Table of Contents
- Nine-tailed Fox
- Ancient Legends
- Evolution Through the Ages
- Ancestry Exploration
- Fox Traces and Shadows
- Ethereal Legends
Nine-tailed Fox
The Nine-tailed Fox is a mythical beast from ancient East Asian mythology. In classical legends, the Nine-tailed Fox is a four-legged creature covered entirely in fiery red fur. It is skilled in transformation and seduction. It enjoys eating humans and often lures them with the sound of a crying baby. The appearance of the Nine-tailed Fox is a sign of great chaos in the world.
Chinese Scientific Name: Nine-tailed Fox
Latin Scientific Name: Nine-tailed Fox
Kingdom: Virus
Family: Demon
Distribution Area: China, Korean Peninsula, Japan
Source: "Shan Hai Jing"
Incarnations: Daji, Tamamo-no-Mae
http://blog.sina.com.cn/myan Sina Blog: Table of Contents
Ancient Legends
Legend Content
"Shan Hai Jing"
"Wei Shu"
Evolution Through the Ages
From "Thousand Character Classic" to "Investiture of the Gods"
Northern Song Dynasty
"Book of King Wu's Campaign Against Zhou", "Investiture of the Gods"
Other Records
Ancestry Exploration
Hinduism
Japanese Shingon Buddhism
Jainism
Other Claims
About Japanese Fox Spirits
Fox Traces and Shadows
Ethereal Legends
Nine-tailed Fox in Games
Nine-tailed Fox in Comics
Nine-tailed Fox in Animation
Nine-tailed Fox - Biological Prototype
Ancient Legends
Legend Content
In ancient times, there was a myth about the Summer Dynasty's Da Yu marrying a woman from the Tu Mountain tribe, which involved a mysterious object, the Nine-tailed White Fox. According to the Eastern Han historian Zhao Ye's "Wu Yue Chun Qiu - The Legend of King Wu of Yue" and "Yiwenzai Ju" Volume 99, it is recorded that Da Yu came to Tu Mountain - believed to be in present-day Song County, Henan, and encountered a Nine-tailed White Fox. He heard the Tu Mountain people singing, saying, "Gentle White Fox, grand Nine Tails," and if he "settled down here," his descendants would prosper. Thus, Da Yu married a girl from the Tu Mountain tribe named Nujiao. Since the myth was recorded quite late, it clearly incorporated later cultural ideas. If we restore its original appearance, it would be that Da Yu married the Nine-tailed White Fox as his wife in Tu Mountain. The cultural significance hidden behind this myth of human-animal marriage is that the Tu Mountain tribe regarded the Nine-tailed Fox as their totem, and the Nine-tailed White Fox was considered their ancestor. Because of this glorious event, later generations of fox spirits often proudly claimed to be descendants of Tu Mountain, flaunting their noble lineage.
In ancient mythological narratives, there is a segment: After passing through the Black Tooth Kingdom, they arrived at the Qingqiu Kingdom. The people there ate grains and wore silk, which was probably no different from China. However, they discovered a strange beast, the Nine-tailed Fox. According to the locals, the appearance of this fox was a sign of peace, and when the ruler's grace extended to beasts, the Nine-tailed Fox would appear. It had previously appeared, then disappeared for decades. Now it reappeared, indicating that there would be a sage in China and a sign of peace in the world. Wenming, upon hearing this, thought of the Tu Mountain beauty and couldn't help but sigh about leaving home. However, public affairs were of utmost importance, and he couldn't prioritize personal matters, but he felt somewhat comforted as the great achievement was within reach. Here, the emergence of the Nine-tailed Fox was referred to as an auspicious omen.
During the Han Dynasty, the idea of talismans became popular, and thus the Nine-tailed Fox, originally a totem deity, was also transformed into a mysterious symbol of auspiciousness. In Han stone carvings and brick paintings, the Nine-tailed Fox is often depicted alongside the White Rabbit, Toad, and Three-legged Crow beside the Queen Mother of the West to signify auspiciousness. Historically, the Eastern Yi people worshipped the Fox Spirit. According to the article "Shan Hai Jing - Examination of the Geography of the East," the Qingqiu Kingdom, Black Tooth Kingdom, and Ten Sun Kingdom were located in the area of the Eastern Yi people near Rizhao and Linyi. Merchants favored the Nine-tailed Fox, and Shuhai was considered the ancestor of merchants, who also lived there.
