Within Chinese mythology, the fox occupies a special spot as one of five spiritual animal species. Although some have compared the fox spirit to English fairies with their whimsical ways, the comparison doesn’t do justice to the diversity of foxes in Eastern mythology.

However, in East Asia the fox is also associated with supernatural metamorphic powers and with dangerously seductive women. With its sly grin and cunning ways, the fox occupies a trickster role in many mythologies. Foxes can be found in folklore all over the world, but Eastern fox spirits often exhibit more specific traits that render them particularly fascinating. Though usually levelled at scheming individuals when their plots are unravelled, this saying alludes specifically to the idea of the fox spirit, a common mythological figure in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean culture.

“狐狸尾巴藏不住.” “A fox’s tail is not easily hidden.” – Chinese proverb