The legend that foxes and other animals are refined is as popular in Japan as in China. Besides, civet cats, which are not common in China legends, are more concerned by the Japanese than foxes.
The reason why Japanese foxes are popular is not necessarily influenced by China. Some Japanese believe that the Japanese worship of foxes should be related to their eating voles and mice that destroy fields. Both of them are regarded as messengers of the agricultural god Daolian in Japanese Shintoism. Compared with civet cats, foxes still have many shrines to worship in modern times.
Classified fox spirit:
1, Hu Hu: The coat color is black, which is completely opposite to the white fox and is called the incarnation of the Big Dipper.
2. Silver fox: as a symbol of the moon, it also exists in the opposite direction to the golden fox and belongs to the Buddhist department. The status, existence and spirit of golden fox and silver fox are different from other fox spirits, so they can be said to be elves.
3. Red fox: a good fox with a red body, which occupies an important position in the shrine and is the Shinto Department.
4. White fox: The coat color is white, which makes people feel happy. Representatives of good foxes and foxes sacrificed in Hehe Temple are basically white foxes. The legend of Abe Harumi's mother is also a white fox and Shinto.
5. Nine-tailed fox: Kyubi no Youko fox, wild fox, Japanese pronunciation is kyu bi no youko fox(きゅぅびのきつね).
6. Tian Hu:/kloc-foxes over 0/000 years old have powerful magic and are deified, surpassing the nine-tailed fox. There are four tails. Have clairvoyance and the ability to see through all kinds of things. Eyes are golden.
7. Empty fox: a big fox who is over 3,000 years old and can freely use magical powers. After becoming a Tian Hu, all those who lived for 2000 years became empty foxes. Without a tail, it appears as a human being, and its ears are the ears of a fox.
It is also recorded that tian hu is the highest position of the fox in the literature, and the empty fox is considered as the gesture of Tian Hu after his retirement. Therefore, as the first burden of the royal family, Tian Hu is the most superior. Because the empty fox belongs to God and belongs to the highest position including Yuxian.
Extended data:
Relevant customs:
1, fox fairy temple
Taoism and shrines dedicated to fox spirits are quite popular all over Japan, so fox spirits are also called Taoism and God, and they are regarded as the gods who pray for prosperous business (good luck), just like our land temple here, which can be seen everywhere.
Originally, the fox fairy had the characteristics of the god of agriculture, and farmers have been praying for a bumper harvest. Among them, the most famous is the Tomomi Inada Society in Kyoto, which is the base camp of the Japanese rice field shrine. In addition to the lovely fox statues, there are thousands of the most distinctive torii.
The painting horse here (a small wooden board for wishing, with words of blessing written on it, hung on a special frame for painting horses to realize the wish) looks like a lovely fox. You can also draw a beard for it and pray for the fox spirit to fulfill your wish.
2. Fox Fairy Folk Custom
A long time ago, at the end of the year, the fox spirits in the Kanto area gathered under a big Pu Shu, dressed up and went to the Daohe Prince Shrine to worship the God of Grains. Local residents overlook the Fox Fairy, and judge whether they will have plenty of food and clothing in the coming year from the number of phosphorus fires.
The fantasy legend of Tokyo Dao and Prince Shrine comes from the ancient awe of nature. In order to continue this ancient legend, every year on New Year's Eve, about 300 local residents will wear traditional fox masks or cute fox faces and kimonos.
Gathered in the legendary land of Pu Shu, dressed in ancient costumes, Taoist temples (ancient costumes mean dressing up), carrying lanterns, and slowly visiting Taoist temples and Prince Shrine in the dark to pray for a good year. That night, the streets of Prince Edward were full of "fox spirits", which were both interesting and lively, making people feel the gratitude of the ancients for their kindness to nature.
The Japanese think that if they put on new sandals when the sun goes down, they will become foxes. This superstition is widely circulated all over Japan.
Therefore, whether it is slippers or leather shoes, if you want to wear new shoes, you must choose in the morning and you can't wear new shoes at night. If you have to wear them, remember to coat the soles with 10% coal ash or ink until they are dry.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia-fox fairy