In "Shan Hai Jing," the Nine-tailed Fox first appeared: "In the mountains of Qingqiu, there is a beast that resembles a fox but has nine tails, its sound is like a baby, and it can eat people; those who are eaten are not bewitched." ("Shan Hai Jing - Southern Mountains") "The Qingqiu Kingdom is to the north, and its fox has four legs and nine tails." ("Shan Hai Jing - Geography of the East"). In traditional Chinese culture, the fox has always been an ambiguous figure (according to formal definitions, the fox and the raccoon are two different animals, but people commonly refer to them collectively as foxes, with only the fox possessing a celestial aura, while the raccoon seems to be merely a mundane creature). The Nine-tailed Fox in "Shan Hai Jing" is a demon beast that can "eat people." In later Han stone carvings and brick paintings, the Nine-tailed Fox is often depicted alongside the White Rabbit, Toad, and Three-legged Crow beside the Queen Mother of the West to signify auspiciousness, with the Nine-tailed Fox symbolizing abundant descendants (see "White Tiger's Commentary on the Virtue of Sealing and Sacrificing"). The notion of "eating people" gradually faded, while the idea of "being auspicious" began to emerge. However, in the Eastern Han "Shuo Wen Jie Zi," the fox was explained as "a beast of evil, ridden by ghosts." This shows that the fox had spiritual energy (demonic energy), which was already recognized thousands of years ago. Later, during the Tang and Song Dynasties, foxes were worshipped in temples, and it became very popular. Tang Dynasty writer Zhang Zhi's "Chao Ye Qian Zai" stated: "Since the early Tang, the common people have often worshipped the Fox God... At that time, there was a saying: 'Without a fox spirit, there is no village.'" By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the image of the fox became even more diverse. The most famous image of the Nine-tailed Fox, Daji, emerged during that time ("Investiture of the Gods"), while stories of fox spirits and fox demons in "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" and "Notes from the Grass Hall" are numerous. "Enchanting," "evil," "celestial," "mysterious," and "cunning" can be said to be the most obvious feelings Chinese people associate with "fox."
"Shan Hai Jing - Southern Mountains": "In the mountains of Qingqiu, there is a beast that resembles a fox but has nine tails, its sound is like a baby, and it can eat people. Those who are eaten are not bewitched." Guo Pu's commentary on "Da Huang Dong Jing" states: "There is a country of Qingqiu, with a fox that has nine tails," and says: "When peace prevails, it appears as an omen," thus it is also a symbol of auspiciousness. Han Dynasty historian Zhao Ye's "Wu Yue Chun Qiu - The Legend of King Wu of Yue" states: "Yu was thirty and unmarried, fearing that in the twilight of time, he would lose his system, so he said: 'If I marry, there must be a response.' Then the Nine-tailed White Fox appeared before Yu. Yu said: 'The white one is my attire, and the nine tails are the proof of the king. The song of Tu Mountain says: Gentle White Fox, grand Nine Tails. My family is noble, and guests are kings. If I settle down, my descendants will prosper. Between heaven and man, this is the way to go. How clear it is!' Yu then married Tu Mountain, calling her Nujiao." This is the meaning referred to by Guo's commentary as "an omen."
In Han Dynasty stone carvings and brick paintings, the Nine-tailed Fox is often depicted alongside the White Rabbit, Toad, and Three-legged Crow beside the Queen Mother of the West to signify auspiciousness. The Nine-tailed Fox symbolizes abundant descendants (see "White Tiger's Commentary - Sealing and Sacrificing"), which is also the legacy of Yu marrying the Tu Mountain goddess. The notion of "eating people" gradually faded, while the idea of "being auspicious" became prominent. During the Six Dynasties, Li Luo's commentary on the "Thousand Character Classic" states: "Zhou attacked Yin and Tang," claiming Daji was a Nine-tailed Fox. "Investiture of the Gods" also portrays Daji as a Nine-tailed Fox spirit, which likely originated from this.
