A proverb from the Tang Dynasty nicely sums up the sometimes contradictory attitude towards foxes and the way fox folklore intertwined with everyday life: "You can't have a village without the werefox" [无狐魅不成村]. A contemporary proverb states a similar message: "From Tang times onward, the common people have had to placate foxes" [唐初以来，百姓多事狐]. Both proverbs suggest the importance and depth of foxes within the human psyche, especially in Northern China. Below are more fox proverbs known largely throughout China:
1。 狐假虎威 The fox intimidates courtesy of the tiger. (Said of a coward who is only tough when
followed or backed up by his bodyguards or retinue or of a petty tyrant who stays in power only
because of his more powerful connections. The Chinese fable that inspired this proverb
tells how a tiger was ready to eat a fox when the fox suddenly told the tiger that he, the fox,
was actually the king of beasts and that he could prove it. The tiger agreed to spare the fox so
that the fox could prove his point. The tiger was willing to follow the fox into an area full of
other animals. When all the animals saw the dreaded tiger following close behind the fox, they
all fled for their lives, convincing the tiger that, yes, the fox was indeed the "king.")
2。狐狸打不成，反惹一身臊 The fox not only failed in what he was trying to do but also ended up with
his whole body stinking head to toe. (Said of a failed attempt at something that leads to even worse
consequences.)
3。狐埋狐搰 A fox will keep digging up what it has just buried. (Said of those with misgivings and
whose fears and suspicions sabotage their endeavors.)
4。狐媚魇道 or 狐媚魇倒 The guile of a fox and the ability to entrance. (Said of an insidiously
captivating vixen using her charms to seduce and entrap.)
5。狐朋狗友 Dog and fox friends. (Describing ostensible friends who are actually bad influences;
so-called "friends" who get one in trouble; the supposed "pals" that might lead one to say, "With
friends like these, who needs enemies?")
6. 狐群狗党 A den of foxes and a faction of dogs. (Unsavory people who hang out together. "Birds
of a feather flock together," Westerners say. A variation of #5 above.)
7。狐裘羔袖 A fox jacket with sleeves of lambskin. (Something overall good but with some
undesirable detail or feature; something or someone flawed."The fly in the ointment.")
8。狐死兔泣 The rabbit cried after learning the fox had died. (Sometimes also expressed as "The fox
cried after learning the rabbit had died." At first glance, one might assume either expression
means "to shed crocodile tears." However, that would not be the case. Instead, it means "to
mourn the loss of a contemporary, peer, or friend.")
9。狐死首丘 A fox always dies with its headed pointed towards its mound (i.e., lair). (A metaphor of
patriotism: the desire to be reunited with one's beloved homeland.)
10。狐疑不定 or any of the other variations: 狐疑不断, 狐疑不决, 狐疑犹豫 Because the fox has
doubts, it is irresolute. (See #3 above. A comment on the fox's furtive and supposed overly
calculating nature that primarily seeks self-preservation. Such an attitude leads to an excess of
caution and may prevent the fox from furthering its aims and succeeding. Said of those who
would be sneaky and cunning but who cannot pull off their schemes due to a lack of
determination and courage. The antithesis would be, of course, the motto of the Special Air
Service: "He who dares, wins." Another saying that provides the inverse of the above Chinese
proverbs would be "Fortune favors the bold," coined by Thucydides.)
11。狐狸尾巴 The tail of the fox. (It was believed that a werevixen would inadvertently reveal her
true identity if her tail accidentally appeared. Said of those who "show their true colors"
through their words or deeds.)
12。狐狸看鸡，愈看愈稀 When the fox watches over the chickens, the flock grows smaller and
smaller. (Akin to our saying "The fox guarding the hen house," suggesting that employing
an unreliable person in an important position is asking for trouble.)
13。狐狸活到老，永远难变好 No matter how long a fox lives, it will never be up to any good.
("A leopard can't change its spots," we say.)
14。狐狸再狡猾，也洗不掉一身臊 No matter how cunning the fox is, it can never rid itself of its
stench. (Similar in meaning to #11, 12, and 13 above. A fox can masquerade as something
else, but it will reveal itself by its odor.)
15。狐狸再狡猾，斗不过好猎手 No matter how cunning the fox is, it is no match for the wiliest
hunter. ("No one stays on top forever," some say. This is what happens when someone
"meets his or her match.")
from
Chen Yantian, Zhou Kuijieh, and Lin Hong'en, eds. Practical Thesaurus. [實用近義詞詞典]. Hong Kong: Haifeng, 1991; 关于狐狸的谚语、俗语—经典用语大全; 关于狐狸的谚语_谚语_好词好句大全;豺狼当道，安问狐狸？ - 口语/谚语 - 翻吧 - 英语点津 - 中国日报网站
The Practical Thesaurus above is actually a thesaurus of Chinese proverbs.
