I thought the markings on the fox's face was a symbol of rank for a myobu. At least that's what I interpreted from looking at the fox statues on miniature Inari shrines.
There's a thought. Now that I'm looking at google images of the two species of fox that live in Japan (
v.v. Schrencki and
v.v. Japonica), I'm noticing that not only do facial markings vary only very subtly between individuals, but little between the species as well. So it seems the facial markings on statues have little to do with the native fox subspecies. Meaning the facial markings might either be just something made up by the people making the statues(likely), or they could be anecdotal from past encounters, based on texts or oral traditions that didn't survive. If that's the case, maybe there's something to be learned.
As you may have noticed I prefer not using japanese names for such things.
Well... for the record, you've got the right to talk how you like. But consider others - it can be confusing to people when you use different ways of phrasing things. I know you've caught me off guard with your "unique" terminology more than once and it isn't always clear from context what you mean. It's just simpler if we're all working off the same lexicon.
Let's carry this one to another thread, if it seems needed. We've had too many derailments lately.
ShoutBox
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