Meaning of fox tattoo. The totem animal fox is a cunning assistant
In many folk traditions, the fox (“Reineke”) is an animal that personifies insidious cunning and treachery. Its reddish fur resembles fire, which made it possible to rank it, along with the lynx and the squirrel, among the retinue of the devil: see the expression “wild damn fox.” In ancient Rome, the fox was considered the demon of fire. At the festival of the goddess Ceres, in order to protect crops from fire, a lit torch was tied to the fox’s tail and chased through the fields. As a remedy against witchcraft, a starfish sprinkled with the blood of a fox was nailed to the door.
Foxes were considered (as in Ancient China) to be especially lustful animals, so crushed fox testicles were added to wine as a sure remedy as a love potion, and a fox tail was worn on the hand, which was supposed to have a stimulating sexual effect.
Among the Germans, the fox was a symbolic animal of the god Loki, who was rich in inventions (this role of the “trickster” was played by the coyote among the North American Indians).
The fox played an important role as a symbol of eroticism and the art of seduction in East Asia; In ancient China, the prevailing idea was that foxes (huli) could live up to a thousand years, and then they would grow a new tail, which had a special ability for sensual seduction. Ghosts rode foxes; female foxes never changed their clothes, but they always remained clean. They are incredibly seductive and can, through unbridled erotic claims, deprive the men they come across of their vitality.
in Chinese traditional mythology n. Huli-jing (literally “fox-spirit”, in modern colloquial language also “temptress”) is a werewolf fox, a good or evil spirit. Related to Japanese kitsune, Korean kumiho and European fairies.
Traditionally, the Chinese believed that all beings could take on human form, acquire magical properties and immortality, provided they found a source of such energy, such as human breath or an elixir from the moon or sun.
Descriptions of were-foxes are often found in medieval Chinese literature. Huli-jing are most often represented as young, beautiful girls. One of the most infamous were-foxes was Da Ji (妲己), the semi-legendary concubine of the last emperor of the Shang Dynasty. According to legend, the beautiful daughter of a general, she was married against her will to the tyrant ruler Zhou Xin (紂辛 Zhòu Xīn). The maid of the goddess Nuwa, a nine-tailed werewolf fox, who was once offended by him, entered Da Ji’s body in revenge, expelling the real soul of the concubine from there. Under the guise of Da Ji, the werewolf fox and the cruel ruler came up with and carried out many cruel and cunning tricks and tortures for their subordinates, for example, forcing them to hug white-hot iron rods. Because of such an unbearable life, the emperor's subjects rebelled, as a result of which the Shang dynasty ended and the era of rule began Emperors of Zhou. Later, Emperor Wen's semi-legendary prime minister Jiang Ziya exorcized the fox spirit from Da Ji's body, and the goddess Nuwa punished the nine-tailed fox for excessive cruelty.
It was usually believed that a meeting with a huli jing, as a bad omen, did not bode well for a person. However, in the popular short stories of the 17th century Chinese writer Pu Songling, there are also quite harmless stories about love between a fox girl and a handsome young man.
Transforming into beautiful, young and sexy girls, werewolf foxes skillfully seduce men (the bright beginning of Yang), for the sake of energy (qi), blood or semen to improve their magical capabilities. As a result, a person’s vital energy is weakened and he often dies from exhaustion. The fox thus reaches the highest stage of development and becomes an immortal fox (狐仙). Hence the modern Chinese use of the word “huli jing” to mean “vampire woman,” a “cunning seductress” who seduces married men for money and entertainment.
It was believed that a werefox, even in human form, could be recognized by its non-disappearing tail. (Chinese proverb: Chinese 狐貍精露尾 “the tail gives away a werefox” means that deceit and cunning can always be noticed by certain signs.)
