The Fox as woman

The most common stories about foxes, however, portray the fox as changing into a woman. A large number of folktales tell of men who have married beautiful women only to learn much later that their brides were foxes in disguise. One of the oldest (attributed to the reign of the Emperor Kim Mei in the sixth century, but first written down in the eighth century) tells of a farmer who had waited until late in life to marry, as he was searching for the perfect wife. One day, while walking home from his fields, he met a strikingly beautiful woman on the path. After talking with her for a while he ascertained that she was not yet married. When he asked her to be his bride, she agreed.

Eventually, a son was born to the couple. On the same day, a pup was born to the man’s dog. As the puppy grew up it became very hostile to the mistress of the house—snarling at her and frightening her. The man refused to kill the dog, however, and one day it attacked the woman so fiercely that, in despair, she returned to fox form and fled. The man was crushed, as he loved his wife in spite of her being a fox, and he cried out to her “ki tsu ne” (come and sleep). This folktale is often given as a folk etymology for the word kitsune (fox).

Another story, still widely told in Japan, has a physician summoned to aid with a difficult childbirth in a remote area. He is led to a magnificent house where he is received with great courtesy. After the beautiful young mother has safely delivered a fine, healthy baby boy, the physician is treated to an excellent dinner, entertained elegantly, and given a much more than ample payment before being sent home. The next day he returns to thank his hosts and to check on the mother and the new baby. Search as he might, he can find no house in the area, only empty woods. Upon arriving home he reexamines the payment that he had received. All is good except for one bill that has changed into a leaf. Other versions of this legend have the physician spend the night with the family only to awaken in the morning on a grassy knoll far from any house. The remains of the banquet are seen in scattered leaves and horse droppings.