Why does the fox keep appearing?

Question

I've noticed in legends and other things, the fox seems to turn up quite a lot, Japan for one place. Is it because of it's nature or something?

Answer 1

Because they are cunning, smart and live in close proximity to human.

Fox appears alot in Asian mythology: Huli Jing 狐狸精, Chinese; Kitsune, Japanese; Kumiho, Korean.

In Chinese mythology, it is believed that all things are capable of acquiring human forms, magical powers, and immortality, provided that they receive sufficient energy, in such forms as human breath or essence from the moon and the sun.

Japanese myths depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others — as foxes in folklore often do — others portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.

Unlike its Japanese and Chinese counterparts, the Korean kumiho is always depicted as evil. According to those tales, a fox that lives a thousand years turns into a kumiho. It can freely transform, among other things, into a beautiful girl often set out to seduce men. There are numerous tales in which the kumiho appears.

For more information on foxes in myths:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huli_jing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumiho

Answer 2

The fox is a pretty common animal and there are a lot of different breeds of fox. It's one of those animals that appears pretty much everywhere, so it stands to reason that it would appear in many countries' legends. Old legends used animals symbolically quite often. Animals that are specific to one region, like Australia's cassowary, appear in legends only in their land of origin. If you were a Native American and listened to your mother tell you a story about a cassowary, you wouldn't have seen the point. But there are foxes everywhere, so legends everywhere include them. Whether you were a Native American, a Celt, or Japanese, you would have understood a legend that included a fox.

(But if by appearing often you meant not that they are found in various countries' legends, but that they turn up repeatedly in Japanese lore, yes, that is because of their nature. The fox is a symbol often associated with slyness, among other things. When people wanted their listeners to attribute those kinds of qualities to a figure in their story, they used a fox.)

Answer 3

Yes because the nature of the fox is a mysterious one. This allows the fox to be used in a very large number of different scenarios with the fox in many different roles.

Answer 4

This is something that you should investigate further! It interests me as to why you ask such a question. Do you see such an animal often? Just curious maybe? American Indians has some interesting folklore on such things as spirit guides. Check it out. Appearances of the fox could also be interpeted as a warning of something or someone trying to decieve you in someway.(they are wily and tricksters) American Indians spent alot of time alone seeking the appearance of animals to guide them to answers.

Answer 5

Foxes are wildly spread and known for their cunning. Because of that, they are often used as symbols of cunning, intelligence, etc. in myths.

Answer 6

oi would blahst these little beggars into smithereens
right there and then,given half a chance!
oi hate the little pointy nosed bleeders.

They always be sneaking around like they own
the ruddy place late at noight on my propertee
they do

Answer 7

A fox is supposed to be sly...you know you sly ole fox!

Peace

Answer 8

are you feeling threatened? I mean in folklore and stuff, the fox and wolf are always rivals...
come lie here on my couch and tell me about your childhood...
er...cubhood...
:-)

Answer 9

Could it be related to "Twentieth Century F**"?

Answer 10

As for the orientals fox are always seen a warning device that tells you that disasters are forth coming.............................................