Fox

Baidoku Daiō

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: King of Venereal Disease, Bai Doku Daiō, Golden-Haired Nine-Tailed White-Faced Fox
Category: Fox

The Myth

Baidoku Daiō, the King of Venereal Disease, is a terrifying supernatural being born from the accumulated yin energy of the world since the beginning of creation. In his original form, he is a golden-haired, nine-tailed, white-faced fox capable of flying freely through the cosmos and transforming into different shapes. His ultimate ambition is to exterminate humanity and turn every land into a realm of demons. Throughout the ages, he has repeatedly assumed the identities of infamous women to spread destruction. He first appeared as Daji, the consort of King Zhou of Shang, encouraging the tyrant’s cruelty and plunging his kingdom into disorder. He later became the wife of King Ban足 in India, disguised as a peasant’s daughter near Mount Huayang, where he once again committed atrocities, attacked Buddhism, and sought to slaughter the population. Finally, he travelled to Japan and became Tamamo-no-Mae, the beloved courtesan of Emperor Toba. His true nature was exposed once more, and he was hunted down and killed in the plains of Nasu. Although his immense lifespan finally appeared to end, his spirit continued to haunt the world by possessing a stone that harmed both people and animals. The monk Genno eventually shattered the stone with his staff, apparently destroying the fox’s remaining spirit.

However, the fox’s scattered spiritual remnants gathered again in the Lingnan region of China, where they took human form and acquired new supernatural powers. The resurrected demon transformed into Baidoku, a terrible and difficult-to-cure disease, and gathered eighty-four thousand followers to launch another campaign of slaughter against humanity. As Baidoku Daiō, he appears as an imposing ruler dressed in mould-coloured robes and ceremonial headwear. His army consists of horrifying disease generals, including Fistula, Poisonous Infection, Residual Poison, and Wax-Candle Chancre, whose monstrous bodies reflect the diseases they represent. Together, the King and his vast army seek to spread sickness throughout the human body, imagined as a kingdom under siege.

Baidoku Daiō eventually appears before Junjoku, a physician devoted to treating venereal disease, disguised as a woman. He warns the physician to abandon his medical research, but when Junjoku recognizes his true identity, the demon reveals his fox form and attacks him with foul-smelling poisonous vapours. The physician is saved by Raishin, a divine general who is the son of King Wen’s descendant Jichang and now guards the heavenly imperial palace. Raishin drives the fox away, beginning a great supernatural war between the forces of disease and the defenders of the human body. Junjoku and Raishin are aided by medicinal generals, including Enjumaru, Chisōmaru, and Baikōsan, whose powers represent the healing effects of different remedies. In the final battle, Enjumaru defeats the disease general Rōreki, after which Baidoku Daiō himself is beheaded. With their leader destroyed, the army of disease collapses. Junjoku then awakens in his study, realizing that the entire battle was a dream. Inspired by the vision, he prepares a medicine to treat venereal disease and rejoices that his long-standing ambition to develop an effective remedy has finally been fulfilled.

Sources

“黴毒大王 [ばいどくだいおう] (Baidoku Daiō).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010655118.html

Yumian

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Jade Face, Yumian Fox, Yumian Princess, Hu Xiaojie
Category: Fox

The Myth

Yumian is a powerful fox demon known for her beautiful, jade-like face and extraordinary powers of transformation. In the tale The Complete Story of the Fox’s Karmic Affinity, Yumian is described as a nine-tailed fox who has cultivated her supernatural abilities for nine thousand years, gaining an additional tail for every thousand years of practice. Despite her immense age and magical power, she remains fascinated by the pleasures of the human world and frequently disguises herself as a beautiful woman to interact with mortals.

Taking the identity of Miss Hu, Yumian visits the study of a young scholar named Zhou at night. She becomes involved with him and secretly absorbs his yang essence to strengthen her own cultivation. As their encounters continue, Zhou neglects his studies and eventually falls ill, weakened by the fox demon’s supernatural influence. His declining health draws attention to the danger concealed behind Yumian’s alluring human appearance.

