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[KD]

This is a response to an earlier thread that mostly got derailed.

What is meant by 'hidden tails' and 'revealing' them?

Are we talking about regular spiritual-body limbs being disguised by some sort of illusion magick?
Perhaps we're discussing tails as being 'retractable', like a cat's claws?
Is this about tails one can 'sense' on-the-way, like phantom placeholders?
Or maybe its about tails one may have had before in a past life or something, and looking to 'unlock' them again --figuring they're still there somewhere?

I'd like to know what was originally meant, especially if this is a common way of addressing a certain phenomena.

Thanks for your time. 

[Seeker]

Well the basic principle was that tail count possibly wasn't as concrete or important as previously thought- if total number of tails represents a kitsune's power then perhaps the 9 tail limit referenced in lore is born of aesthetics, numerology, physical practicality, or reverence to Inari, instead of a set level of power that cannot be surpassed. What follows is the idea that a humble seven tail fox might choose to appear to have one, and an avaricious singleton might show a greater number without actually having the power to back them up.

[KD]

I can't say for sure if tail count really does relate to power amount, as I've tended to shy away from using it very much. 

I got the impression they were something more like a development cycle, like they were being 'grown into' like how creatures come into adulthood and elder status, with age, time, experience, wisdom, or through achievements.  Though I wouldn't know for certain. 

Maybe it varies and there are actually several general types of 'kitsune' --where tails have different significances and ways of being 'earned' --if one can call it that.  (I don't think I've done anything particularly noteworthy to deserve more tails than others.)

Maybe power grows as we do, but isn't directly related to the acquisition of tails. 

These are just my thoughts on the matter.  Thanks for explaining. 

[Okori Tenko]

Well the basic principle was that tail count possibly wasn't as concrete or important as previously thought- if total number of tails represents a kitsune's power then perhaps the 9 tail limit referenced in lore is born of aesthetics, numerology, physical practicality, or reverence to Inari, instead of a set level of power that cannot be surpassed. What follows is the idea that a humble seven tail fox might choose to appear to have one, and an avaricious singleton might show a greater number without actually having the power to back them up.

 Id seriously beg to differ on the tail count issue. Most people want to tread on tail count. This is actually extremely important, as to the matter of tails. I've made a post in research and Folklore concerning tails. I'd suggest looking for it amidst all of my posts there.

 However, I -will- make it known that there is a general limit, because most kitsune at age 900 usually either die out, or commit Seppaku to keep from becoming detrimental to the world. For this matter, think carefully. Within a year, a nine tail could drain the ephemeral heat and fire of a volcano sufficiently enough to keep it from erupting, for example.

 Technically, the most tails any single kitsune can have is 13, one for every element in Japan's Elemental list.

 However, most that do gain more than 9 are hunted down, because they -are- detrimental to the local and national area. Keep this in mind when posting about tails.

 

[Fujo Jigen]

 Id seriously beg to differ on the tail count issue. Most people want to tread on tail count. This is actually extremely important, as to the matter of tails. I've made a post in research and Folklore concerning tails. I'd suggest looking for it amidst all of my posts there.

 However, I -will- make it known that there is a general limit, because most kitsune at age 900 usually either die out, or commit Seppaku to keep from becoming detrimental to the world. For this matter, think carefully. Within a year, a nine tail could drain the ephemeral heat and fire of a volcano sufficiently enough to keep it from erupting, for example.

 Technically, the most tails any single kitsune can have is 13, one for every element in Japan's Elemental list.

 However, most that do gain more than 9 are hunted down, because they -are- detrimental to the local and national area. Keep this in mind when posting about tails.

 

Maybe thats for the kitsune's of the island of japan and why stories only go up to 9 tails, and in other countries like in china go up to way beyond the 9, and why some kitsune's from different living area's claim to have more while others claim less, and not just in land mass, think of it in how the environment is like or how much life is there, cause in the way, the more life the more an environment can handle a kitsune. I think this is something we need to study and look into, I for one think we'd get some interesting results.

[Fujo Jigen]

I can't say for sure if tail count really does relate to power amount, as I've tended to shy away from using it very much.  

I got the impression they were something more like a development cycle, like they were being 'grown into' like how creatures come into adulthood and elder status, with age, time, experience, wisdom, or through achievements.  Though I wouldn't know for certain.  

Maybe it varies and there are actually several general types of 'kitsune' --where tails have different significances and ways of being 'earned' --if one can call it that.  (I don't think I've done anything particularly noteworthy to deserve more tails than others.)

Maybe power grows as we do, but isn't directly related to the acquisition of tails.  

These are just my thoughts on the matter.  Thanks for explaining.  

You do have a point there about different types of kitsune, kitsune fox in japan only seem to go up to 9 tails, yet in china the 'mother kitsune' had 10,000 it might be a 'racial' thing when it comes to kitsune's.

as for the tails 'showing' is more of a mental thing, if you force yourself to belive you only have 3 tails, thats all you and others will see, but in reality you could have 7 tails, think of it like people who refuse to believe, they only see what they want to see but it doesnt change the fact that thats whats there.... thats as basic as I can get it explaining wise....@_@

edit: sorry I reread the post and realized I forgot to reply to that one 

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