SEIZEN NO BYAKKO | 整然の白狐
The Orderly White Fox
A member of the Byakko tribe of Zenko Kitsune that has attained Kiko status. It is nicknamed and largely referred to as ‘Seizen no Byakko’ for its orderly, often perfectionistic behaviors, and as its true name, if it does have one, is not known. It wields a ritualistic broom and is often depicted with subordinate Hahakigami that do Seizen no Byakko’s bidding.
It appears largely as in its natural, fox form. Its fur is a pristine white that looks as if it was made of the finest fur in the land, and to accompany this, five-to-seven (depending on the account) impressive, bushy tails of similar color sprawled from behind Seizen no Byakko, signifying it to be roughly middle-aged among Kiko. However, sometimes Seizen no Byakko appears in its human form, which, as is customary for kitsune, is in the form of a gorgeous woman that very well could put the embodiment of the Yamato nadeshiko concept to shame. This form, dressed in traditional, elaborate Japanese garb, is usually used to convince belligerent and/or disorderly guests of the shrine to leave through the means of charming them. It is to be noted that this measure isn’t always taken, and oftentimes more direct action is preferred by the spirit.
The broom that Seizen no Byakko wields in its mouth is used for spiritual purposes, and largely, to purify the air and ward away any malevolent forces from the shrine. It uses it to an almost neurotic extent within and around the shrine, using it even on the off-chance that Seizen no Byakko remains idle. Its accompanying Hahakigami serve much of the same purpose as its personal broom, but they also handle more menial, physical cleaning around the shrine when staff can’t attend to that duty. One can usually tell the difference between a shrine keep's work and a Hahakigami’s work by the inhuman precision displayed by the spirits, with nary a single snowflake left on the footpaths, roofs, and other pieces of man-made architecture.
YUKINOMIYA SHRINE | 雪宮
The Yukinomiya shrine, as it’s name so literally suggests, is a shrine nestled away in a far, snowy crevice in Byakuyakoku. The atmosphere is quaint, but, as expected of the area, cold. It is staffed only by a designated, part-time team of shrine keeps and other staff of the Monastery grounds, but in spite of this, it remains as one of the most iconic features within them.
The Shrine was initially built in the honor of Norowarejima’s own manifestation of the Yuki-Onna, a grieving mother known as ‘Hana.’ It is the belief of historical record that Hana, and what became of her and her daughter, directly triggered the eternal winter in Byakuyakoku. It is also said that the coming of Yuki-Onna does good for the children who pass through the Monastery grounds. As it is written, if a child becomes lost, then Yuki-Onna will guide them to the shrine, and the shrine will embrace the child in a distinct warmth that is absent from the rest of the unforgiving climate of Byakuyakoku.
Seizen no Byakko is said to largely be spotted mingling among the statues of the Yukinomiya Shrine, only coming out to cleanse the shrine of untenable snowfall, other debris, or particularly disruptive guests.
THEORIZED STORY | Recounted by Itoi Hidesaburō
Itoi Hidesaburō was a former, designated Gongūji of the Yukinomiya Shrine known for his grand, and often outlandish superstitions, which often got him into trouble with the designated Gūji. He would eventually get himself fired thanks in part to this trait, and little is known of him following this incident. What follows is a story he’d often tell during the tail-end of his employment.
“Indeed,” he’d often begin, “one night, and indeed, on a particularly cold one, a small band of drunkard business-folk wander into Byakuyakoku…”
They were acting as if they held a high degree of impunity; raucous laughter, vulgar speech, and general disrespect was rampant as they aimlessly maneuvered through the Monastery’s grounds, trampling plants, irreverently spectating and commenting on the shrine and its staff, and clumsily knocking over small statues, lanterns, and other items unfortunate enough to find themselves in the wake of the group.
“Good grief,” a gruff, older man at the head of the party grumbles at one of the others, “Why’d we come here again?”
A snivelling voice responds, “To speak with the great Inari Ōkami, so that our farms will prosper for the next cycle! We’ll be rich, sir!”
“Ah, yes, yes… -Hic. Wonderful.”
A third man added, “After this, I wager we’ll get a spiffy HQ in town…”
“You got that right, sir!”
The party continues in their clumsy march through Byakuyakoku until they find themselves trudging up the steps of the Yukinomiya shrine. The shrine, while obviously not dedicated to Inari, probably passed in the drunken minds of the group. At this point, the snivelling voice from before piped back up.
“If I’m not mistaken, this should be it, sirs..!”
“Good, let’s get this over with.” The gruff man bemoaned as he hobbled up the steps.
Once the party eventually reached the stop of the steps, they would gather themselves and catch their breaths. The trek so far had seemed terribly taxing on the men. During this time, the younger, and perhaps more starry-eyed members took in the sights with a childish awe, while the tired, and frankly more miserly drunks seemed to keep their eyes on the ground, attempting not to regurgitate that day’s dinner. In any case, once the party reasonably recuperated from the climb, the snivelly-voiced man took charge in the proceedings.
