also: にんこ
fox spirit that possesses people
A type of fox spirit (kitsune) believed to possess humans, especially associated with the Chūgoku region of Japan. Often linked to folk beliefs about spirit possession and illness.
In the Chūgoku region, it was believed that a hitogitsune would possess people.
Some said her strange behavior was the work of a hitogitsune.
Standard kanji form for the common reading ひとぎつね.
Alternate reading にんこ; less common and may be encountered in older or regional texts.
Compound of 人 (hito, 'person') and 狐 (kitsune, 'fox'), with rendaku voicing. The reading にんこ uses the on'yomi of both characters. The term likely originated in regional folklore to describe a fox spirit that attaches itself to humans.