Eventually, the immortal Lü Dongbin descends into the mortal world to subdue the fox demon. The two engage in a supernatural battle, but neither can gain the upper hand, and their confrontation ends in a draw. Yumian also appears in other Chinese literary tales. In The Complete Biography of Ji Gong, the Jade-Faced Fox visits the monk Ji Gong to seek his teachings. In Journey to the West, the Jade-Faced Princess is a fox spirit and the daughter of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fox King. She lives in Cloud-Gathering Cave on Mount Jilei and becomes the concubine of the Bull Demon King.

Sources

“玉面 (Yùmiàn).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%89%E9%9D%A2

Longzhi

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: 蠪蛭 (Lóngzhì)
Category: Fox

The Myth

Longzhi is a monstrous fox-like creature with nine heads and nine tails. Its paws resemble those of a tiger, giving it the claws and appearance of a formidable predator. Despite its foxlike body, the creature has a terrifying voice that sounds like the cries of a human baby, making its presence especially unsettling.

Longzhi is a dangerous man-eating beast that attacks and devours humans. Its nine heads and nine tails distinguish it from ordinary foxes and other supernatural animals, while its tiger-like claws make it a fearsome hunter. The creature combines the cunning appearance of a fox with the strength and ferocity of a predator, making it a particularly monstrous being in Chinese mythology.

Sources

“蠪姪 (Lóngzhí).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A0%AA%E5%A7%AA

Tenko

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Heavenly Fox, Tenko (天狐)
Category: Fox

The Myth

Tenko are the highest-ranking and most powerful of the benevolent kitsune, possessing divine abilities comparable to those of the gods. They are usually described as fox spirits that have lived for a thousand years, attaining extraordinary wisdom and supernatural power through centuries of cultivation. Their fur may be golden, silver, or white, and they are often depicted with multiple bushy tails, commonly four. As spiritual beings without permanent physical bodies, they can assume different appearances, frequently manifesting as beautiful, goddess-like figures. Having reached the highest stage of fox cultivation, they no longer need to feed on human life force and abandon the wicked behaviour associated with less advanced fox spirits.

Tenko are noble and benevolent beings who may be worshipped as gods by humans. They grant blessings, favours, and supernatural assistance to those who revere them. Although they can possess human beings, their possession differs from the harmful influence associated with malevolent fox spirits. A person inhabited by a tenko may acquire the spirit’s extraordinary clairvoyance, gaining the ability to predict future events accurately. Their divine status distinguishes them from younger kitsune, which are often more mischievous, deceptive, or dangerous.

According to Japanese traditions concerning kitsune, fox spirits belong to a hierarchy in which age, wisdom, and spiritual cultivation determine their rank. One classification divides benevolent foxes, known as zenko, into five kinds: tenko, kinko or golden foxes, ginko or silver foxes, kuroko or black foxes, and byakko or white foxes. Another classification places wild foxes, called nogitsune, at the lowest level, followed by kiko, or spirit foxes, then kūko, or void foxes, and finally tenko at the highest rank. These celestial foxes represent the ultimate development of kitsune power, having transcended their earthly nature and attained a divine existence.

Sources

“Tenko.” Yokai.com: The Database of Japanese Folklore. https://yokai.com/tenko/

Tamamo-no-Mae

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Tamamo-no-Gozen, Lady Kayō, Nine-Tailed Fox, Tamamo
Category: Fox

The Myth

Tamamo-no-Mae was a beautiful and extraordinarily intelligent woman who served as a courtesan at the court of Emperor Konoe. Her beauty and knowledge made her the emperor’s favourite, and she seemed capable of answering every question put to her. Yet beneath her elegant appearance lurked a powerful nine-tailed fox spirit whose true nature remained hidden. Through her supernatural influence, she caused the emperor to fall gravely ill, threatening the stability of the imperial court.

