Fox spirit
![The creature appearing under the name nine-tailed fox (九尾狐) in the Shanhaijing, depicted in an edition from the Qing dynasty](/Images/godic/202501/14/NineTailsFox3006.JPG")
![Prince Hanzoku terrorized by a nine-tailed fox. Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th century.](/Images/godic/202501/14/Prince_Hanzoku_terrorised_by_a_nine-_tailed_fox3007.jpg")
The fox spirit (狐狸精) or nine-tailed fox (九尾狐), having been originated from Chinese mythology, is a common motif in the mythology of East Asian countries.
In East Asian folklore, foxes are depicted as a familiar spirit possessed of magic powers. These foxes are depicted as mischievous, usually tricking other people, with the ability to disguise as an attractive female human: