In many cultures, the fuchs 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 reis and fertility. White foxes are supposed to be Inari's messengers and good Von nature. Some other foxes from stories tend to be mischievous oder 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 oder white and becomes all-knowing. A kitsune may take a human form of a young girl, beautiful woman oder elderly men.
Chinese mythology knows simmilar stories (or is the other way around?) about foxes oder huli jing possessing women, acquiring human form oder 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, fuchs was one of sacred Tiere and messenger of Ninhursag, the mother goddes of earth.
Moche people believed fuchs is a warrior that uses it's mind to fight.
In various Western stories fuchs often uses it's wit to beat both evil and brute strenght, even if for a selfish goal (like escaping the well deserved punishment oder getting something to eat).
Wherever the fuchs lives, it got a special place in local stories. Sometimes evil and sometimes good, but mosly walking the thin line in between, the fuchs 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 reis and fertility. White foxes are supposed to be Inari's messengers and good Von nature. Some other foxes from stories tend to be mischievous oder 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 oder white and becomes all-knowing. A kitsune may take a human form of a young girl, beautiful woman oder elderly men.
Chinese mythology knows simmilar stories (or is the other way around?) about foxes oder huli jing possessing women, acquiring human form oder 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, fuchs was one of sacred Tiere and messenger of Ninhursag, the mother goddes of earth.
Moche people believed fuchs is a warrior that uses it's mind to fight.
In various Western stories fuchs often uses it's wit to beat both evil and brute strenght, even if for a selfish goal (like escaping the well deserved punishment oder getting something to eat).
Wherever the fuchs lives, it got a special place in local stories. Sometimes evil and sometimes good, but mosly walking the thin line in between, the fuchs has a unique position in mythology (comparable maybe to cat, but not equal to it).