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Tamamo-no-Mae

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description Tamamo-no-Mae Overview

Tamamo-no-Mae is a figure in Japanese legend portrayed as an exceptionally beautiful and learned woman at the imperial court. The story reveals her to be a disguised nine-tailed fox whose influence causes illness and disorder around Emperor Toba, after which warriors pursue her to the plain of Nasu. Later versions connect her spirit with the Sessho-seki, or Killing Stone, making the tale an enduring example of kitsune transformation folklore.

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What is the legend of Tamamo-no-Mae?

Tamamo-no-Mae is a figure in Japanese legend who appeared as an exceptionally beautiful and learned woman at the imperial court. The story reveals her to be a disguised nine-tailed fox whose supernatural presence caused illness and chaos around the emperor, after which warriors pursued her across Japan.

Which emperor did Tamamo-no-Mae target in the legend?

In the legend, Tamamo-no-Mae served at the court of Emperor Toba, who reigned during the late Heian period. Her influence caused the emperor to fall gravely ill, prompting court diviners to investigate and ultimately expose her true nature as a fox spirit.

What is the Sessho-seki, or Killing Stone, in the Tamamo-no-Mae legend?

According to legend, after warriors pursued and killed the fox in the Nasu region of Japan, her vengeful spirit transformed into a cursed stone called the Sessho-seki, said to kill any living creature that approached it. The stone became a well-known landmark in Nasu, in present-day Tochigi Prefecture.

In what Japanese cultural works does Tamamo-no-Mae appear?

Tamamo-no-Mae has been a popular subject in Japanese noh and kabuki theater, most notably in the noh play 'Sessho-seki.' The character has also appeared in modern anime, manga, and video game adaptations that draw on the nine-tailed fox legend.

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