animal
Fox
A small wild canid. European story and Japanese kitsune both use a fox; they are not one spirit and not one omen.
Also known as foxes
Shinto
Fox resembles Kitsune.
Kitsune is a fox. Japanese shrine-fox and European fox-story share a species, not a spirit and not one omen.
from Ō no Yasumaro (compiler); Donald L. Philippi (translation) · Kojiki, 712 CE; Philippi trans. 1968
resembles · partially sourced · culturally specific
Kitsune resembles Fox.
The animal is the same kind of canid. The Japanese being is a story-person and sometimes Inari’s messenger, not Reynard.
from Ō no Yasumaro (compiler); Donald L. Philippi (translation) · Kojiki, 712 CE; Philippi trans. 1968
resembles · interpretive · culturally specific
Inari is associated with Fox.
Inari shrines are attended by foxes. The animal is a messenger in that cult, not a European omen-fox.
from Ō no Yasumaro (compiler); Donald L. Philippi (translation) · Kojiki, 712 CE; Philippi trans. 1968
associated with · interpretive · culturally specific
European folklore
Fox appears in European folklore.
European tale-foxes (Reynard and kin) are a different literature from kitsune.
appears in · interpretive · culturally specific
sources
- Kojiki · Ō no Yasumaro (compiler); Donald L. Philippi (translation)
Donald L. Philippi, Kojiki.