Huli-jing is credited with extraordinary beauty, mental acuity, cunning, cunning, dexterity and elusiveness. In their original form, they look like ordinary foxes. The main indicator of the power of a werewolf's witchcraft is its age. Having lived 50 years, a fox can turn into a woman; after 100 years, she is also able to transform into a man and learn about what is happening a thousand miles away from her. This second type, with a wide range of transformations, is most often found in Chinese beliefs. After 1000 years of life, the laws of Heaven are revealed to the fox and it becomes the Heavenly Fox. Huli-jing live in caves and love the cold. They love chicken. They can change coat color, although the usual color is bright red. They have special charms; when their tail touches the ground, a flame can flare up. With age they acquire the gift of foresight. They often live in a flock. They are found around or in cemeteries themselves. It was believed that the souls of the dead could connect with the body of the Huli Jing and thus communicate with the world of the living. With their intrigues and jokes they cause a lot of trouble to mortals, and sometimes kill people. Sometimes Huli Jing can also help and support a person, which, however, corresponds to their unpredictable and changeable nature.
For the peoples of the Far East, the fox is a representative of evil spirits. For example, in Chinese mythology, a fox with a lifespan of 800 to 1,000 years is considered a bad omen. It is enough for him to hit the ground with his tail for a fire to break out. He is able to foresee the future and can take on any form, preferring old men, young women and scientists. He is cunning, cautious and distrustful, and his main pleasure is to fool and torment people. The souls of the dead sometimes move into the body of a fox, which lives near the graves.
The Sacred Book of the Werewolf by Victor Pelevin tells the love story of an ancient werefox named A Huli and a young werewolf.
In 2008, the Chinese film Dyed Skin (畫皮 pinyin: huà pí), directed by Gordon Chen, was released. The script is based on one of Pu Songling's short stories, where the main character, a werewolf fox, devours men's hearts to maintain her beauty and youth. However, this is more of a melodrama than a horror film.
In Ancient Japan, a fox spirit that can transform into a human is called Koki-Teno (similar to the German concept of "Wehr-Fuchs" - German Fucks, fuchs - fox). Foxes, thanks to their art, can lead a person blinded by feelings into insanity and destroy; in Japanese legends they play the role of a witch (who can take on another form). It was proposed to burn foxes and scatter their ashes in water.
Yet the fox plays not only a negative role.
The white fox is the supreme animal of the rice god Inari, and in the Tori shrine, next to this god there are often wooden or stone figurines of foxes, which hold in their mouths a sacred scroll or the key to heaven. The tip of a fox's tail is often a symbol of the "gem of happiness."
Shooting stars are called "sky foxes."
In “falling” stars and “tailed” comets they saw space or celestial foxes descending to earth.
According to Chinese beliefs, a fifty-year-old fox turns into a woman, a five-hundred-year-old becomes a seductive girl, and a thousand-year-old takes on the body of a heavenly fox who knows all the secrets of nature.
Basically, the negative symbolic meaning of the fox still prevails. Dürer's painting Mary with Many Animals shows a fox tied up, apparently as a reminder of her connection with the devil.
By chance, a fox may still be an attribute of a saint, such as St. Boniface and St. Eugene, although in biblical usage she personifies treachery and anger. The old saying about the fox who preaches to the geese means insidious greed;
in Upper Austria "fox" had the same meaning as "devil" ("devil's fox"), and in Upper Schleswig during an approaching thunderstorm they said, "it is the fox who is boiling something." In Grielshausen's Simply Cissimus, "fox's tail" meant "to flatter hypocritically."
The negative assessment of “Master Reinecke” in medieval bestiaries made this name a stable combination, meaning that a person is like a deceitful and treacherous animal. “If a fox is hungry and cannot find anything to eat, it will rummage through the reddish soil so that it looks as if it is stained with blood, and then fall to the ground and hold its breath. The birds see her lying lifeless with her tongue hanging out and assume she is dead. The birds land on it, and the fox grabs them and eats them. The devil does the same: he appears alive as dead until he grabs them in his mouth and swallows them” (Unterkircher).
“A fox on a coat of arms or on a coat of arms usually has the meaning of a treacherous mind, and they are usually worn by those who follow their coat of arms in their actions.”
Among the Indians of North America, the Greenlandic Eskimos, the Koryaks, the peoples of Siberia, and in China, there is a well-known story about a poor man, to whom L. comes to his house every morning, sheds his skin and becomes a woman; when a man accidentally discovers this, he hides the skin and the woman becomes his wife; but the wife finds her skin, turns around L. and runs away from the house.
