Kitsune Classifications
For those who might be interested I’ve collected some of the classifications
of kitsune which studious and scholarly people use. Because I’m just a
normal person and to not sound confusing I’ll be referring to everything
on this web page simply as a Kitsune without further classification. After
all, to the Japanese common person a fox was a fox.
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Bakemono-Kitsune : a name for a sorcerer or evil fox usually as a Reiko,
Kiko or Koryo i.e. some sort of non-physical fox.
Byakko : white fox, a very good omen usually a sign of serving Inari and
acting as the gods messenger.
Genko : black fox, usually seen as a good omen.
Kiko : spirit fox, see Reiko.
Kitsune : fox, a general term for a fox regardless of the circumstance
normally used for ‘good’ and ‘evil’ foxes alike.
Koryo : haunting fox, see Reiko.
Kuko : air fox, very bad kitsune, considered on the same level as Tengu
(Japanese goblins).
Nogitsune : wild fox, used at one time to differ between good and bad
foxes. At the time they used ‘kitsune’ to mean a good
fox/messenger from Inari and nogitsune as all foxes who did
mischief and tricked people. Not really considered evil, more
like prankish.
Reiko : ghost fox, perhaps not on the ‘evil’ side but definitely a ‘bad’
fox.
Shakko : red fox, could be considered good or evil, the same as Kitsune
really.
Tenko : celestial fox, kitsune which have reached the age of 1,000 years,
they are usually said to have 9 tails (and sometimes are said to
have golden fur) but they are either considered very evil such as
Tamamo-no-mae or benevolent and wise such as messengers to Inari.
Yako/Yakan : fox, see Kitsune.
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*Bibliography for this section taken primarily from:
1: Kitsune: Japans fox of mystery, romance and humor; Kiyoski Nozaki
2: Goblin fox and badger and other witch animals of Japan; U.A. Casal
3: The Fox and badger in Japanese folklore; Marinus Willem deVisser
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