"Wei Shu"
In "Wei Shu - Chapter 18 - Spiritual Omens," it is recorded that among the strange beasts appearing in various places, foxes occupy a significant portion. Is this some kind of auspicious sign? It seems somewhat puzzling. Among the intermingled figures of White Foxes, Black Foxes, and Five-colored Dogs, starting from "The Second Year of Emperor Suzong's Zhengguang in March," there are records such as: "In Southern Qingzhou, two White Foxes were presented; in June of the third year, a White Fox was presented from Pingyang County; in August, a Nine-tailed Fox was presented from Guangzhou; in May of the fourth year, a White Fox was presented from Pingyang County; in April of the fourth year of Emperor Xiaojing's Tianping, a White Fox was presented from Xiyanzhou; in July, a Nine-tailed Fox was presented from Guangzhou," and so on. After the fourth year of the Yuanxiang era in April, the Nine-tailed Fox seemed to act collectively, suddenly appearing densely in people's sight: "A Nine-tailed Fox was presented from Guangzhou; in the second year of February, a Nine-tailed Fox was presented from Guangzhou; in May of the third year of Xinghe, a Nine-tailed Fox was presented from Sizhou." With so many "treasures" being presented, the motivation is nothing more than to corroborate the emperor's grace and gain rewards from the court. The Nine-tailed Fox unfortunately once again became a barometer of the regime. In this regard, the Northern Zhou emperor was somewhat wiser. "Northern History - Chronicles of the Zhou, Volume 10" records: "On the day of Jiazi, Zhengzhou presented a Nine-tailed Fox, its skin and flesh were completely consumed, but its bones remained intact. The emperor said: 'The arrival of auspicious omens must be due to virtue. If the five ranks are in order, the state is peaceful, and the family knows filial piety and kindness, then this can be achieved. Now, without such times, it is feared that it is not a true record.'" Thus, he ordered it to be burned.
According to the deeper meaning of the official history, this case further reflects the emperor's pragmatic style. However, after burning, the Nine-tailed Fox left no remains, but the charm had already penetrated people's hearts. Because of this, the "straightforward" historian must have made the emperor very pleased with this record. It seems that even the celestial path and secret techniques of the bed could not escape the close attention of the court.
Evolution Through the Ages
"Shan Hai Jing"
The Nine-tailed Fox and the Black Fox, White Fox, etc., first appeared in the totem beliefs of primitive religions. "Shan Hai Jing" records the Nine-tailed Fox of Qingqiu. Interpreting these ancient records, the Nine-tailed Fox is actually the totem of a primitive tribe located in the eastern or southern Qingqiu region. "Shan Hai Jing" states that it "can eat people," indicating its divine nature in threatening enemies and protecting the safety of its tribe. It also states, "Those who eat it are not bewitched" - eating its flesh can prevent harm from evil spirits, which is clearly related to the primitive witchcraft of the Nine-tailed Fox totem belief, believing that the Nine-tailed Fox possesses the magical power to ward off evil.
From "Thousand Character Classic" to "Investiture of the Gods"
The Nine-tailed Fox symbolizes abundant descendants and also the legacy of Yu marrying the daughter of the Tu Mountain tribe. Later generations reversed this meaning, taking the "man-eating" Nine-tailed Fox as a demon. During the Six Dynasties, Li Luo's commentary on the "Thousand Character Classic" states: "Zhou attacked Yin and Tang," already identifying Daji as a Nine-tailed Fox. The Ming Dynasty novel "Investiture of the Gods" further developed this narrative, thus it became a derogatory term for seductive and treacherous women.
In the history of Chinese fox culture, a misfortune for the fox also occurred during the Han Dynasty, which was demonization. Under the influence of the idea of "old things becoming strange," ordinary foxes, which were common everywhere, could hardly maintain their sacred status compared to dragons, phoenixes, and qilins. Although fox worship and celestial fox worship became popular during the Tang Dynasty, they had already become demon gods. Since they were demon gods, they were not as serious as righteous gods and inevitably engaged in misdeeds, much like the Monkey King before achieving his true form. However, in the minds of Tang people, the most powerful celestial fox - the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox still maintained a righteous demeanor. Unfortunately, the glorious history of the Nine-tailed Fox was ultimately destined to end; it just ended later than other foxes because of its greatest powers. Also, because it had the greatest powers, once it was demonized, it became the most demonic fox spirit.
The Nine-tailed Fox was already demonized by the early Northern Song Dynasty. Tian Kuang's "Rulin Gongyi" states that during the reign of Song Zhenzong, Chen Pengnian was cunning and adept at "seducing" the emperor, so "people at the time referred to him as a Nine-tailed Fox," indicating that the Nine-tailed Fox in people's minds was no longer an auspicious fox or divine fox, but had turned into something bad. It was also during this period that a famous woman in ancient Chinese history was said to be a Nine-tailed Fox, and this notion spread to Japan, namely Daji, the concubine of King Zhou of Shang. Song Zhao Lingchou's "Hou Qing Lu" Volume 8 states: "A courtesan in Qiantang, skilled in seduction, was called the Nine-tailed Wild Fox." The Japanese "Honcho Keibun Sui" Volume 11 contains an article by Jiang Dafu Qing titled "Fox Seduction," which states: "Daji of Yin was a Nine-tailed Fox." "Fox Seduction" is about events in the third year of the Kangwa era (1101), which corresponds to the time of Song Huizong, indicating that this notion had already existed in China before that. In fact, Tang poet Bai Juyi in "The Fox of the Ancient Tomb" had already compared Daji, who could ruin families and countries, with the concubine of King Zhou, Bao Si, as a fox demon. When the Nine-tailed Fox was demonized, it was entirely reasonable for Daji, who used her beauty to seduce King Zhou to the point of losing his country, to be referred to as a Nine-tailed Fox spirit.