Unable to explain the emperor’s mysterious illness, the court summoned the astrologer Abe no Yasuchika. He eventually discovered that Tamamo-no-Mae was not human but a fox spirit using her beauty and intelligence to deceive the ruler. Once her identity was revealed, the emperor ordered warriors Kazusa-no-suke and Miura-no-suke to hunt her down. They pursued her to the plains of Nasu, where they finally killed the supernatural fox. However, her death did not end her power, and her vengeful spirit continued to haunt the land.

According to legend, Tamamo-no-Mae’s spirit entered a stone known as the Sesshō-seki, or Killing Stone. The stone released poisonous vapours that killed birds, animals, and anyone unfortunate enough to approach it. Eventually, the Buddhist monk Gennō Shinshō travelled to the stone and performed religious rites to free the spirit from its curse. He broke the stone apart and held a memorial service for Tamamo-no-Mae, allowing her repentant spirit to find peace. The legend of Tamamo-no-Mae also connects her to earlier incarnations in China and India, where she allegedly disguised herself as royal concubines and manipulated rulers, bringing terror and disorder to their kingdoms before fleeing to Japan.

Sources

“Tamamo-no-Mae.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamamo-no-Mae

Inari Ōkami

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Ō-Inari, Inari, Inari Daimyōjin
Category: Fox, Deity

The Myth

Inari Ōkami is a powerful Japanese kami associated with rice, fertility, agriculture, tea, sake, industry, and prosperity. Often depicted as either a beautiful young woman or an elderly man carrying sheaves of rice, Inari can appear in different forms and is sometimes understood as a collective of several deities. Inari’s name is associated with the bearing and cultivation of rice, and the kami is closely connected with the abundance of the harvest and the success of human livelihoods. Inari is also revered as a protector of merchants, swordsmiths, and warriors, granting prosperity and worldly success to those who honor the deity.

According to one legend, Inari descended from heaven during an ancient famine that threatened Japan. Riding upon a white fox and carrying sheaves of grain, the kami brought nourishment to a land of swamps and waters. The grain Inari carried was said to be an ancient cereal that grew in marshy ground before rice cultivation became widespread. Another tale tells of a wealthy man named Hata no Irogu who used rice cakes as targets for archery practice. Angered by this disrespect toward a divine gift, the rice kami flew away in the form of a white bird and landed on a mountain. The man recognized his mistake and established a shrine at the place where the bird had settled. The bird then transformed into a growing rice plant, and the mountain became a sacred place of worship.

Inari’s most recognizable companions are the white kitsune, or fox spirits, who serve as divine messengers. Although Inari is often mistakenly imagined as a fox, the kami and the foxes are distinct beings. The foxes are associated with the protection of rice fields and the delivery of offerings, and people traditionally presented them with red rice and fried tofu. Inari is also connected with magical jewels, sacred scrolls, sheaves of rice, sickles, and swords. The deity’s worship spread throughout Japan, and Inari became a protector of temples, households, businesses, and craftsmen. Inari’s powers extend beyond agriculture, encompassing wealth, trade, food, and the general prosperity of those who seek the kami’s favour.

Sources

“Inari Ōkami.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inari_%C5%8Ckami

Sky Fox

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Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Celestial Fox, Tian Hu (天狐), Thousand-Year Heavenly Fox, Tenko
Category: Fox

The Myth

The Sky Fox is an exceptionally powerful celestial fox spirit that emerges after a fox has cultivated its supernatural abilities for a thousand years and developed nine tails. Upon reaching this stage, its fur turns golden, and it ascends to the heavens, becoming a divine beast of extraordinary power. Its celestial transformation grants it the ability to see a thousand li into the distance, allowing it to perceive events far beyond the reach of ordinary creatures. The Sky Fox represents the highest stage of a fox spirit’s cultivation, possessing wisdom, magical abilities, and a place among the celestial beings.

Fox spirits develop their powers through several paths. Some gain wisdom by accidentally swallowing treasures from heaven and earth, while others cultivate their spiritual virtues in places rich in yin energy, drawing upon the essence of the moon. Some learn directly from Taoist monks and masters. Every hundred years, a fox faces a supernatural catastrophe; if it survives, it develops another tail. Many foxes perish or abandon their cultivation before reaching the later stages, making the nine-tailed Sky Fox exceptionally rare. Upon completing a thousand years of cultivation, the fox receives recognition from the Heavenly Court and attains immortal rank.

