Chinese Folklore: Fox Fairies
Much like all mythologies and mythological beings, the Chinese “fox fairies” or “fox spirits” (huli jing) vary greatly from version to version, region to region, myth to myth. Some say they are "yaojing" (demon fairies), some say they are magical creatures and animal guides.
Similar to the Japanese kitsune, the Chinese fox fairies are shapeshifting nature spirits of the wild, who may be either benevolent or malevolent, depending on the stories, the locations, what they represent, how/when they appear, and the roles they play in regards to the humans they interact with. And their moods, basically. They are as multifaceted and multidimensional as deities. Foxes in Chinese culture are thought of as cunning, unpredictable, mischievous, and free spirited. Fox fairies are believed to be similar in these traits.
Most often believed to be female, they appear as foxes in various colors (commonly white, black, and red) when in their animal forms, and are able to take various human forms, transforming back and force at will. They can look like beautiful women who will in turn seduce powerful men, or they can be kind and loving motherly figures as guardians or parental figures. They can also possess humans and take over their bodies. Some of them are said to be disciples and/or priestesses of goddesses, whose duties are to carry out the wills of their mistresses in the mortal realm.
Perhaps the most famous type of fox fairies that appear in Chinese literature and folklore are the nine tailed foxes (jiu wei hu), who, depending on the context and circumstance, can be good or bad omens. In some lores, it is said that they gain their nine tails by one thousand years of spiritual growth and self cultivation. By the time one acquires their ninth tail at the thousandth year mark, they are able to achieve eternal divinity and immortality. The nine tailed foxes are often venerated as creatures of wisdom, shrewdness, and foresight. Some believe them to be auspicious signs of good news, achievement, and abundance. Some even say that nine tailed foxes are actually deities disguised as foxes.