In folk tradition, a special day was celebrated associated with L. or with the beginning of hunting for it, for example. Martyn-Lisogon Day (April 14)
The fox serves as an alchemical symbol for the temporarily solidified red sulfur, symbolizing the earthy nature, in contrast to the airy nature of the rooster.
The Teumes fox is an animal that cannot be overtaken in ancient Greek mythology.
A monstrous fox that attacked the inhabitants of Boeotia. She grew up to destroy the Thebans through the wrath of Dionysus. It was predetermined by fate that no one could overtake her. Every month the Thebans gave one of the young men to the fox to be eaten. At the request of Amphitryon, Cephalus released a dog against the fox, from which no one could escape. Zeus turned them both to stone
More famous foxes
Renard (Reinecke fox)- a character in European folklore.
Lisa Patrikeevna- a character in Russian folklore.
Far Eastern werewolves:
Kitsune (Japan)
Gumiho (Korea)
Huli-ching (China)
Fox and Cat from the fairy tale "Pinocchio"
Fox Alice (Pinocchio)
Brother Fox (The Tales of Uncle Remus)
Aesop's Fables:
Fox and cheese
Fox and grapes
The fox is the faithful friend of the Little Prince in the fairy tale of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Fox Nikita from the fairy tale “Fox Nikita” by Ivan Franko
Ludwig the Fourteenth is a little fox from Jan Ekholm’s book “Tutta Karlsson the First and Only, Ludwig the Fourteenth and Others.”
Fantastic Mr Fox from the book of the same name by Roald Dahl
Sylvia - a woman who turned into a fox (David Garnett's novel The Fox Woman)
Silva - a fox who turned into a woman (Vercors' novel "Silva")
A Khuli (“The Sacred Book of the Werewolf”, Pelevin)
Chiefa is a fictional fox mentioned in Max Fry's books.
Red Foxy is a fictional creature close to foxes (from the stories “Green Sun” and “Logic of Subversion” by Vitaly Trofimov-Trofimov)
Domino is a black and brown fox from the story of the same name by E. Seton-Thompson.
Abu Al-Hossein - the fox from the Arabian tales of 1001 nights
Quick-eared and Golden-haired, characters from the opera “The Adventures of the Trickster Fox”, Leoš Janáček
Basil Brush is a glove puppet who hosts a British TV show.
Rita, cartoons “Jungle Jack”, “Tricky Jack” - city fox, partner of the main character.
Todd, The Fox and the Hound, D. P. Mannix (Disney animated film adaptation).
Robin Hood - in the Disney cartoon "Robin Hood"
Nine-tailed demon fox, belongs to Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto manga)
Kuugen Tenko (Japanese: 天狐空幻, Tenko Kūgen) from the work “Inari in Our House” (Japanese: 我が家のお稲荷さま。, Wagaya no Oinari-sama). The author of the novels is Jin Shibamura, the illustrator is Eizo Hooden. Manga adaptation - Suiren Shofuu. Anime - produced by ZEXCS
Miles "Tails" Prower - from the Sonic the Hedgehog series
Fiona the Fox - character from the Sonic the Hedgehog comics
Fox Nikita (animated series) based on the fairy tale of the same name by Ivan Franko
Vuk and other characters from the cartoon “Vuk” (based on stories by I. Fekete)
Ozy and Millie
Slylock Fox
Fox McCloud, Crystal from the Star Fox video game series
Five-tailed fox Yubi (in Latin transcription Yobi) from the Korean cartoon “Fox Girl”
Pokemon Vulpix and Ninetales
( , .symbolsbook.ru, wikipedia)
In the section on the question What does the animal symbolize: a fox? given by the author Lyra the best answer is Johanna listed the main things that the fox symbolizes. If you try to figure out whether this is a bad nickname or not, then let’s take three countries as an example
1. Japan. For the Japanese, the fox symbolizes deceit, cunning and the evil spirit in man. The Japanese considered many people to be the personification of the fox and harshly judged them, sentencing them to death. Any hint of a fox foreshadowed trouble and misfortune.
2. Russia. In Russian fairy tales, the fox also plays the role of a cunning one, but not as dangerous, although rather treacherous.
