The dog equivalent to Japan's magical, shapeshifting kitsune (fox) in folklore isn't a single creature, but the Tanuki (raccoon dog) shares similar trickster roles, while Inugami are dog spirits, and Komainu are guardian lion-dogs, but the most direct comparison to magical animal spirits with shape-shifting is the mischievous, benevolent Tanuki, though they're often rivals.
Kitsune, though literally a 'fox', becomes in folklore a 'fox spirit', and a type of yōkai. They are ascribed with intelligence and magical or supernatural powers, especially so with long-living foxes.
The INUGAMI is a mythical Japanese yokai dog-spirit, and much like the western idea of a familiar, they are loyal to their owners (or inugami-mochi), serving them and protecting them from enemies.
Like many tribes who share so much in common, they are also rivals. And while they rarely (if ever) engage in knock-down, drag-out fights, confrontations between kitsune and tanuki do happen occasionally.
Kitsune are divided into two main types: zenko (good foxes) who are benevolent, and yako (wild foxes) who are mischievous.
There exist various types of Kitsune, related to the 13 elements of Japanese mythology (celestial, wind, spirit, darkness, fire, earth, river, ocean, forest, mountain, thunder, sound, and time). It is believed that each fox is connected to a particular element and that this element will determine its temperament.
Appearance: Kokuko are rare kitsune who show themselves only during the reign of a peaceful leader. They have thick, black fur and are slightly larger than other kitsune. They have from one to nine tails depending on their age. Kokuko live in northern climates like Siberia and Hokkaidō.
The comical image of the tanuki having a large scrotum is thought to have developed during the Kamakura era, where goldsmiths would use tanuki pelts for the process of hammering gold nuggets into leaf. Tanuki may be shown with their testicles flung over their backs like travelers' packs, or using them as drums.
The blue dragon Seiryū (Ch. Qinglong) is to the east, the red peacock Suzaku (Zhuque) to the south, the white tiger Byakko (Baihu) to the west and the black tortoise Genbu (Xuanhu) to the north.
One such list is the Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan (japanese: 日本三大悪妖怪, Nihon san dai aku yōkai). These are the three monsters who, according to legend, posed the greatest threats to Japan's existence. They are Shuten dōji, Tamamo no Mae, and Sutoku Tennō.
The name "Pochi" is a typical name for a dog in Japan, much how the name "Spot" is in English speaking countries. The name translates to "pooch".
A raijū's body is composed of (or wrapped in) lightning and commonly conceived of as taking the form of a white-blue wolf or dog, among other such animal forms as a tanuki, rabbit, porcupine, bear, squirrel, rat, mouse, deer, boar, leopard, fox, weasel, black or white panther, serow, ferret, marten, marine mammal (such ...
Anubis Egyptian Dog God is considered the god of death and is one of the most powerful deities in Ancient Egyptian Symbols. Ancient texts refer to him as the god of mummification, embalming, the cemetery, tombs, the afterlife, and the underworld.
You'd be hard pressed to find a male kitsune in the older tales, but kitsune can be both male and female, and in fact can take the form of either a man or a woman when changing to a human.
Japanese Shiba Inu Appearance
Compact and highly athletic, this breed is easy to recognize given their fox-like appearance and alert expression.
Yōkai (妖怪) are creatures in Japanese folklore ranging from the evil oni to the mischievous kitsune. Some possess part animal and part human features, often anthropomorphic in form. Many furries draw inspiration from these tales to create their own fursonas or in their artwork, especially those of the kitsune.
An unmistakable symbol of the Orient, the Japanese believe the koi fish represents good luck and perseverance. The famously dazzling strain of carp, recognizable for its gold, white, black and red patches, were first bred in Japan in the 1820s off the northeast coast of Honshu island.
The Four Symbols are the Azure Dragon (青龍) in the East, White Tiger (白虎) in the West, Vermilion Bird (朱雀) in the South, and the Black Tortoise (玄武) in the North.
Shijin is an oriental symbol representing the guardians of the four cardinal points. Each guardian is also related to an animal, a season, a color, an element, a virtue. This quartet is the meeting point and the alliance of four powerful musical entities, each bringing their experience, style and culture of origin.
One testicle can become larger than the other due to causes such as epididymitis, orchitis, a hydrocele, a varicocele, testicular torsion, and testicular cancer. If other symptoms are present, such as pain, lumps, or swelling, seek medical attention right away.
The Tanuki Girls are Raccoon Dogs Yokai who reside in the red light district of the demon world.
North Atlantic right whales have the largest testicles in the animal kingdom. They can exceed 900 kg, which corresponds to about 2% of the animal's total weight. Harbour porpoises have nothing to be ashamed of either: during the mating season, the testicles of males swell to represent 5% of their body weight.
Bright colors and accessories are seen as unprofessional, so it's best to keep it conservative. However, when wearing black in Japan—especially a black suit to a business occasion—never pair it with a white shirt, black tie, and black dress shoes.
Although there are about 13 different types of kitsune, based on the elements, we can classify the beast as either good or evil. The good kitsune is called zenko and the evil one is nogitsune.
Yako are tricksters who enjoy causing trouble and often possess humans, sometimes to teach them a lesson, but also sometimes with more sinister intentions. Their behaviour can often range from harmless pranks to more dangerous deceptions. #acrylicpaintings #painting #yako #nogitsune #japanesefolklore.