“Right..!” He proclaims, looking between his compatriots with an obnoxious smile. “To prosperity and riches?”
The rest, though not in the best shape, parrot him with as much enthusiasm as they could muster: “-...To prosperity and riches!”
The man then turns around once more, speaking loudly and with a tone of irreverence. As he spoke, he clapped. “O’ Inari Ōkami, please bless us! Bless us productive men for all of the good that we do with your blessings! We are the greatest example of your purpose! Please, wish us well in our endeavors, so we can become successful! The most successful! In Japan and the world!” He then bows, before blowing the largest statue a surely unwanted kiss.
This display seemed to bother even his companions, some of whom plugged their ears. The snivelling man paid this no credence, however.
The gruff man seemed particularly sour. “Good, god. Shut it, boy…”
The snivelling man snorted. “With this blessing, we are unstoppable, sirs.”
“Yes, yes, very well… Let’s–”
The gruff man stopped himself dead in his tracks as he noticed a five-tailed fox, fur white and silky, consumed in a faint, icy blue aura. The display caused many of the men to rub their eyes and shake their heads, as if they were under some hallucination. Though rest assured, it was no such thing. The snivelling man was the first to speak up.
“-Ohhh!” He examined the fox, taking a few steps towards it.
“You must be a messenger of Inari herself! Gods, we really have struck gold, sirs! Look, an envoy from the Kami herself! Please, Fox, extend our thanks to her and all she does!”
He then squats to attempt to pat the kitsune on the head, it nips near his hand in response. “Yikes! -I don’t mean to harm you, dumb thing… Regardless, we thank your master.” - “Come on, sirs!”
As the group turns, they begin to hear wild, sandpaper-esque noises from all directions.
The gruff man plugs his ears. “Good-ness, what is that..!?”
Another adds, “It’s terrible!”
Out from every conceivable angle came what initially seemed like brooms, wildly and violently sweeping the floor and the air in the group’s directions. Faces, though distorted, could be made out from the straw that comprised the vessels, all of which assumed ghastly, fearful, or angry expressions. They were rapidly approaching the party.
The snivelling man, who was perhaps the most sober, only let an ugly “Eugh..!?” escape his lips before he started to retreat down the steps. The others, fortunately or unfortunately, did not have quite as good of an opportunity. The less fortunate turned, and upon reaching the stairs, tumbled down the shallow steps in their uncoordinated retreat. They were quickly reached by the fast-approaching Hahakigami, and were carried by the sweeping. As the brooms progressed, all that was previously disgraced by the men was put back in its rightful place by Seizen no Byakko, who was following the brooms closely in tow.
Around half-way through his would-be escape, the snivelling man was finally caught by the brooms, letting out a frankly embarrassing squeal as he joined his companions in being swept off the premises. At the final staircase down, they were sent tumbling down to the bottom, and they were left there. At the end of this pursuit, the shrine was left in a finer condition than before, and none of those men would ever step foot near the Yukinomiya Shrine ever again.
WRITTEN ACCOUNT | Authored by Hasebe Kajiko
Hasebe Kajiko was a former Miko employed between 1869-1881. She was known for frequent, accidental run-ins with spirits, good and evil, during her tenure of residency within Byakuyakoku. What follows is an account from a diary she accidentally left behind after resigning from her post. Of course, it is unverifiable as fact.
Entry 168,
12 December 1880
It is of my belief that I’ve finally gazed upon the ‘Seizen no Byakko’ of Yukinomiya. This spirit has eluded me for some time, and truly, it is as magnificent as the existing records describe.
I had been about my usual duties, sweeping snow from the footpaths particularly. It was proving to be quite the challenge. As is typical for Byakuyakoku, the colder months are unforgiving with snow. The snow would rarely cease to stop falling, as was characteristic, and on the rare occasion that snow did indeed stop falling, the wind usually began to complicate things.
By the end of the second hour, I had begun to consider waiting for the weather to pass, the situation had become untenable and there was little I could do that would result in any good. As I lifted my broom, and as I began to return to my lodging, I began to hear a terrible, sandpaper-like gnashing, sweeping noises.
As I turn, it is at this point that I see Seizen no Byakko. Its six white, bushy tails and its silk-like white coat are precisely as the records describe, and a faint blue aura is also clearly present around the figure of Seizen no Byakko. Behind the spirit was a small collection of Hahakigami manically sweeping at the footpaths. They disappeared as quickly as they arrived, but the path was precisely perfect following their arrival. Not a flake of snow in view, and the clouds above the path dispersed for up to several hours afterward.
I find it likely that I was looked down upon kindly, or with pity, for my efforts. For this I am appreciative.