3. Northern peoples. Hunters of some northern peoples sought to acquire a fox tail in order to become dexterous, evasive and courageous. Indeed, a talisman in the form of a fox will make you more flexible, a little crafty and help you get out of any difficult situation relatively easily.
From my point of view, when they call you a fox, it is a compliment. The fox is a naturally beautiful animal with unsurpassed beauty and cunning. Therefore, when they call you a fox, this emphasizes your main quality - beauty and feminine logic. In China, the image of a fox symbolizes longevity, and female foxes are considered dangerous seductresses and evoke erotic associations.
Source:
Answer from Salt[guru]
Your beauty. Be proud of this nickname, because there is no one cuter than a fox.
Answer from Neurologist[guru]
The wolf, the bear and the fox sat down to play cards.
The bear warns everyone.
"Whoever cheats, we will hit him in the face,
I repeat by the sly red face"
Answer from Sparrow[active]
I have one girl with beautiful eyes...
Answer from Temari[active]
Fox
The fox symbolizes hypocrisy, deceit, treachery, cunning, but also intelligence. Sometimes she is depicted lying on the ground with her mouth open: she pretends to be dead in order to lure in prey.
As a nocturnal predator that is difficult to lure into a trap, the fox has become a Christian analogy for the tricks of the devil.
In Slavic culture, this animal is often found in fairy tales as a symbol of cunning, resourcefulness, and the ability to achieve one’s goals through deception or flattery.
The red fox was a fire demon in Rome.
Scandinavian mythology connects it with the image of the fire god Loki.
For the peoples of the Far East, the fox is an example of evil spirits.
Erotic associations are found in Chinese folk superstitions, where "fox women" are considered dangerous seductresses.
In Japan, the fox symbolizes deceit and the ability to transform, although the white fox is considered the companion and messenger of the rice god Inari.
In North America, the fox is a neutral image of the trickster, unlike the coyote. Alchemical symbol of temporarily solidifying red sulfur, earthy nature, as opposed to airy (rooster)
The meaning of a fox tattoo beckons with its diversity, blurred boundaries of a positive and negative image. Our article along with a large selection of photos and sketches will help you choose a design to highlight your advantages.
There are many legends and traditions associated with the fox, and ancient doctors and blacksmiths painted pictures of it on their bodies. In the West they were wary of the predator, the Inquisition made her a messenger of the devil, in Rus' she became a cheat and a deceiver, and the eastern peoples deified her. It is impossible to say unequivocally that the fox has a negative image: she was cunning and insidious, but achieved her goals without cruel methods and could defeat even a strong enemy.
The meaning of a fox tattoo is multi-faceted, but often has a positive character and is suitable for individuals with unconventional thinking, smart, charming and purposeful, independent and nimble, liberated and knowing their worth.
Chinese style fox tattoo. The animal represented good luck and longevity, so men often painted the picture as a talisman for a long and happy life. For women, the red-haired cheat was a negative character, symbolizing insidious love and seduction that breaks families. She hypnotized men, took money, freedom, strength and predicted their death, feeding on their spiritual energy.
The fox was symbol of reincarnation: after a certain period of time (up to 1000 years) she turned into a beauty or a beautiful young man. The longer an animal lives, the stronger it becomes, the more fluffy red tails it has. However, werefoxes (kitsune) not only kill with seduction and love, but also protect from poverty and danger. A fox tattoo with 9 or 3 tails is protection from unhappy love or financial fiasco.
Image of a predator. Regardless of the position in which the animal is depicted, it represents wealth and fertility. The red-haired cheat serves Inari (the god of rice fields, abundance and all grains). The Japanese made bronze or clay figurines and placed them at the entrance to a temple or house to attract wealth and provide themselves with a good harvest. The snow-white tip of the tail was considered a stone of happiness. They also worshiped the white predator and considered him God’s messenger. You can often find fox tattoos on businessmen. A picture in the Japanese style also means that a person improves himself, develops observation and ingenuity, and cultivates fortitude.
Body picture of a fox. Brave and invincible warriors painted the image to protect against thieves, fire and danger, as well as to awaken intuition and caution, which is necessary in battle. Among the Celts, the red animal personified wisdom, knowledge, honor and was a guide to the other world. If an animal gets caught in a trap, it gnaws its own paw. Often men paint a similar image on their body, hinting that there is nothing more expensive for freedom. The drawing of a fox in a trap means internal restlessness and tossing.