Daji became the Nine-tailed Fox spirit, which can be said to be a perfect combination of a super fox demon. In the novel's depiction, it was initiated by the Yuan Dynasty's historical storytelling "Book of King Wu's Campaign Against Zhou," and later expanded by the Ming Dynasty's long chapter novel "Investiture of the Gods."
In "Book of King Wu's Campaign Against Zhou," the one who sucked out Daji's soul, essence, and marrow and transformed into her was a "Nine-tailed Golden-haired Fox." Daji's ending was that after King Wu defeated Yin, Jiang Taigong used a demon-subduing mirror to force her to reveal her true form, then stuffed her into a bag and crushed her to death with a wooden pestle. The reason for all this trouble was that the executioner was so enchanted by her "thousand demons and hundred charms" eyes that he couldn't bring himself to execute her.
"Investiture of the Gods" greatly elaborated on the seductive nature of the thousand-year Nine-tailed Fox spirit Daji, detailing many of the bad deeds she committed. In contrast, King Zhou of Shang, who was "talented in both literature and martial arts," was not that bad, and he had loyal ministers and virtuous consorts, making his kingdom quite stable. It was all due to this thousand-year Nine-tailed Fox spirit, along with the Nine-headed Rooster spirit and the Jade Pipa spirit, that he was enchanted to lose his "true nature." Interestingly, there is also a description of Daji's seduction when she was beheaded, which is more vivid and detailed than in "Book of King Wu's Campaign Against Zhou." The novel strives to portray how she "delicately" enchanted the executioners to the point of being "soft and dazed," and in the end, it was still Jiang Ziya who used a precious gourd to take her head. The image of the Nine-tailed Fox spirit Daji in "Investiture of the Gods" pushes the ancient concept of seductive fox demons to the extreme, elevating the idea of the Nine-tailed Fox as the ultimate fox demon to its peak, while also pushing the taboo against female beauty and the notion that "female beauty has always led to the downfall of nations" to its limits.
"Shan Hai Jing" records that the Nine-tailed Fox has the characteristic of eating people, so it cannot be defined as a spiritual beast; spiritual beasts can only be eaten by humans, they do not eat people. Some scholars believe that the Nine-tailed Fox's ability to eat people only indicates that it can threaten enemies, which precisely reflects the characteristics of a protective deity. Combined with the stories that later emerged, the Nine-tailed Fox actually longs for human life. If a White Fox wants to transform into a human, it must undergo a thousand years of cultivation. It is said that a fox cultivates for a hundred years to grow one tail, and after a thousand years of cultivation, it grows nine tails, and only with nine tails can it transform into a human. It is precisely because of the special feelings the Eastern Yi people have for the Fox Spirit that it has led to the unique achievements of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" and the great success of Pu Songling.
Subsequently, there were also some novels about the Nine-tailed Fox, such as the popular novel "Fox Fate" from the Qing Dynasty, where the Jade-faced Fairy is a Nine-tailed Jade-faced Fox spirit, ultimately captured by Lü Dongbin, who cut off her eight tails. The late Qing novel "Nine-tailed Fox" does not write about fox demons but about a prostitute - the prostitute Hu Baoyu, nicknamed Nine-tailed Fox. The novel states that the Nine-tailed Fox is the most lascivious and charming, "more powerful than ordinary foxes," thus comparing her to Hu Baoyu, "an extremely promiscuous courtesan." The concept of fox prostitutes being synonymous with the worst kind of courtesans became popular in the Qing Dynasty, with the worst courtesan being the Nine-tailed Fox.
From the Tu Mountain woman to the Nine-tailed Fox Daji, the sanctity and glory of the Nine-tailed Fox have completely been lost, and the Nine-tailed Fox has become a symbol of the most lascivious, charming, and wicked woman. When Ximen Qing's wife Wu Yueniang scolds his concubine Pan Jinlian as a "Nine-tailed Fox spirit," you will understand how vicious this curse is.
