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Tamamo-no Mae is a figure in Japanese mythology. Legend about Tamamo-no Maekitsune in Japan.

First mentioned in "Annals of the Empire" under the year 1150. This description has only slight degree of similarity to classic tale about Tamamo-no Mae(863: p.128-129). Aforementioned record tells, that finances of the emperor were in such a poor state that he was bound to expel his favourite mistress from palace. Victim of economical crisis left the palace in a shape of white fox with six tails which formed sort of fan (863: p.129).

This brief record dates back to reign of emperor Konoe (1139-1155). Later accounts of XV c. connect the legend to that emperor or Toba (1107-1123). Since then legend was formed in coherent tale and even was called to explain some traditions like Inuoumono – kind of sport, involving mounted archers shooting at dogs, which originally intended as military training exercise. Arrows used were usually blunted and non-fatal for dogs. Diary of Buddhist monk Gwa-Un in XV c. shows that legend of Kitsune Tamamo-no Mae

Second year of the Kyo-toku era (1453) second month, 25th day. The abbot of Rinko-in, called Shuzan, paid me a visit, and during the conversation we spoke about dog shooting. He said: "The Emperor Toba (1107-1123) had a pretty concubine, of whose origin nobody knew. She was called Tamamo no mae and was very much beloved by the Emperor, with whom she spoke about Indian and Chinese matters, being thoroughly acquainted therewith. But when the Emperor fell ill and consulted a diviner, the latter declared that the illness was caused by the woman, and when, in consequence, prayers were recited with a view to curing the patient, the concubine turned into a fox and ran away. This fox, which lived on the Nasu moor in Shimozuke province, was pursued, but in vain, because it was so extraordinarily spry. Therefore the Emperor ordered the samurai to shoot dogs on horseback in order to learn thereby how to shoot foxes. Afterwards Kazusa-no-suke killed the fox, and in its tail were two needles, which he gave to (his master) Yoritomo (Minamoto no Yoritomo, the Shogun of Kamakura, 1147-1199). After receiving these needles the latter became finally the ruler of the world. This (namely the Emperor Toba's order to the samurai) is the reason why nowadays dogs are hunted. The fox was a metamorphosis of Pao-Sz".

Nikkenrokku as cited in (864: p.512-52 )

It was noted that this story originated in China and was about emperor Yiu of Chen dynasty (8 c. BC) which life was ruined as the result of wiles of his concubine Pao Sz’ (866: p.29), who was in fact three-tailed fox (863: p.129). As it shown in common priest’s diary knowing of this fact created no barrier for an elegant sequel of story of the mischievous kitsune on Japanese ground.

Cited record, though, is not a classical variant of legend that most known in Japan. At least to theater-goers. In XV century the legend was dramatized. Collection of Noh plays known as Yokuyoku tsukai contents dramatized version of legend named "The Killing Stone" (Sessho-seki) (867: p.146-154). It tells the story of Buddhist priest named Genno who stopped for the night near the rock. He meets there a village woman who tells him that resting near rock known as "The Killing Stone" is quite dangerous. The rock kills everyone who stops by. She tells him the story of emperor’s concubine, "a mind so flawless in a form so fair" (867: p.150). Once when emperor made a splendid feast and everyone was gay suddenly wind arose, all lanterns went out and from body of Tamamosparking flame was seen. The same night emperors was taken ill. The court diviner told that it was work of Tamamo and she flew to the Nasu moors in a shape of fox.

The second act opens with revelation that old village woman is, in fact, spirit of Tamamo-no Mae. Priest conjures the stone and asks what was it in a former world that did cause spirit to take such foul a shape (867: p.152). Stone splits open and spirit of Tamamo-no Mae appears before the priest in her true form. Story continues. This part more or less similar of what was told in citation earlier except for connection between Kitsune and tradition of Inuoumono. Where the former narrator stops, the play continues the story of Tamamo. Being killed by emperor’s hunters, her spirit entered the stone, which hence gained quite deadly attributes. After the story was told spirit promises:

I swear a solemn oath, that shall endure

Firm as the Death-Stone standing on the moor,

That from this hour I'm virtue's child alone!"

(867: p.156)

and vanishes. The end of play is ambiguous because the poisonous stream issues from the stone even after that (867: p.156).

Genno is a famous Buddhist priest of XIII c. His name means kind of hammer flat from both ends. By taking into account his name the splitting of stone by his prayers put all story in a new perspective of course. In biography of Genno written in XV c. his encounter with spirit of Kitsune is not accidental. It was result of emperor Fukukusa’s (1246-1259) order. Arriving at the place where the haunted rock lays and on seeing piles of bones and skulls, priest begins to act. After reading Zen text and gatha he beats the stone with his staff and splits it. The same night spirit of beautiful woman emerges from the stone and thanks Genno for his exorcism was pure due to his virtues and she was reborn in heaven. Story of "Killing Stone" looks like it was added to this legend as part of hagiography of saint. Fight and banishment of evil forces were amongst the most important deeds of saint in this type of literature.

The name of Tamamo-no Mae derives from Tama (pearl, jewel) and translates usually as "Flawless Jewel Maiden". Later it became common for "fox". Work named "Inari jinjaki hiketsu" (1716-1735) by priest in Inari temple at Kyoto explains why a foxes are called "Myobu no mae". As for alternative name for fox "Tome no o mae" given and explained that "tome" and "myobu" both mean "old woman" (864: p.55). "Reiju zakki" in the beginning of XIX century

Japanese encyclopedia "Ainosho" (1446) explains that:

the Court ladies are called "myobu"… As there are female divinities in the temples in which foxes are worshipped, perhaps these goddesses were called "myobu" after the palace ladies. Or have they (the fox-goddesses) got this name because the foxes were originally the messengers of a god that was so called (Myobu)? I shall ask other people about this.

(864: p.55)