The Indians believed that the predator protects all people without exception, so the image was painted by representatives of different tribes. She was considered sacred, because she showed which herbs could cure diseases, taught the art of hunting, and showed how to set snares and traps. Tattoo the fox's grin applied by doctors, warriors, hunters and shamans.
The northern peoples, together with the Scandinavians, considered the trickster a symbol of awakening nature, new life. She helps newborns and expectant mothers. Red fox tattoos were tattooed by healers, health workers, and soothsayers. According to legend, the animal stole the flame from the fire of Loki himself, the god of guile, deception and disobedience; no one was able to outwit him. A body image in the form of a bracelet of two foxes means intuition and helps to reveal a lie or conspiracy. Because of the belief, they began to associate the beast with fire; they thought that tongues of flame were born when the tail touched the ground. Blacksmiths applied the design of a trick to protect themselves from burns or lightning.
The Egyptians depicted the god Tolok in the form of a fennec fox. He was a mediator between heaven and earth, a diplomat, and persuaded the gods not to destroy humanity. Ancient healers and priests tattooed a black steppe fox on their wrist as a sign of respect. They believed that Tolok would help in difficult situations, and after death he would take him to his kingdom and teach diplomacy and healing. The fennec cat's body image represents free-thinking, intelligence, and the choice of one's own path in life. The beast was a talisman for one who resisted the cycles of life, no matter the situation. However, many considered her insidious, a symbol of depravity and hypocrisy.
Residents of Peru believed that a predator could control a person’s mind. From this point of view, the meaning of a fox tattoo is intelligence, courage, and strength of a warrior. In Korea, it symbolized procreation and female attractiveness, and in some ancient tribes even promiscuity. The Romans saw the devil in her image and were wary of the animal.
Peculiarities
The body image of the cheat looks beautiful in black and white or geometric image, when the outline of an animal is formed from small elements. The colorful drawing of the predator attracts attention, mainly in red and orange shades, especially with a large and fluffy tail. The animal looks like a cartoon character, especially in the hip area, which is interesting and funny.
A fox tattoo on the arm, shoulder blade, or shoulder looks good. Experts recommend that you first select an area of the body for the picture, and then decide on the sketches. On the lower leg, arm or foot, drawings of a sneaking rogue or a full-length animal with outstretched legs will look beautiful. In other areas you can apply larger images, on the back, side, stomach - a whole plot along with other animals.
It is important to remember that the meaning of the tattoo changes depending on the look of the animal and its pose:
- attention is focused on the muzzle - a symbol of curiosity, on the tail - dexterity;
- grin - the tricks of Satan or increased aggressiveness;
- eyes narrowed - the personification of cunning and ingenuity;
- beautifully curved body - sexuality, seductiveness;
- the fox curled up into a ball - vulnerability, the desire to protect yourself from cold or danger, the desire for warmth.
Basically, the image of an animal breaks stereotypes and violates standards. Wearable pictures with inscriptions and life mottos in English or Latin look good. You can focus on the rich fur of the fluffy tail, drawing every hair. A predator with three eyes represents wisdom, developed instincts and a sharp gaze.
Fox tattoo for men – agility and determination
The image of a predator is more common among girls, but for men, foxes help them control any life situation and force circumstances to flow in the right direction. The image of the beast looks interesting in a non-standard pose: jumping or standing during kung fu or karate classes. It is advisable not to depict an animal with graceful curves; it is better to focus on the grin, showing that the owner can stand up for himself.
It looks interesting when the nipple is in place of the animal’s nose. The red-haired womanizer looks unusual in a suit and with a bouquet of flowers, as if he is going on a date. Unlike girls, foxes can also symbolize fidelity, since predators choose a companion for life, and having lost her, they grieve and die alone.
Fox tattoo for girls - seductiveness and cunning
For a shy and kind-hearted girl, the image of a predator is unlikely to be suitable. It is desirable that the personality be bright, cunning, purposeful, calculating and a little capricious, with colossal charisma and sexuality. Drawings of a predator can symbolize frivolity and selfishness.