Fox Traces and Shadows
The Nine-tailed Fox is an extremely rare species in the celestial realm, rarely living in groups, preferring to hide in valleys, generally scattered across various levels of the celestial realm. Many people spend their entire lives without ever seeing the face of a fox demon. It is widely said that fox demons possess unparalleled beauty and intelligence, and their fur is the finest among treasures, with the Nine-tailed Fox being the most renowned. They only appear in high, cold mountainous areas, and generally, small fox demons can transform into human form after a hundred years of birth, all of whom are stunningly beautiful. The fur of the Nine-tailed Fox is a pale, almost colorless white, with deep red eyes, while the silver-white Nine-tailed Fox has fur as clear and pure as moonlight, shining brilliantly.
When the Nine-tailed Fox appears, there is a characteristic sound, like the sound of a chicken feather duster brushing against a rosewood table. Because the most difficult part of a fox's transformation into human form is the fox's tail! With nine tails, it not only shows its deep skills in charm but also hints at the difficulty it faces when borrowing Yang energy from humans, as the complexity of the tails can easily reveal its true identity. Therefore, the structure of its tails precisely aligns with the dialectics of ancient culture: the higher the ability, the more troubles arise.
Legends of the Nine-tailed Fox exist in China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula. It is said that the tails of the fox demon are where spiritual energy is stored. When the fox demon absorbs enough spiritual energy, its tail will split in two, eventually splitting into nine tails. Once the fox demon possesses nine tails, it gains immortality.
To transform into a human, the Nine-tailed Fox must eat the livers of 100 humans. There is a legend that when the Nine-tailed Fox goes to seduce a man for the 100th liver, if that man seeks help from an animal or ghost that he has previously helped, he can defeat the Nine-tailed Fox.
Every hundred years, the Nine-tailed Fox will grow a tail. When all nine tails are complete, after another hundred years, meaning that after living for 1000 years, this Nine-tailed Fox can transform into a human. Thus, a Nine-tailed Fox that has lived for 1000 years is a beautiful woman who has already eaten the livers of 100 men. After eating the 100th liver, it can live as a human. However, the Nine-tailed Fox in the story often fails when it is about to eat the 100th liver.
The reason for the moral contradiction surrounding the Nine-tailed Fox's reputation stems from its excessive beauty; when a tree stands out in the forest, it is bound to be blown down; when one acts above others, they are bound to be criticized. This is certainly not the fault of beautiful appearances, but the inner charm that guides beauty, which works tirelessly even in illusions. This charm can break free from the constraints of the physical body, piercing the skin and marrow like the wind, causing people to feel a sense of foreboding. Just think about the feeling we have when we see a stunning beauty; she (or he) lives on in your bones, almost as if she (or he) is there.
Some scholars point out that the Nine-tailed Fox may be a subspecies of the red fox found in South China, as this fox's tail is as bushy as nine tails. This can be corroborated by the alternative names of the large civet - "Nine-segmented Raccoon" and the red panda - "Nine-segmented Wolf," hence the Nine-tailed Fox may be a shorthand for the Nine-segmented Tail Fox. Such verification is unnecessary on the humid path of foxes, akin to using a level to verify the authenticity of "a solitary smoke in the desert."
Ethereal Legends
The previous life of the White Fox is the Nine-tailed White Fox.
A Night of Passion with the White Fox - Discussing the Fox Spirit Theme of the Eastern Yi People
In the Tian Tai Mountain, 2 kilometers south of Taoluo Town, Donggang District, Rizhao City, Shandong Province, there is a valley called Witch Valley, where streams flow gently, the rocks are ancient, the woods are dense, and the flowers are fragrant with birds singing. In the middle of Witch Valley, there is a stone tomb covered with thick moss, which the locals call the Witch's Grave. Below the Witch's Grave lies a slanted rock with oracle bone inscriptions, which have become even more ancient and weathered over the centuries. The oracle bone inscriptions have been translated into modern text as follows:
Song of the Witch
Witch's soul, wandering in the forest;
Guarding my home, the remains of my ancestors.
Sleeping for ten thousand years, born in the realm of Emperor Jun;
Zi Jiong Zhe, my ancestor is the goddess Xi He.
Travelers, be safe, blessings from the gods.
Translated into modern text:
I am the witch whose soul has not dispersed, wandering like a ghost in the dense forest;
Guarding the former homeland, watching over the remains of my ancestors.
I am the witch who has slept for ten thousand years, born in the realm of Emperor Jun;
Tai Hao and Shao Hao are my descendants, the goddess Xi He is my grandmother.
Kind-hearted travelers, slow down your steps, you will receive blessings from the gods.
