Written in May 2009  I wrote this paper based on my research on Shinto (sp. Inari) and East Asian folklore regarding the fox. I was fascinated by Fushimi Inari Taisha, and I was familiar with the kitsune as well as Shinto, so I started researching Inari and fox lore in more detail.

Through the Eyes of the Fox: Japan’s Connections with Korea through Inari Worship and the Plausible Influence on Shinto Religion

As the sunlight fades and dusk creeps in, an air of eerie tranquility settles on the shrine complex.  Passing underneath thousands of vermillion torii gates, it seems like a tunnel leading to another world. And everywhere one looks there is the expectation for a slender, lithe vulpine creature with a luxurious tail to suddenly appear and lope through the trees. Such is the atmosphere at Fushimi Inari Taisha, the head shrine of Inari, one of Shinto’s most diverse and popular kami. One of the most unique aspects of Inari worship that is often overlooked is its strong connections to the Korean peninsula, which are most distinctly seen in its origins and the central symbol of Inari, the fox. Given how prominent Inari worship is, how the Korean impact on it may have influenced Shinto beliefs in general is also worth examining. Continue reading PAPER: Through the Eyes of the Fox →