Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales, Part B
Bibliography: Chinese Fairy Book, Richard Wilhelm, Translated by Frederick H. Martens.
Stories: Fox-Fire and The Talking Silver Foxes
Fox-Fire:
I thought this was a really cool story, particularly because I am currently reading Dragon Pearl, by Yoon Ha Lee, which is about Korean mythology but is still quite similar as it is about a family of foxes with magical, shapeshifting powers. Throughout Asian mythology are legends of foxes and their power. In Chinese, it is the Huli Jing, in Korean, it is the kumiho, and in Japanese, it is the Kitsune. These are all variations of the same mythical fox-like creature. The foxes can have multiple tails depending on their power and age and can shapeshift into any form.
In this story, a boy stumbles across a fox preparing the elixir of life. He manages to steal it from the fox and becomes very powerful. He is able to make himself invisible, was able to see ghosts and devils, and could commune with the spirit world.
"In cases of sickness, when people lay unconscious, he could call back their souls, and if someone had committed a sin, he could plead for them."
He became rich off of the duties he could perform with his power.
Eventually, after many years, when the boy is now an old man, the fox returns and steal the elixir back.
The Talking Silver Foxes:
What I learned about these creatures:
Silver foxes share the name Pi with panthers, and share aspects with them as well.
They resemble other foxes but are yellow, fire-red, or white.
Some of them can talk.
The foxes used to live in a cave in the mountain. During this time they enjoyed scaring travelers.
One day a hunter came across a sleeping fox and killed and skinned him. After this, foxes stopped showing themselves.
Stories: Fox-Fire and The Talking Silver Foxes
Fox-Fire:
I thought this was a really cool story, particularly because I am currently reading Dragon Pearl, by Yoon Ha Lee, which is about Korean mythology but is still quite similar as it is about a family of foxes with magical, shapeshifting powers. Throughout Asian mythology are legends of foxes and their power. In Chinese, it is the Huli Jing, in Korean, it is the kumiho, and in Japanese, it is the Kitsune. These are all variations of the same mythical fox-like creature. The foxes can have multiple tails depending on their power and age and can shapeshift into any form.
In this story, a boy stumbles across a fox preparing the elixir of life. He manages to steal it from the fox and becomes very powerful. He is able to make himself invisible, was able to see ghosts and devils, and could commune with the spirit world.
"In cases of sickness, when people lay unconscious, he could call back their souls, and if someone had committed a sin, he could plead for them."
He became rich off of the duties he could perform with his power.
Eventually, after many years, when the boy is now an old man, the fox returns and steal the elixir back.
The Talking Silver Foxes:
What I learned about these creatures:
Silver foxes share the name Pi with panthers, and share aspects with them as well.
They resemble other foxes but are yellow, fire-red, or white.
Some of them can talk.
The foxes used to live in a cave in the mountain. During this time they enjoyed scaring travelers.
One day a hunter came across a sleeping fox and killed and skinned him. After this, foxes stopped showing themselves.
(Image Information: Fox, Wikipedia)
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