In the villages surrounding Tian Tai Mountain, there are many legends about Witch Valley, the Witch's Grave, and the Nine-tailed Fox. There are also records such as:
"The Adventures in Witch Valley" (Donghai Resident)
In the Fusa Mountain, there is a Witch's Valley with a Witch's Grave, located in a corner of the East Sea. Every time on a night when the moon sets and the stars are sparse, when the roosters do not crow and the dogs do not bark, sounds can be heard from the valley: sometimes the voices of people are bustling like a market; sometimes the sounds of labor are endless; sometimes the music of eight instruments is melodious; sometimes the sounds of singing and dancing are continuous. The locals dare not approach. A curious man, during the quiet of the night, went to peek. He encountered a young woman, with flowing hair and a long dress, with a beautiful appearance. Following the woman up the steps, he saw ancient trees towering and wildflowers everywhere; the passersby were simply dressed and behaved politely. At the top of the valley, there was a room of the woman, called: the Witch's Elegant Abode. The witch is the leader of the clan. Thus, a romantic connection was born. Words cannot express the tenderness, and love cannot be fully told, as the clan members served diligently. However, as the jade rooster crowed, the east gradually brightened, and the witch, reluctant to part, sang a light song: "Oh, heaven, I wish to know you, may our lives be long and never fade. Mountains may crumble, rivers may dry; winter thunder may rumble, summer rain may snow, heaven and earth unite, only then dare I part with you," and pointed to the sky as an oath, pledging their love for three lifetimes before leaving. The man woke up and found no clan or witch, only a pile of stones in the valley, and upon seeing the inscriptions on the stone, he realized it was the Witch's Grave, and thus he committed suicide beneath the tombstone, following the witch's spirit. There is a saying: "What is love in the world, that makes one so devoted to life and death?"
Another sister piece titled "White Fox":
"White Fox" (Donghai Resident)
In the Fusa Mountain, there is a Witch's Valley, a place of reincarnation, located in a corner of the East Sea. There is the soul of a witch, sometimes crying day and night, sometimes dancing alone in the dark. The old mother scolded her, and the witch's soul replied: "In my previous life, a lovesick man devoted his life to me, but I could not repay him, it has been a thousand years, the lovesick stone remains, but the lovesick man is nowhere to be seen, which is sad." The old mother said: "You are the reincarnation of the Nine-tailed White Fox, saved by the lovesick man, hence the night of passion. It takes three lifetimes of cultivation to share a boat and cross together; only after pledging love for three lifetimes can you grow old together. Your fates have not yet arrived, making it difficult to continue." The witch's soul pleaded. The old mother said: "Thus, your wish is granted." However, the lovesick man had already drunk the forgetfulness water, completely forgetting the past, how could it be? The witch's soul said: "As long as we can meet once, my wish will be fulfilled." At that time, the lovesick man was a scholar who studied hard, and the witch transformed into a white-clad woman to serve him. She prepared three meals in the thatched cottage, washed his clothes in the creek, ground fragrant ink in the study, recited poetry in the grass hall, welcomed the morning light with songs, and danced under the moonlight. However, the scholar, with his family's views and eager for fame, was completely unmoved by her love. That year, in the grand examination, the scholar achieved first place, and was invited to be a prince, choosing a date to marry. On the wedding night, the white-clad woman unexpectedly appeared, saying she had received the scholar's kindness in her previous life and wished to dance for him. The scholar gladly agreed. The woman deeply bowed, and after the 礼，she danced with long sleeves. The moonlight was like water, the white dress like snow, her long hair flowing, like a dream. She sang again: "The lonely witch, alone in the deep valley. The lovesick man, visiting the elegant abode at night. Love pledged for three lifetimes, oaths of the sea and mountains. As the rooster crows, it all becomes void. A thousand years of waiting, ten thousand years of loneliness. In this life, a meeting is enough for my heart. The flowing sleeves, only dance for you. Now I part with you, the spirit mountain will recount." She danced until she fell to the ground, transforming into a gentle breeze and leaving. The scholar was greatly astonished, as if he had some realization, yet ultimately could not remember. There is a saying: "Fate is like a high scholar in the mountains, crystal clear snow; a celestial beauty in the forest of solitude; fate is like searching for her a thousand times in the crowd, only to find her in the dim light; fate is like flowers falling helplessly, reminiscent of the returning swallows; fate is like the joys and sorrows of parting, indifferent, allowing the drops to fall until dawn."
Later, the story of the White Fox was thoroughly developed in the writings of Pu Songling during the Qing Dynasty, becoming a classic example of love stories featuring fox spirits in China.
