Japanese fox legends, Davis retelling
Fox Transformations
Davis describes foxes taking human forms and gives signs that can disclose a disguise. In the Death-Stone tale, the Jewel Maiden resumes a fox's shape when rejected by the emperor. Transformation allows a familiar appearance to hide a different identity until a revealing moment.
Also known as Fox-women · Fox shape-changing · Transforming foxes
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In the sources
A disguise with telltale signs
TraditionalDavis says a fox can take a woman's form and that a shadow falling on water, or an encounter with a dog, can reveal the fox. These are narrative tests of disguise in his account.
The Jewel Maiden's revealed form
TraditionalIn the Death-Stone story, a court magician accuses the Jewel Maiden of harmful influence. After the emperor rejects her, she resumes a fox's shape and runs to the stone on Nasu moor.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows Davis's fox chapter and one of its dramatic retellings, not a biological claim or a universal account of kitsune traditions. His generalisations about sex, morality and foxes remain features of his source.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
the power of transformation and of transmutationOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter V, printed p. 93
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0106
- Original scan leaf
- 123
- Recorded leaf number
- 123
- Current Reader position
- 105
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
she resumed her original shape, that of a foxOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Death-Stone, printed p. 96
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0109
- Original scan leaf
- 126
- Recorded leaf number
- 126
- Current Reader position
- 108
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed