Hakuzōsu 白蔵主

Hakuzōsu (白蔵主) is a legendary Kitsune (fox spirit) famous for impersonating a Buddhist priest for half a century, embodying both the trickery and the surprising piety of fox folklore.

Meaning and Origin

The name Hakuzōsu literally means “white storehouse keeper,” but in a religious context, zōsu refers to the rank of an abbot or priest.

The legend originated in Osaka at the Shōrin-ji temple. It centers on an ancient, silver-furred fox who decided to take revenge on a hunter named Yasaku. Yasaku was the nephew of a real monk named Hakuzōsu, and the fox blamed him for the deaths of many of its kin. The fox eventually killed the real monk and took his place to stop the hunter’s activities.

Characteristics

As a Kitsune, Hakuzōsu’s primary characteristic is master-level shapeshifting. For fifty years, he lived as a human priest, performing all religious duties perfectly and gaining a reputation for great wisdom and holiness. He was typically seen as an elderly, refined monk with a gentle demeanor.

His true form was only revealed at the end of his life when he was attacked by hunting dogs. In Japanese art, he is often depicted either as a priest with a fox’s tail peeking out or as a fox wearing the colorful robes of a high-ranking Buddhist official.

Legends

The most famous legend, later popularized in the Kyōgen play Tsurigitsune (“Fox Trapping”), tells of the “Uncle-Monk” visiting the hunter Yasaku. Disguised as Hakuzōsu, the fox lectured his nephew on the Buddhist sin of killing animals and even gave him money to give up his traps.

However, the deception went deeper. After killing the real Hakuzōsu, the fox lived such a dedicated life as a monk that when he was finally killed by dogs, the temple’s monks were heartbroken. They discovered that their beloved leader was a fox, but because he had served the temple so faithfully, they built a shrine to his spirit, known as the Hakuzōsu Inari, which still exists today.