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