Country Episode 6 "Meet Me in Daegu" (2020)
Lee Dong Wook in Tale Of The Nine Tailed (2020)
My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)
In Kamen Rider Geats (2022), the main character's motif is based on the Nine-tailed fox. Additionally, the main character's final form takes the form of the Nine-tailed fox motif.
In Sonic Prime (2022-present), Nine is an alternative version of Tails in another dimension. He added seven mechanic tails to his body, making him a nine-tailed fox.
Unicorn: Warriors Eternal (2023)
The Mickey Mouse Funhouse episode "HALT, Tiger" features the character Cho Sook (voiced by Jee Young Han), a shapeshifter residing in the Land of Myth and Legend's Shadow Mountain who can turn into a nine-tailed fox.
See also
Huxian, Fox Immortal Huli jing
Inari Ōkami, Japanese kami''
Kitsune
Kumiho
Hồ ly tinh
References
Literature
Fox spirit
Yaoguai
Vietnamese legendary creatures
Japanese legendary creatures
Korean legendary creatures
Mythological foxes
Shapeshifters
Therianthropes
Inari faith
Kitsune (fox)