Written by: @Tourning
The Orderly White Fox
A member of the Byakko tribe of Zenko Kitsune that has attained Kiko status. It is nicknamed and largely referred to as ‘Seizen no Byakko’ for its orderly, often perfectionistic behaviors, and as its true name, if it does have one, is not known. It wields a ritualistic broom and is often depicted with subordinate Hahakigami that do Seizen no Byakko’s bidding.
It appears largely as in its natural, fox form. Its fur is a pristine white that looks as if it was made of the finest fur in the land, and to accompany this, five-to-seven (depending on the account) impressive, bushy tails of similar color sprawled from behind Seizen no Byakko, signifying it to be roughly middle-aged among Kiko. However, sometimes Seizen no Byakko appears in its human form, which, as is customary for kitsune, is in the form of a gorgeous woman that very well could put the embodiment of the Yamato nadeshiko concept to shame. This form, dressed in traditional, elaborate Japanese garb, is usually used to convince belligerent and/or disorderly guests of the shrine to leave through the means of charming them. It is to be noted that this measure isn’t always taken, and oftentimes more direct action is preferred by the spirit.
The broom that Seizen no Byakko wields in its mouth is used for spiritual purposes, and largely, to purify the air and ward away any malevolent forces from the shrine. It uses it to an almost neurotic extent within and around the shrine, using it even on the off-chance that Seizen no Byakko remains idle. Its accompanying Hahakigami serve much of the same purpose as its personal broom, but they also handle more menial, physical cleaning around the shrine when staff can’t attend to that duty. One can usually tell the difference between a shrine keep's work and a Hahakigami’s work by the inhuman precision displayed by the spirits, with nary a single snowflake left on the footpaths, roofs, and other pieces of man-made architecture.
YUKINOMIYA SHRINE | 雪宮
The Yukinomiya shrine, as it’s name so literally suggests, is a shrine nestled away in a far, snowy crevice in Byakuyakoku. The atmosphere is quaint, but, as expected of the area, cold. It is staffed only by a designated, part-time team of shrine keeps and other staff of the Monastery grounds, but in spite of this, it remains as one of the most iconic features within them.
The Shrine was initially built in the honor of Norowarejima’s own manifestation of the Yuki-Onna, a grieving mother known as ‘Hana.’ It is the belief of historical record that Hana, and what became of her and her daughter, directly triggered the eternal winter in Byakuyakoku. It is also said that the coming of Yuki-Onna does good for the children who pass through the Monastery grounds. As it is written, if a child becomes lost, then Yuki-Onna will guide them to the shrine, and the shrine will embrace the child in a distinct warmth that is absent from the rest of the unforgiving climate of Byakuyakoku.
Seizen no Byakko is said to largely be spotted mingling among the statues of the Yukinomiya Shrine, only coming out to cleanse the shrine of untenable snowfall, other debris, or particularly disruptive guests.
THEORIZED STORY | Recounted by Itoi Hidesaburō
Itoi Hidesaburō was a former, designated Gongūji of the Yukinomiya Shrine known for his grand, and often outlandish superstitions, which often got him into trouble with the designated Gūji. He would eventually get himself fired thanks in part to this trait, and little is known of him following this incident. What follows is a story he’d often tell during the tail-end of his employment.
“Indeed,” he’d often begin, “one night, and indeed, on a particularly cold one, a small band of drunkard business-folk wander into Byakuyakoku…”
They were acting as if they held a high degree of impunity; raucous laughter, vulgar speech, and general disrespect was rampant as they aimlessly maneuvered through the Monastery’s grounds, trampling plants, irreverently spectating and commenting on the shrine and its staff, and clumsily knocking over small statues, lanterns, and other items unfortunate enough to find themselves in the wake of the group.
“Good grief,” a gruff, older man at the head of the party grumbles at one of the others, “Why’d we come here again?”
A snivelling voice responds, “To speak with the great Inari Ōkami, so that our farms will prosper for the next cycle! We’ll be rich, sir!”
“Ah, yes, yes… -Hic. Wonderful.”
A third man added, “After this, I wager we’ll get a spiffy HQ in town…”
“You got that right, sir!”
The party continues in their clumsy march through Byakuyakoku until they find themselves trudging up the steps of the Yukinomiya shrine. The shrine, while obviously not dedicated to Inari, probably passed in the drunken minds of the group. At this point, the snivelling voice from before piped back up.
“If I’m not mistaken, this should be it, sirs..!”
“Good, let’s get this over with.” The gruff man bemoaned as he hobbled up the steps.
Once the party eventually reached the stop of the steps, they would gather themselves and catch their breaths. The trek so far had seemed terribly taxing on the men. During this time, the younger, and perhaps more starry-eyed members took in the sights with a childish awe, while the tired, and frankly more miserly drunks seemed to keep their eyes on the ground, attempting not to regurgitate that day’s dinner. In any case, once the party reasonably recuperated from the climb, the snivelly-voiced man took charge in the proceedings.
