Japanese folklore has given us some of the most impressive and iconic figures in all of the world.
If you’ve ever watched the modern anime ‘Naruto’ then you’ve probably heard of the 9-Tailed Fox before. But the fox in this story comes from a long tradition of this figure being used within Japanese mythology.
So what is the 9-Tailed Fox Called and where did it come from? If you’re wondering this question, then you’re in luck!
In this article, we’re going to give you a total explanation of this famous Yōkai, taking you through some of its history and why it’s such an important figure in Japanese mythology.
So let’s get right into it.
What Is A Yōkai?
Before we explain all the details of the 9-Tailed Fox, it’s first important to understand what the Yōkai are. Yōkai are spirits and shapeshifters within Japanese mythology that often feature in a whole host of different stories.
A Yōkai can range from a malevolent Oni demon, through deadly river beasts, all the way to whimsical inanimate objects given self-awareness and movement.
So generally, if anything is a spirit or trickster creature within Japanese Mythology, it’s generally a Yōkai. There are a few different famous Yōkai that feature heavily in Japanese legend, including Shuten-dōji (the Oni King,) and the 9-Tailed Fox.
Foxes In Japanese Mythology
The fox or ‘kitsune’ is one of the most common animals associated with Yōkaii. Foxes, due to their sly nature, are often placed in stories as trickster characters that cause problems for heroes and travelers.
In fact, foxes are a very common mythological creature all across east Asian folklore, featuring heavily in Chinese mythology.
However, in Japanese folklore, a fox is often seen as a trickster (see also ‘What Is A Half Human Half Fox Called?‘). They’re not strictly evil entities, though they can be problematic for heroes in various stories.
They tend to possess various paranormal abilities, including the ability to speak and shapeshift into human form. It’s worth noting that many stories include helpful foxes who guard heroes.
However, others will like to scare characters—a good example of this is the story of a 9-Tailed fox scaring Prince Hanzoku.
The 9-Tailed Fox (kyūbi No Kitsune)
As foxes get older, they gain additional tails. It is said that the more tails a fox has, the wiser and more powerful they become.
The number of tails a fox may have can go all the way up to 9, and this is where we get the concept of the ‘9-Tailed Fox’ from. In Japanese, this is written as ‘kyūbi no kitsune’
The most common numbers of tails that feature within Japanese folklore is one, five, seven, and nine; with nine being the most powerful and tricky of foxes.
It is said that every 100 years a fox will gain a new tail and become more powerful. So when a fox has lived to 1000 years old, they gain a ninth and final tail and become a 9-Tailed Fox.
Another common quality of a 9-Tailed Fox is that they change its orange color to become either white or golden.
Foxes that reach 1000 years of age become a Tenko—meaning a celestial fox, and they are then able to ascend to the heavens.
Kitsunetsuki And Possession
Kitsunetsuki is a word that means ‘being possessed by a fox.’ This is a concept you’ll sometimes find within Japanese folklore and it usually involves a young woman being possessed by a fox, who then inhabits their body and controls them for a time.
You can think of this as similar to demonic possessions within European folklore.
It’s possible that kitsunetsuki was a way that past generations explained various mental health disorders, and there were often exorcisms performed in order to cure them of their ailments.
People thought to be possessed were often outcasts by their families and community.
The 9-Tailed Fox In Popular Culture
The concept of the 9-Tailed Fox has been picked up in a variety of different modern mediums and is often used as a story-telling device.
It is perhaps most famously used in the massively popular manga and anime ‘Naruto,’ whereupon an orphaned boy has the spirit of a giant 9-Tailed Fox sealed within him.
You can see the influence of this embraced by western culture as well, including the character of ‘tails’ in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ who is a fox that has many tails and uses them to fly.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! The 9-Tailed Fox, or the kyubi no kitsune, is a figure found all the way through Japanese folklore.
Depending on the story a fox with nine tails can be either benevolent or malevolent and are typically seen as foxes who have lived to 1000 years of age and grown 9 distinct tails.
We hope that this article has explained everything you wanted to know about the 9-Tailed Fox, and you’re now a lot more confident about what it is within folklore and why it’s such an important figure!
If you still have some questions, check below for our detailed Frequently Asked Questions Section.
This is just one of the amazing aspects of Japanese folklore, and we’d definitely suggest you take a look at some of the other famous Yōkai that feature in stories!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Foxes So Common In East Asian Folklore?
Foxes are animals that have traditionally caused a lot of problems for communities across the world. They are cunning animals who love to pick off small livestock.
If a farmer is keeping chickens, a fox is likely to find a way into their pen and kill them all, taking only one to eat. This has caused foxes to become known as sly, tricky animals that you have to watch out for.
However, foxes are also very beautiful animals and because of this people over time have attributed a lot of positive qualities to them. This is why you see a massive difference in how they are portrayed in a lot of stories.
Depending on the story you’re looking at, they can be positive or negative forces.
What Are The Main Powers Of The Kitsune?
Depending on the story you read, there is a wide range of powers that foxes have. Let’s take a look at a few of these below:
Illusions: foxes can typically create illusions, tricking travelers or leading them astray.
Shapeshifting: this is one of the most common paranormal abilities that foxes have. You’ll often find foxes transforming into beautiful women in order to trick heroes.
Possession: as we mentioned in the above articles, foxes can sometimes possess people and control their bodies.
Foxfire: foxes with a high number of tails are believed to be able to create foxfire, a red flame that is sometimes used to lure humans from the road or into dangerous places.
Just a final note here—the level of powers that a fox may have is generally determined by their number of tails.
By the time a fox has lived to 1000 years old and has 9 tails, they are considered to be extremely powerful and wise, even omniscient in some stories!
