Fox in the Chinese Miscellaneous Notes of the Tang-Song Period (618-1279)

Abstract

Fox has long been regarded as an extraordinary animal with supernatural power. For instance, in the figure bricks and stones of the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), the fox with nine tails has always been associated with Queen Mother of the West and immortality. Fox and its lexical terms, as recorded in the miscellaneous notes (biji) written by literati during the Tang-Song period (618-1279), have shown to have varied images and meanings. On one hand, fox has appeared to be suspicious, seductive, bad and vile, and be able to befog people’s mind and make them fall ill. On the other hand, fox has positive images including its unswerving loyalty, lovingness to lover, repaying obligations, erudition, and eloquence. There have been different attitudes towards fox. One is to worship fox as a celestial being and offer sacrifices, hoping that favours or benefits can be rewarded in return. But there are also records mentioning how people have averted, expelled and killed the fox due to their belief in not getting to be harmed by the goblin. The differences in lexical meanings, emotional meanings and cultural meanings of the word “fox” and its combinations can also be found in the miscellaneous notes accordingly. This paper gives a focused study on fox as recorded in the miscellaneous notes of the Tang-Song period which forms the major part of the middle ages of ancient China. With quoted examples from representative notes and the use of supporting documentation such as literary works and dictionaries, the paper elaborates and analyses on the different images and meanings of fox from lexical and cultural perspectives. Firstly the meaning, usage and development of the relevant lexical items are examined and discussed, and secondly a sociocultural review is made on people’s impressions of fox as a part of their folk belief during the Tang-Song period.