Within the world of Taoist magic, there exists a cult devoted to the nine-tailed foxes. Fox spirits are considered as beings that can be benevolent or malevolent depending on the circumstances. From China to Southeast Asia, the worship of fox deities varies from bizarre witchcraft to benign magic. Generally, fox deities are associated with the ability to help individuals find a girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, or wife. Much of the fox cult revolves around this aspect. However, on the other hand, fox deities are also feared for their vampiric reputation of absorbing the life energy of people through intimate relationships. Additionally, fox deities are famous for imparting knowledge about the arts of seduction.
One of the most famous stories is that of Empress Wu Zetian (武则天). When she was a young concubine in the court of Emperor Taizong (太宗), she had a dream in which she encountered 九尾狐娘娘 (the Nine-Tailed Fox Fairy) or the “White Fox Lady.” The fox fairy instructed her in sexual arts and seduction techniques. From that night onward, the White Fox Lady would instruct and advise Wu Zetian in her dreams. Under her guidance, Wu Zetian would capture the heart of the heir to the throne and eventually ascend to the imperial throne. Since then, the imperial harem began to worship the White Fox Lady. Concubines dedicated their sexual skills to this deity, seeking her protection. This gave rise to the doctrine of the Nine-Tailed Fox’s sexuality, which enjoys great fame and respect. Its teachings have continued to enhance personal attractiveness, empower and influence, and improve the sexual lives of those who practice these teachings.
The story of the nine-tailed fox deities intertwines with the cultivation of internal alchemy, especially the energies of the sun and moon. Taoist and Buddhist legends assert that cultivating the yin-yang energies of the sun and moon can lead to traveling to other dimensions, extending life indefinitely, and transforming one’s appearance at will. Within the wheel of samsara (the cycle of reincarnations), there exists the dimension of beasts. In this dimension, there are three categories of sacred animals cultivating the energy of the sun and moon: mythological animals, monstrous animals, and extraordinary animals. These sacred animals store their inner energy in their tails, and the more long-lived and powerful they are, the more tails they have. When the most powerful and long-lived foxes desired the ability to assume a human appearance, they had to perform a ritual directed to the deity of the North Star. In this ritual, the fox had to wear a human skull on its head to acquire the appearance of a man or woman. Once the fox gained this ability, it could freely move among humans. When this happened, humans adopted these animals as totems or spirit guides, building temples to worship them and receiving help, advice, and protection from the nine-tailed foxes.