Kitsu is now archaic in modern Japanese, a fox's cry is transcribed as kon kon or gon gon.ДЄ widely known folk etymology of the word relates to sleeping and returning home: in classical Japanese, kitsu-ne means 'come and sleep', and ki-tsune means 'always comes'.

Nozaki also suggests that the word was originally onomatopoetic: kitsu represented a fox's yelp and came to be the general word for 'fox' -ne signified an affectionate mood.

ЕЊtsuki Fumihiko in Daigenkai (1932вЂ“1935) proposes that the word comes from kitsu, which is an onomatopoeia for the bark of a fox, and ne, which may be an honorific referring to a servant of an Inari shrine.

Tanikawa Kotosuga in Wakun no Shiori (1777вЂ“1887) suggests that ki means 'yellow', tsu is a possessive particle, and ne is related to neko, the word for 'cat'.

Arai Hakuseki in TЕЌga (1717) suggests that ki means 'stench', tsu is a possessive particle, and ne is related to inu, the word for 'dog'.

The early Kamakura-period Mizukagami indicates that it means 'came ( ki) to bedroom ( ne)', from a legend that a kitsune could take a human woman form, marry a man, and bear children.

MyЕЌgoki (1268) suggests that it is so called because it is 'always ( tsune) yellow ( ki)'.

Many etymological suggestions have been made, though there is no general agreement: Following several diachronic phonological changes, this became kitsune. These old sources are written in Man'yЕЌgana, which clearly identifies the historical form of the word (when rendered into a Latin-alphabet transliteration) as ki 1tune. Other old sources include Nihon RyЕЌiki (810вЂ“824) and WamyЕЌ RuijushЕЌ (c. The oldest known usage of the word is in text Shin'yaku KegonkyЕЌ Ongi Shiki, dating to 794. Smyers (1999) notes that the idea of the fox as seductress and the connection of the fox myths to Buddhism were introduced into Japanese folklore through similar Chinese stories, but she maintains that some fox stories contain elements unique to Japan. Many of the earliest surviving stories are recorded in the Konjaku MonogatarishЕ«, an 11th-century Japanese collection of Japanese, Chinese, and Indian literary narratives. These fox spirits were adopted to Japanese culture through merchants as kyЕ«bi no kitsune ( д№ќе°ѕгЃ®з‹ђ, lit.

The moon on Musashi Plain (fox) by Yoshitoshi ДЇolktales from China tell of fox spirits called hГєli jД«ng ( Chinese: з‹ђз‹ёзІѕ) that may have up to nine tails. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make sacrifices to them as to a deity.Д¬onversely foxes were often seen as ' witch animals', especially during the superstitious Edo period (1603вЂ“1867), and were thought of as goblins who could not be trusted (similar to some badgers and cats).

The more tails a kitsune has-they may have as many as nine-the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance.

Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serve as its messengers. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others-as foxes in folklore often do-other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, and lovers.ДЇoxes and humans lived close together in ancient Japan this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures.

According to yЕЌkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to shapeshift into human form. In Japanese folklore, kitsune ( з‹ђ, г‚гѓ„гѓЌ, IPA: ( listen), literally the Japanese word for fox) are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. A nine-tailed fox spirit ( kyЕ«bi no kitsune) scaring Prince Hanzoku print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Edo period, 19th century

Kami in japanese