Pictures in fairy style, a colorful animal with flowers, a pendant and a diamond look beautiful. Small foxes behind the ear, on the neck, or the symmetrical heads of two animals between the shoulder blades look interesting. Fiery and black predators or smart faces in bows and with flower arrangements, framed in oval frames, are magnificent. The bright red head on the finger looks neat and impressive.
A sneaking fox on a leg, arm or along the lines of the foot looks very elegant and emphasizes the ideal beauty of a girl. The elongated predator on the lower leg focuses attention on the slender legs.
Photo of fox tattoo
Japanese fox
On the foot
Fox in watercolor
On the hand
White fox
Black Fox
On the wrist
Fox and wolf
Little ones
On the hip
Dream catcher with fox
Women's
On the back
Fox muzzle
On the shoulder
Fox with flowers
On the neck
Fox, Fox - In mythopoetic traditions, the image of the Fox acts as a common zoomorphic classifier, often functioning in the linguistic sphere [cf. rus. “fox” - about a cunning person; English fox - “cunning” (with the main meaning - “fox”), etc.]. The symbolic meanings associated with the Fox in different traditions form a single and very stable complex of only partially mythologized meanings (cunning, dexterity, cunning, intelligence, flattery, thievery, deception, hypocrisy, caution, patience, selfishness, selfishness, greed, voluptuousness, maliciousness , maliciousness, vindictiveness, loneliness). The image of the Fox is usually associated with the idea of something dubious and false;
The fox may be characterized by magical abilities. Thus, in the Chinese fairy tale tradition, the Fox at the age of 100 years turns into a sorcerer with magical powers, at the age of 1000 years he goes to heaven and becomes the celestial Fox - three stars in the constellation Scorpio (cf. also the constellation Chanterelle, lat. Vulpecula, called in some traditions of "The Fox and the Goose"). There are widespread stories about the transformation of the Fox into a human (especially during the full moon). The Indians of North America, the Greenlandic Eskimos, the Koryaks, the peoples of Siberia, and China know a story about a poor man, to whom a Fox comes to his house every morning, sheds his skin and becomes a woman; when a man accidentally discovers this, he hides the skin and the woman becomes his wife; but the wife finds her skin, turns into a Fox and runs away from the house. In Northeast Asia, with an abundance of tales about the tricks and tricks of the Fox. there are plots connecting her with the raven, the creator of the world, the creator of the sun, moon, stars, earth, and cultural hero; in them the Fox is opposed to the Raven as a (partly) chthonic animal. Particularly indicative is the motive of the raven Kutkha and Fox cheating on his wife in Itelmen myths. The Fox's change of appearance explains her role as a demon, an evil spirit, a werewolf, a sorcerer, and even the devil himself (in Christian symbolism; in Chinese and Japanese traditions, stories about the Fox reveal coincidences with European medieval stories about succubi, incubi, fatal brides, etc. .), on the one hand, and the function of the Fox as a trickster (a trickster, a joker, etc.), competing with another trickster (eating meat among the Coyote, deceiving the Raven among the peoples of Northeast Asia) or an animal enjoying special prestige (the bear ) or fame (wolf, hare, rooster, etc.) - on the other. It is in this function that the Fox becomes one of the characters of the animal epic in its two main forms - folklore-fairy tale and literary (sometimes even poetic). In the Russian folklore tradition, the Fox is the main character of an animal fairy tale, which later turned into popular prints. Lisitsa also has a patronymic Patrikeevna, because she is the symbol of St. Patrick in Ireland.
In Western Europe, it has been developing since the 11th century. the epic of Renard (Renard, originally a male proper name, became a common designation in French for Fox). A special role was played by the Old French “Roman of the Fox” (“Roman de Renart”). At the end of the 12th century. German appeared, and in the middle. 13th century Dutch reworking of this theme, which served as a source for the Low German "Reinecke-Fuchs". Similar cycles about the Fox are known in China (the "fox" epic of Liao Zhai about the "fox's spell" and its intervention in people's lives; in Chinese In the mythopoetic tradition, the Fox was considered the embodiment of the soul of a dead man, and the system of amulets from the Fox was given special importance), in America (cf. in part, “The Tales of Uncle Remus,” where, along with Brother Rabbit, the Fox participates). Specialized “fox folklore”, a special vocabulary of fox hunting and techniques of “fox magic” are created among hunters (for example, in English hunting clubs). In folk tradition, a special day was celebrated associated with the Fox or with the beginning of the hunt for it, for example. Martyn-Lisogon Day (April 14); Numerous developments of the motive of revenge (or reward) on the hunter on the part of the Fox were popular.
