Jiu Wei Hu | The Classic of Mountains and Seas

19th illustration of 山海经 (The Classic of Mountains and Seas) - 九尾狐(Jiǔ Wěi Hú)
Classic of Mountains and Seas, Chapter Southern Mountains: Three hundred miles further east is the mountain called Qingqiu, where there are many jades on the sunny side and many green stones on the shady side. There is a beast, which looks like a fox with nine tails, and its voice like a baby. Eating its meat can prevent people from being poisoned by evil spirits. Guo Pu, a famous writer and philologist in the era Western Jin Dynasty, said in his annotation: "They will appear when there is peace and a sign of good fortune."
The legend of the nine-tailed fox has a long history. The earliest record of the nine-tailed fox appeared in "Classic of Mountains and Seas" and gradually spread in folk tales in East Asian countries. Since ancient times, the mysterious nine-tailed fox has left numerous records in human oral tradition and literature. The image of the nine-tailed fox has had different interpretations across cultures and historical periods. It often appears in various film, television and game as a fox spirit.
The nine-tailed fox usually appears in the image of a fox with nine tails, each of which represents different strengths and wisdom. Each tail contains powerful magical powers, such as transformation, control of fire, and prediction of the future. As the number of tails increases, the power of the nine-tailed fox gradually increases, and eventually it becomes a being with powerful charm and mysterious abilities.
In Japanese mythology, the nine-tailed fox is called "Kitsune no Yōkai", and their images and abilities are more diverse. The nine-tailed fox is sometimes regarded as a guardian deity or messenger of the Gods in Japanese culture, especially the fox image associated with the Inari Shrine, representing harvest, protection and happiness. However, there are also many stories about the nine-tailed fox taking revenge on humans in a vicious way, and even seeing it as the embodiment of evil.
Speed Painting: https://youtube.com/shorts/FAlXENCPLM4