“Right..!” He proclaims, looking between his compatriots with an obnoxious smile. “To prosperity and riches?”
The rest, though not in the best shape, parrot him with as much enthusiasm as they could muster: “-...To prosperity and riches!”
The man then turns around once more, speaking loudly and with a tone of irreverence. As he spoke, he clapped. “O’ Inari Ōkami, please bless us! Bless us productive men for all of the good that we do with your blessings! We are the greatest example of your purpose! Please, wish us well in our endeavors, so we can become successful! The most successful! In Japan and the world!” He then bows, before blowing the largest statue a surely unwanted kiss.
This display seemed to bother even his companions, some of whom plugged their ears. The snivelling man paid this no credence, however.
The gruff man seemed particularly sour. “Good, god. Shut it, boy…”
The snivelling man snorted. “With this blessing, we are unstoppable, sirs.”
“Yes, yes, very well… Let’s–”
The gruff man stopped himself dead in his tracks as he noticed a five-tailed fox, fur white and silky, consumed in a faint, icy blue aura. The display caused many of the men to rub their eyes and shake their heads, as if they were under some hallucination. Though rest assured, it was no such thing. The snivelling man was the first to speak up.
“-Ohhh!” He examined the fox, taking a few steps towards it.
“You must be a messenger of Inari herself! Gods, we really have struck gold, sirs! Look, an envoy from the Kami herself! Please, Fox, extend our thanks to her and all she does!”
He then squats to attempt to pat the kitsune on the head, it nips near his hand in response. “Yikes! -I don’t mean to harm you, dumb thing… Regardless, we thank your master.” - “Come on, sirs!”
As the group turns, they begin to hear wild, sandpaper-esque noises from all directions.
The gruff man plugs his ears. “Good-ness, what is that..!?”
Another adds, “It’s terrible!”
Out from every conceivable angle came what initially seemed like brooms, wildly and violently sweeping the floor and the air in the group’s directions. Faces, though distorted, could be made out from the straw that comprised the vessels, all of which assumed ghastly, fearful, or angry expressions. They were rapidly approaching the party.
The snivelling man, who was perhaps the most sober, only let an ugly “Eugh..!?” escape his lips before he started to retreat down the steps. The others, fortunately or unfortunately, did not have quite as good of an opportunity. The less fortunate turned, and upon reaching the stairs, tumbled down the shallow steps in their uncoordinated retreat. They were quickly reached by the fast-approaching Hahakigami, and were carried by the sweeping. As the brooms progressed, all that was previously disgraced by the men was put back in its rightful place by Seizen no Byakko, who was following the brooms closely in tow.
Around half-way through his would-be escape, the snivelling man was finally caught by the brooms, letting out a frankly embarrassing squeal as he joined his companions in being swept off the premises. At the final staircase down, they were sent tumbling down to the bottom, and they were left there. At the end of this pursuit, the shrine was left in a finer condition than before, and none of those men would ever step foot near the Yukinomiya Shrine ever again.
WRITTEN ACCOUNT | Authored by Hasebe Kajiko
Hasebe Kajiko was a former Miko employed between 1869-1881. She was known for frequent, accidental run-ins with spirits, good and evil, during her tenure of residency within Byakuyakoku. What follows is an account from a diary she accidentally left behind after resigning from her post. Of course, it is unverifiable as fact.
Entry 168,
12 December 1880
It is of my belief that I’ve finally gazed upon the ‘Seizen no Byakko’ of Yukinomiya. This spirit has eluded me for some time, and truly, it is as magnificent as the existing records describe.
I had been about my usual duties, sweeping snow from the footpaths particularly. It was proving to be quite the challenge. As is typical for Byakuyakoku, the colder months are unforgiving with snow. The snow would rarely cease to stop falling, as was characteristic, and on the rare occasion that snow did indeed stop falling, the wind usually began to complicate things.
By the end of the second hour, I had begun to consider waiting for the weather to pass, the situation had become untenable and there was little I could do that would result in any good. As I lifted my broom, and as I began to return to my lodging, I began to hear a terrible, sandpaper-like gnashing, sweeping noises.
As I turn, it is at this point that I see Seizen no Byakko. Its six white, bushy tails and its silk-like white coat are precisely as the records describe, and a faint blue aura is also clearly present around the figure of Seizen no Byakko. Behind the spirit was a small collection of Hahakigami manically sweeping at the footpaths. They disappeared as quickly as they arrived, but the path was precisely perfect following their arrival. Not a flake of snow in view, and the clouds above the path dispersed for up to several hours afterward.
I find it likely that I was looked down upon kindly, or with pity, for my efforts. For this I am appreciative.
Written by: @Tourning