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Chapter XXI - Kuzunoha

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Kuzunoha (葛の葉): According to legend, Kuzunoha (literally "Leaf of Japanese Arrowroot") was the mother of the legendary onmyouji, Abe no Seimei (安倍晴明, around 921 - 1005 Heian era). Her real form was a white fox spirit in disguise as the wife of Abe no Yasuna (安倍保名). The story began when Yasuna went to visit a shrine in Shinoda. He saw a white fox that was trapped by hunters in orders to collect fox's liver for making elixir of life. Yasuna decided to set it free and returned. Not long after that, he met a kind beautiful woman and decided to adopt her into his family because she claimed that she lost all her memories, except her name as Kuzunoha. Both married few years later and had a son who was later called, Abe no Seimei. The family lived happily but when Seimei was five, he accidentally saw the shadow of his mother. It wasn't that of human but a fox. Kuzunoha realized that her son had found her secret, so she decided to leave a farewell letter (as poem) to Yasuna and returned to the forest of Shinoda (now; Izumi, Osaka).

"
恋しくば尋ね来て見よ 和泉なる信太の森のうらみ葛の葉" 

(If you love me, darling, come and see me./ You will find me yonder in the great wood/ Of Shinoda of Izumi Province where the leaves/ Of arrowroots always rustle in pensive mood.) - Translation by Folklorist Kiyoshi Nozaki*

Yasuna took their son go to Shinoda forest to visit his beloved wife. At the forest edge, Kuzunoha appeared as a white fox. 
Now he knew that his wife was actually the white fox that he saved many years ago. Before parting, Kuzunoha gave a gift to her son allowing him to use spells and to be able to understand animal's languages. According to other legend, in every year Yasuna and Seimei would come to meet Kuzunoha at the edge of Shinoda forest.

(From WMA-021-葛の葉)
Characters: Kuzunoha and Abe no Seimei (baby)
Series: Water-well's Moonlight
Colors: Copic markers
Date: 11-05-18
By Hallowie29

*From Nozaki, Kiyoshi. Kitsune — Japan's Fox of Mystery, Romance, and Humor. Tokyo: The Hokuseidou Press. 1961. 110-111

Anyway, I've finally completed Kuzunoha art and story!! (TvT) So glad! Because it was so difficult to decide which kind of pic I would draw. I hope 
TenkoSama9 would like it since his super cute fox, Yuki, inspired me to draw Kuzunoha a cream-white tail. XD Wish you all enjoy the artwork and another Japanese tale. - Hallowie

Image size
2803x4064px 1.43 MB
Make
Sony
Model
E5553
Shutter Speed
1/35 second
Aperture
F/2.0
Focal Length
4 mm
ISO Speed
250
Date Taken
May 10, 2018, 4:47:16 PM
© 2018 - 2024 Hallowie29
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InariFoxQB9's avatar
OF all the Japanese myths she by far has to be my favorite