In most mythologies, the fox is a symbol of cunning and trickery.
The fox in Korean mythology has the ability to bewitch people; the most dangerous foxes are centenarians: they sometimes turn into evil women and often show false lights at night, as a result of which travelers lose their way and die; or these foxes charm people to the point that they begin to get sick and gradually go crazy.
Among the peoples of Europe, the fox also personified such vicious qualities as hypocrisy, deceit and evil deceit. The Chinese and Japanese added to this repulsive symbolic
add some piquant touches to the portrait, declaring the fox an erotic symbol of seduction and endowing it with the mystical ability to transform.
In the mythology of the indigenous peoples of America, the image of the fox is generally assessed positively. The California Indians elevated the silver fox to a cultural hero, and the Chibcha-Muis organized a merry festival in honor of the mummered fox, celebrating his arrival with ritual drinking bouts. In China, the patroness of foxes was the kind Wixia Yuanjun “Lady of the Azure Dawn”).
In Japan, the white fox was the sacred animal of the Inari bora. However, all these examples are only exceptions to the general rule, since in most cultures the fox shows the deceptive face of a demonic creature.
The color of fox fur has always evoked associations with fire. The connection between the red fox and the destructive element of fire is clearly visible in the myths of many peoples. The Chinese believed that foxes created flames at night with their own tails; the Scandinavians made the fox a companion of Loki, cunningly and KOBapHoro bora; The Romans, who saw evil demons of fire in foxes, tied lighted torches to the tails of captive animals during the cerealia (festivities in honor of the goddess of fertility of Ceres) and threw the unfortunate ones across the fields. Oddly enough, they believed that baiting scorched animals would protect their crops from the fire, although the biblical hero Samson had long ago proven the opposite. The Old Testament contains a story about how Samson, wanting to approximately punish the evil Philistines, once caught 300 foxes, tied them in pairs with their tails, tied a lit torch to each pair and released the entire flaming pack into the enemy harvest.
In the mythology of China, Korea and Japan, foxes are branded as dangerous werewolves. The gift of reincarnation is possessed by the Chinese demon Rui and the werewolf Jing, the Japanese vampire Kokiteno and the Korean symbol of deceit - the old fox Kumiho. Demonic creatures live near abandoned graves. The ability to become a werewolf comes to them with age: by the age of fifty, the fox acquires the ability to turn into a woman, by the age of one hundred - into a man, and by the thousandth anniversary it grows nine tails and achieves immortality. 
The ritual of reincarnation, described in ancient Chinese treatises, looks like this: the red-haired beast puts a human skull on its head and bows to the constellation Ursa Major until it turns into a human. The greatest danger among werewolves are Chinese female foxes, unsurpassed seductresses who steal a person’s vital energy through sexual intercourse with him. According to the testimony of the sage Ji Yun, these devils are so insatiable in love pleasures that they can quickly destroy a flourishing man.
Ancient Greek mythology also has its own red monster. The evil Teumes fox, which devoured children and ravaged the outskirts of Thebes, appears to be a symbol of elusiveness, since it was precisely this quality that the fighting gave it. The cannibal fox did her dirty deeds until the copper dog Lylaps, endowed with the divine gift of catching up with any animal, took her trail. As a result, an insoluble contradiction arose, which gave birth to the authority of the Olympic fighters. The paradoxical idea was stopped by Zeus, who turned extraordinary animals into shining constellations.
In Christian religion, the fox is portrayed as an accomplice of Satan himself: firstly, because of her devilish tricks, and secondly, because of her bright red fur, which reminds smart people of the flames of hell. Associations of the fox with an evil spirit are most noticeable in Bepx Austria, where there was an unkind wish: “The fox take you!”