Fox Traces Everywhere
Nine-tailed Fox in Games
- From the 2.8D online game "New Shu Men" operated by Shanghai Green Shore Network
Category: Celestial Pet/Mount
The Nine-tailed Fox celestial pet belongs to the rare celestial pets of "New Shu Men." After the 2010 revision, the Nine-tailed Fox's kin became beloved mounts and pets. - From the turn-based online game "Wen Dao" developed by Xiamen G-bits
Role: Pet
Category: Divine Beast
This was a pet divine beast launched during Guangyu Company's third anniversary event.
In the game "New Shu Men," the Nine-tailed Fox (5 images) fox cultivates for a hundred years to grow one tail; this demon has nine tails, being the ancestor of spiritual foxes. Its appearance is extremely enchanting, with a smile that can topple cities and a second smile that can topple nations. When attacking, it changes from a weak appearance to a silver fox, wielding giant claws to instantly shred enemies into powder.
3. From the domestically produced classical mythology RPG online game "Da Hua Xi You II"
Role: 3rd Transcendence Character.
Transcendence Requirements: Character level reaches 2nd Transcendence 138-142 and completes the transcendence task.
Nine-tailed Fox
Gender: Female
Race: Demon
Weapon: Claws
Character Description: The fox cultivates for a hundred years to grow one tail; this demon has nine tails, being the ancestor of spiritual foxes. Its appearance is extremely enchanting, with a smile that can topple cities and a second smile that can topple nations. When attacking, it changes from a weak appearance to a silver fox, wielding giant claws to instantly shred enemies into powder.
Faction: Underworld, Spider Cave, Demon King's Stronghold
Demon King's Stronghold
- Demon King's Stronghold
Location: Southern Zhanbu State
Master: Bull Demon King
Apprentice Requirements: Demon race, gender unrestricted
Faction Description: A faction established by the Bull Demon King gathering his underlings, known for their strong combat power. They value martial strength, believing that power is paramount, and their skills primarily focus on "increasing their own or their teammates' strength."
Underworld - Underworld
Location: West of Chang'an
Master: Ksitigarbha
Apprentice Requirements: Demon race, gender unrestricted
Faction Description: The Underworld is located in the most yin-qi dense area, giving a creepy and eerie feeling. The skills practiced by the disciples of the Underworld are also very domineering; they believe that weakening the opponent's strength is the best offense, thus their skills serve to "reduce the opponent's vitality and magical power."
Spider Cave - Spider Cave
Location: Southern Zhanbu State
Master: Fairy Qingxia
Apprentice Requirements: Demon race, female
Faction Description: Spider silk is their favorite, and many martial arts are derived from the web of the Spider Immortal. They possess an extraordinary ability to use spider silk to block attacks from enemies, reducing "damage taken by themselves or their teammates."
"Da Hua Xi You" Nine-tailed Fox
The Nine-tailed Fox is evolved from the Jade Rabbit, a level 60 mall pet in "Da Hua Xi You."
Acquisition Method: Ascend from the Jade Rabbit
Required Ascension Value: 10
Growth Direction: Law
Carryable Level: Level 60
Carryable Skills: Advanced Cultivation, Thunder Movement, Thunder Strike, Advanced Paralysis, Advanced Spell Critical
Qualification Limit:
Qualification Limit
Root Bone Spirit Strength Wisdom Agility Physical Defense Magic Defense
Normal 1995 2993 1425 2138 1995 1782 1782
Evolution 2294 3441 1638 2458 2294 2049 2049
Nine-tailed Fox in Comics
The Nine-tailed Fox in the anime "Naruto" (19 images)
Chinese Name: [Nine Tails - Nine-tailed Fox]
Introduction: The Nine-tailed Fox is the strongest of the nine divine beasts, its power mainly reflected in chakra. Unlike other tailed beasts that extract chakra in various ways (One Tail, Seven Tails, Four Tails, Six Tails eat humans to produce chakra, Two Tails and Eight Tails utilize otherworldly powers, Three Tails use the fish-like creature, Five Tails absorb the essence of nature), the Nine Tails does not rely on external forces to produce chakra. The fire god seal within the Nine Tails can automatically generate chakra, making the Nine Tails' chakra infinite, with strong endurance in battle. In the battle against the Eight-headed Serpent, although the Eight-headed Serpent and the Nine-tailed Fox are roughly equal in strength, during the prolonged battle of over a hundred years, the Eight-headed Serpent's chakra could not keep up and was defeated by the Nine Tails. The nine tails of the Nine Tails possess immense energy, and when they rotate together, they can create a hurricane, launching chakra into the sky from its fur to form meteor rain attacks against enemies, repeatedly defeating strong opponents in battles against the nine divine beasts. Weaker tailed beasts like the Shujiao and the Guardian Crane do not dare to approach the ancient battlefield. The Fire Altar is the foremost of the five altars, and it is said that besides the chakra generator of the fire god seal, there are two unique skills. Affected by the dark waves of the Eight-headed Serpent, the Nine-tailed Fox was awakened from the Fire Altar. The Nine-tailed Fox is the most intelligent spiritual beast, unlike the Eight-headed Serpent, which is purely focused on killing like the Guardian Crane and Penghou. It seeks to find the demon that awakened it, to find and kill it, along with the ninja that sealed it last time. However, the Eight-headed Serpent never revealed that it was the demon that awakened the Nine-tailed Fox until it was defeated.