Despite their divine status, Sky Foxes do not always behave benevolently toward humans. Some descend into the mortal world and cause chaos, requiring Taoist priests to subdue them. Because of their celestial nature, they are generally spared execution and instead punished through beatings or exile. One such Sky Fox, Liu Cheng, was banished to the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla after causing disorder in China. The people of Silla eventually came to revere him as a deity. Another legend describes a Sky Fox possessing a heavenly book containing powerful magical techniques. Humans who attempt to steal this treasure often suffer disastrous consequences, although the Korean hero Jeon Woo-chi succeeds in taking the book and mastering its secrets.

The Sky Fox is also associated with Japanese and Korean traditions. In Japan, the celestial fox is linked to the highest ranks of kitsune, above other supernatural foxes such as kūko, kiko, and yako. Some traditions connect the celestial fox with the tengu, while others describe fox spirits as divine messengers of Inari Ōkami rather than the deity itself. In Korea, the nine-tailed fox known as the kumiho shares several characteristics with the Sky Fox, including golden fur, nine tails, and a heavenly book. These traditions portray the Sky Fox as a rare and formidable being whose supernatural cultivation allows it to cross the boundary between the mortal world and the heavens.

Sources

“Sky Fox (mythology).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Fox_(mythology)

Hồ Tinh

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Tradition: Vietnamese Mythology
Alternative Names: Hồ Ly Tinh, Nine-Tailed Fox, Chồn Tinh
Category: Fox

The Myth

Hồ Tinh is a powerful nine-tailed fox spirit that lived for more than a thousand years in a rocky mountain west of the ancient citadel of Thăng Long, now Hanoi. The creature possessed extraordinary shapeshifting abilities, allowing it to transform into countless different forms, including a beautiful woman, a handsome man, or a terrifying demon. In its human disguises, it mingled with ordinary people and concealed its true nature while preparing to capture its victims.

The fox spirit frequently appeared as a beautiful woman or a handsome young man, using its appearance and charm to lure unsuspecting people into a deep cave beneath the mountain. Sometimes it disguised itself as a demon to frighten people into submission. Once its victims entered the cave, the fox seized them and gradually devoured them. It terrorized the surrounding countryside, causing great suffering among the inhabitants, who were unable to protect themselves against its supernatural powers.

Eventually, Lạc Long Quân, the powerful dragon lord, intervened to end the creature’s reign of terror. He commanded the forces of the Water Palace to raise the waters and flood the fox’s mountain lair. The nine-tailed fox attempted to escape, but the pursuing forces chased it into the flooded cave, destroyed its den, and killed it. The deep pool left behind became known as Xác Cáo, meaning Fox Corpses, and was identified with present-day West Lake in Hanoi. A temple was subsequently established to suppress the evil spirit, while the surrounding land became associated with the fox’s former dwelling.

Sources

Nguyễn Hữu Vinh and Trần Đình Hoành. Lĩnh Nam Chích Quái Bình Giải. 2010. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/lnh-nam-chch-qui-bnh-gii/248595080

Gorozaemon Kitsune

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Gorōzaemon, Gorozaemon of Funayama
Category: Fox

The Myth

Gorozaemon Kitsune is a powerful fox warrior associated with Funayama Inari Shrine and the foxes of Kogarashi Forest. Renowned for his strength and courage, he commands the respect of other fox spirits and is feared by hostile supernatural beings. His legend begins during a conflict between Yamahiko, the leader of the yokai of Abeyama, and Nomawari Kitsune, the leader of the foxes of Kogarashi Forest. After Yamahiko’s followers attack Nomawari’s foxes and are punished by the mighty Mikoshi Nyūdō, Yamahiko swears revenge and gathers the mountain yokai to assault the fox forest. The attackers become intoxicated after drinking sake that leaves them paralyzed, and Gorozaemon arrives with a host of fox warriors. He defeats the yokai one after another, forcing Yamahiko himself to flee in fear.

