In many cultures, the fox appears as the cunning trickster, sometimes working for it's own selfish goals and sometimes helping others.
In Japanese folklore, kitsune (fox spirit) is an intelligent being with magical powers, such as long life, wisdom and ability to aquire human form. Kitsune are associated with with Inari, the Shinto deity of rice and fertility. White foxes are supposed to be Inari's messengers and good by nature. Some other foxes from stories tend to be mischievous or even evil and possess people (especially young women). Kitsune grows tails as it ages and gains wisdom and with the ninth tails it also becomes golden or white and becomes all-knowing. A kitsune may take a human form of a young girl, beautiful woman or elderly men.
Chinese mythology knows simmilar stories (or is the other way around?) about foxes or huli jing possessing women, acquiring human form or gaining immortality through energy they recive from moon, sun, etc.
Koreans also know tales of kumiho (nine-tailed fox) that has many traits present in Chinese and Japanese mythology, but with a few differences, like eating human livers to keep it's powers and the ability to remain in human form for ever.
In Mesopotamian mythology, fox was one of sacred animals and messenger of Ninhursag, the mother goddes of earth.
Moche people believed fox is a warrior that uses it's mind to fight.
In various Western stories fox often uses it's wit to beat both evil and brute strenght, even if for a selfish goal (like escaping the well deserved punishment or getting something to eat).
Wherever the fox lives, it got a special place in local stories. Sometimes evil and sometimes good, but mosly walking the thin line in between, the fox has a unique position in mythology (comparable maybe to cat, but not equal to it).
In Japanese folklore, kitsune (fox spirit) is an intelligent being with magical powers, such as long life, wisdom and ability to aquire human form. Kitsune are associated with with Inari, the Shinto deity of rice and fertility. White foxes are supposed to be Inari's messengers and good by nature. Some other foxes from stories tend to be mischievous or even evil and possess people (especially young women). Kitsune grows tails as it ages and gains wisdom and with the ninth tails it also becomes golden or white and becomes all-knowing. A kitsune may take a human form of a young girl, beautiful woman or elderly men.
Chinese mythology knows simmilar stories (or is the other way around?) about foxes or huli jing possessing women, acquiring human form or gaining immortality through energy they recive from moon, sun, etc.
Koreans also know tales of kumiho (nine-tailed fox) that has many traits present in Chinese and Japanese mythology, but with a few differences, like eating human livers to keep it's powers and the ability to remain in human form for ever.
In Mesopotamian mythology, fox was one of sacred animals and messenger of Ninhursag, the mother goddes of earth.
Moche people believed fox is a warrior that uses it's mind to fight.
In various Western stories fox often uses it's wit to beat both evil and brute strenght, even if for a selfish goal (like escaping the well deserved punishment or getting something to eat).
Wherever the fox lives, it got a special place in local stories. Sometimes evil and sometimes good, but mosly walking the thin line in between, the fox has a unique position in mythology (comparable maybe to cat, but not equal to it).