Ancient Divine Beast Battle: 4 Battles, All Victories
Victories: Cat Demon, Penghou, Thunder Beast, Eight-headed Serpent
Next Scene: Unknown whereabouts; before being sealed again, the Nine Tails' goal is to find the Eight-headed Serpent or kill all ninjas until it finds the one who sealed it (then, it was taken by our Fourth...).
Japanese Mythological Prototype: In Japanese mythology, it is the strongest S-class demon beast, red in color, representing the power of fire, with immense abilities. As the only beast that has never been defeated, its potential power is immeasurable. Its attack method involves using its nearly infinite chakra to rotate its nine tails (what does that mean, a fan?), any creature that approaches will be sucked in by the powerful wind generated by the nine tails, and then shredded by the enlarged claws of the fox demon. At the same time, its entire body emits fire elements, launching attacks similar to meteors, capable of instantly destroying cities. In the ancient divine beast battle, it severely injured the challenging Penghou, and if the Cat Demon had not been saved by its master, the God of Death, it would have almost perished. The Eight-headed Serpent barely escaped with the Kusanagi Sword, which was also slightly damaged.
Abilities: Fire Element Attack, Fox Demon Fire Claw
Tailed Beast Power Ranking: 1
Tailed Beast Chakra Amount Ranking: 1
Symbolic Code: Fire
Original Residence/Discovery Location: Kobe, Goshin Town, God's Altar
"Xuan Hao War Chronicles"
In the manga "Xuan Hao War Chronicles," serialized in (Longman Youth Sunday), the controller of the Nine-tailed Fox - Wu Yu, leaves a deep impression.
In this manga, the Nine-tailed Fox is formed from condensed evil energy, controlled by the Qing Wu Master.
Ultimate Move: Three Money Sealing Technique.
Wu Yu: The Feng Shui Beast is the Nine-tailed Fox's Qing Wu Master, originating from the Tang Sect in Hong Kong, very wealthy, and is a subordinate of the White Tiger. Her moves are cunning, but she is a woman of great loyalty, a mature woman type, contrasting greatly with Shen San.
Feng Shui Beast Illustrated Guide
Feng Shui Beast: Nine-tailed Fox
First seen in ancient Chinese biological illustrations, it roams in Qingqiu Mountain, standing 1.2 meters tall and about 2-3 meters long, resembling a fox with nine tails, said to be a powerful and enchanting demon beast.
Level: Spiritual Beast Level
Attribute: Fire
Evil Qi Value: 1900
Attack Power: 1800
Defense Power: 1600
Characteristics: Exceptional intelligence.
Ultimate Move: Nine-tailed Fox Phantom Attack.
Nine-tailed Fox in "Catgirl Guardian Himi"
One of Japan's three great monsters, named Yu, with golden hair and blue eyes, defeated by the cat demon Himi.
Nine-tailed Fox in Animation
In "Blue Cat Dragon Rider Corps," the Nine-tailed Fox.
Name: Nine-tailed Fox
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Zodiac: Libra
Birthday: October 12
Personality: Cunning but with some kindness and compassion, has familial bonds.
Weapon: Uses nine tails to confuse people.
Voice Actor: Qu Lan
Introduction: Her brother suffered brain damage from a car accident, and to help him recover his brain's intelligence, she was forced to assist Dr. Wai Wai as an undercover agent in the Dragon Rider Corps, attempting to sabotage the Dragon Rider's upgrade. In episode 57, she learned of Wai Wai's plan, turned back to the right path, and saved La La. Ultimately, she sacrificed herself to save her brother and the Dragon Rider Corps.
Nine-tailed Fox - Biological Prototype
Some scholars point out that the Nine-tailed Fox may be a subspecies of the red fox found in South China, as this fox's tail is as bushy as nine tails. This can be corroborated by the alternative names of the large civet - "Nine-segmented Raccoon" and the red panda - "Nine-segmented Wolf," hence the Nine-tailed Fox may be a shorthand for the Nine-segmented Tail Fox.
Reference Materials: 1. "Shan Hai Jing"