I personally find foxes to be endlessly fascinating, as did, I guess, storytellers of old from around the world, with all the various myths, legends and folktales about these crafty animals. For much of my life, the only live foxes I had ever seen were in zoos. Once, a few years ago while taking a walk in a nearby canyon, I came across a gray fox sitting by the side of the road, its eyes closed. It was breathing heavily without opening its mouth. The fox didn't attempt to flee; neither did it do the slightest bit of flinching; it was obviously in distress, probably dying. Naturally, I didn't get too close. I resumed my walk. The next day, it was not there. Several years have passed, and I still wonder about that fox and what became of it. Then, starting earlier this year, one or more gray foxes began appearing in my area, often at night. I still see them occasionally, bounding up and down the cul-de-sac with their fluffy upright tales. Late one night, taking my Maltese out to do his nightly business, I came across a gray fox sitting in the middle of the backyard, calmly observing us, seemingly without a care in the world. My dog, being a typical Maltese, began barking his head off. I had to put him back inside and shoo the intruder away. Such are my experiences with foxes.
In traditional Chinese lore, foxes often cast a malevolent shadow but could also be the objects of veneration in older times, during the Tang Dynasty, at home-based shrines. They were and are major bewitching tricksters and shapeshifters. Tales of werevixens abound in Chinese and Japanese folktales. However, before we examine the deadlier aspects of foxes, let's first take a look at the major figures in the cult that was centered in Northern China, particularly around Beijing and Tianjin. There is the 狐仙, the fox immortal, to use a literal translation, also known as 狐神, the fox spirit or god. In time people came to believe that foxes could take a human form and, if slighted, exact revenge. People thus began to propitiate the fox spirit. In areas of shamanic activity, fox idols were created. Hunters in these northern areas would pray to the fox god before hunting. The fox god could augur both good and evil. A saying popular in Ming and Qing times goes like this: "The South has many ghosts, while the North has many fox [spirits]" 南方多鬼，北方多狐 (See the entry for 狐仙 by Ma Guojun in The Dictionary of Chinese Folk Beliefs and Customs [中国民间信仰风俗辞典]; Wang Jinglin and Xu Tao, eds; pp. 376-377. The complete citation can be found at 12/24/13)。
Finally, there is the famed nine-tailed fox 九尾狐, also the object of veneration and mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, written in different stages sometime between the Warring States Period (475 B.C. - 403 B.C.) and the onset of the Han Dynasty (c. 206 B.C.). The Classic describes the mountain-dwelling nine-tailed fox as having a cry like that of a baby and being able to feast on humans. Its appearance can herald either nationwide prosperity or death and destruction. (See Ma Guojun's article on 九尾狐 in The Dictionary of Chinese Folk Beliefs and Customs, p. 366).
For classic stories of werefoxes and werevixens, I recommend Pu Songling's early Qing Dynasty anthology, Strange Stories From a Chinese Studio, also known by other titles, such as Strange Stories From Liaozhai and Strange Stories From the Liaozhai Studio. I particularly recommend Herbert A. Giles's translation and version. I am sure all the versions provide some good reading for Halloween.
For other folktales and legends about foxes and werefoxes, please see the posts for 10/21/07, 10/1/09, 10/28/10, and 12/18/12.
Finally, there is the famed nine-tailed fox 九尾狐, also the object of veneration and mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, written in different stages sometime between the Warring States Period (475 B.C. - 403 B.C.) and the onset of the Han Dynasty (c. 206 B.C.). The Classic describes the mountain-dwelling nine-tailed fox as having a cry like that of a baby and being able to feast on humans. Its appearance can herald either nationwide prosperity or death and destruction. (See Ma Guojun's article on 九尾狐 in The Dictionary of Chinese Folk Beliefs and Customs, p. 366).
For classic stories of werefoxes and werevixens, I recommend Pu Songling's early Qing Dynasty anthology, Strange Stories From a Chinese Studio, also known by other titles, such as Strange Stories From Liaozhai and Strange Stories From the Liaozhai Studio. I particularly recommend Herbert A. Giles's translation and version. I am sure all the versions provide some good reading for Halloween.
For other folktales and legends about foxes and werefoxes, please see the posts for 10/21/07, 10/1/09, 10/28/10, and 12/18/12.
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