Following the victory, Nomawari Kitsune rewards the foxes who fought bravely. However, the battle devastates their territory, destroying the fence that once marked the boundary between the lands of two foxes, Yabukuguri and Konchiki. Their dispute over ownership escalates into a larger brawl among the foxes. The disagreement is eventually settled in Yabukuguri’s favour, but Gorozaemon later learns how the cleverness of a female nekomata helped determine the outcome. Konchiki had originally erected an Inari shrine pillar bearing his name, and Yabukuguri had wanted to replace the inscription with his own. Unable to write, Yabukuguri asked the nekomata for help. She deliberately restored Konchiki’s name, reasoning that this would make it appear that someone had attempted to falsify the inscription and direct suspicion toward Konchiki. Her plan succeeds, and Gorozaemon is impressed by her intelligence. The two become friends and frequently drink together.

Later, Gorozaemon encounters the nekomata being attacked by a group of unruly monsters near a ruined castle on Mount Koiwa. She had tried to reason with them, but when they could not answer her arguments, they resorted to violence. Gorozaemon attempts to mediate, but the monsters insult him as well. He responds by throwing them to the ground, overpowering them, and tying them up before rescuing the cat spirit. After hearing what happened, he recognizes that her argument had been justified and falls in love with her, eventually taking her as his concubine. The nekomata’s father, a thieving cat monster known as Homeless, serves under Yamahiko. Because his daughter has become involved with Yamahiko’s enemy, Homeless is branded a traitor and captured. Yamahiko threatens to torture both father and daughter unless she agrees to poison Gorozaemon and the other foxes with fried rat meat. She reluctantly agrees to save her father’s life. Meanwhile, Gorozaemon is appointed head of the attendants of Funayama Inari Shrine and receives gifts of gold, silver, and rice from the surrounding foxes. Unaware of the plot against him, he offers his New Year’s greetings as the tale ends, leaving the promised continuation of his adventures unresolved.

Sources

“東光 (Tōkō).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1063271583.html

Sesshōseki

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Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Killing Stone, Sesshoseki
Category: Fox

The Myth

The Sesshōseki, meaning “Killing Stone,” is a mysterious and poisonous stone found in the Nasu region of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is the transformed remains of Tamamo-no-Mae, a nine-tailed fox who disguised herself as a beautiful woman and gained the favour of Emperor Toba. When her true identity was discovered, the warriors Miura-no-suke and Kazusa-no-suke hunted her down and killed her. Yet the fox’s death did not end her evil influence. Her vengeful spirit transformed her remains into a deadly stone that emitted poison and killed birds and animals that approached it.

According to legend, the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae continued to seek revenge against the descendants of those who had destroyed her. In 1390, Tsunoda Tsunatoshi, a descendant of Miura-no-suke, was hunting in Nasu when a beautiful woman appeared before him. When he took her hand, she transformed into a demon, seized him, and attempted to carry him into the sky. Tsunatoshi fought back with his sword and managed to escape. News of the encounter reached Ashikaga Ujimitsu, who requested Buddhist monks to subdue the dangerous spirit. One monk, Daitetsu, travelled into the mountains and discovered the enormous Killing Stone, which measured approximately seven feet long. The stone began to sweat when he approached it and sank into the ground when he touched it. Recognizing that the spirit had responded to Buddhist teachings, Daitetsu returned home.

The final destruction of the Sesshōseki came when the monk Genno travelled to Nasu after receiving a spiritual dream. He performed Buddhist rites to release Tamamo-no-Mae from her curse, then smashed the stone with his staff. The fox spirit emerged from the shattered rock, but Genno struck it down and brought its supernatural terror to an end. Tamamo-no-Mae was subsequently mourned and enshrined as Shinohara Inari Daimyōjin. According to another tradition, fragments of the shattered stone scattered across Japan, giving rise to further legends of Killing Stones in distant regions. The Sesshōseki remains a symbol of the dangerous supernatural power that endured even after the death of the legendary nine-tailed fox.

Sources

“殺生石 (Sesshōseki).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010654430.html