In satirical literature, the fox personifies a clever deceiver (the medieval “Roman of the Fox”, numerous fairy tales and fables).
In history, the symbolic image of a predatory beast is endowed with a more bearded content. The Messenian hero Aristomenes (7th century BC), who raised the banner of rebellion against the Spartan conquerors, owed his miraculous salvation to the fox. In one of the battles, he was wounded in the head and captured. The Spartans, embittered by the losses they had suffered, doomed the rebel leader and 50 comrades to a terrible death: all of them, one after another, were thrown alive into the Caadas abyss. Extending their pleasure, the executioners executed Aristomenes last, but this was precisely what saved him: having fallen on a pile of broken bodies, by an incredible coincidence of circumstances, he remained alive and even unharmed. But this joy quickly gave way to bitter disappointment: looking around, Messenets discovered that there was no way out of the deep stone bag where he had ended up. Aristomenes faced a fate much more bitter than that which befell his comrades. For three days he lay among the dead bodies, calling in vain for death, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a fox appeared and began to possess the corpses. The experienced warrior pretended to be dead and patiently waited for the opportune moment, and when the fox approached, he suddenly jumped up and grabbed it by the tail. The exhausted animal ran away, which Aristomenes did not prevent at all, but did not let go of his tail, defending himself from the sharp teeth of the animal with a cloak wrapped around his left arm. Having followed his unwitting savior through a network of intricate underground passages, the resourceful hero got out to freedom. Soon Aristomenes once again led the Resistance, throwing BparoB into complete turmoil with his unexpected resurrection from the dead.
If for Aristomenes the fox was a symbol of salvation, then for the Irish nobles of the Romanstons it was a family curse and a sign of death: every time a row of red messengers of misfortune was noticed in the park of the RoMaHcToHoB estate, one of their family soon gave Bor their soul.
In Russian history, the former military general Mikhail Loris-Melikov (1825-1888), who served in the last years of the reign of Alexander II, acquired a symbolic fox tail.
ties of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Chief of Gendarmes. Minister Loris-Melikov made every effort to flirt with the liberal opposition, but gendarme Loris-Melikov at the same time brutally persecuted political opponents of the regime. In Russian society, such a dual course of the “minister from the gendarmerie” was aptly dubbed the policy of “the fox’s tail and the wolf’s mouth.”
“The Desert Fox” is an honorary nickname for the talented German general Erwin Rommel (1891-1944), who for two years successfully fought against superior British forces in North Africa. Covering their tracks, Rommel's tank corps, like a fox, meandered through the African deserts, suddenly appearing where less than expected. Cut off from supply bases and deprived of reinforcements, the talented cTpaTer nevertheless managed to inflict defeat after defeat on the enemy. On June 21, 1941, Rommel won the most brilliant of his victories: the tanks, having used up almost all their ammunition, burst into the port of Tobruk, a heavily fortified stronghold of the British, with literally the last drops of fuel. It was then that Rommel’s merits were appreciated by both friends and enemies: the German command awarded him the rank of general lieutenant, and the British called the elusive tankman the “desert fox.”
In modern Great Britain, an unprecedented uproar has arisen over the law banning hound hunting. Representatives of the English aristocracy, outraged by the attack on their ancient privileges, raised a real storm of protest. A small group of angry citizens even broke into the British Parliament building, disrupting a meeting of the House of Commons. If parliamentarians manage to defend the notorious law, then the English lords, who cannot imagine their existence without baiting poor foxes, will have to be content with a bloodless “fox hunt.” As you know, in sports “fox hunting” is a completely harmless radio game, which consists in the fact that a person, armed with a hand-held deflector, searches for “fox” transmitters hidden in the forest). For such a “hunt” even real foxes would get through parliament with all four paws.
In Russian urban heraldry, the fox is a “speaking” emblem, indicating those areas where they have long been engaged in hunting foxes and dressing their skins. In contrast to German heraldry with its strict canons, in Russian erbs foxes are depicted in different ways: walking, taking or standing still. For illustrations, you can refer to the regions of Saransk, Cypryta, Ceprievsk, Totma, Mezen and other cities.
