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In Chinese mythology, also Japan, it is believed that all things are capable of acquiring human forms, magical powers, and immortality provided that they received certain energy, such as breaths or essence from the moon and the sun.
The fox spirits that people encounter in tales and lengends tend to be females, and appears to them as young, beautiful women. Women who steal men from their wifes, would often be refer to by the wife as a "fox spirit" (狐精). One of the most infamous fox spirits in Chinese mythology was Daji. Actually a beautiful daughter of a general who had to be married forcibly to the cruel tyrant Zhou Xin, a nine-tailed fox spirit who served Nüwa (whom Zhou Xin had offended) penetrated into her body, expelling the "true" Daji's soul. Daji and her new husband cruelly schemed and invented many devises of torture, such as forcing righteous officials to hug red-hot metal pillars. Due to such cruelties, more and more people, even former Zhou Xin's own generals revolted and fought against Zhou Xin's dynasty, Shang. Finally, King Wen of Zhou, one of the vassals of Shang founded a new dynasty, named after his country. The fox spirit in Daji's body was later on driven out by Jiang Ziya, first Prime Minister of Zhou Dynasty.