White wolves with red markings from Japan?

[ægis]

I've always been curious about these, they keep showing up. I don't remember where I first saw one, but I have a few examples now.

#1: Madara from natsume no yuujinchou

(Great anime btw)

#2: Amaterasu froom the ookami video games:


#3: And now our own wolf:


Does anyone have any more examples or maybe an explanation for this? Where do they come from? I think it has something to do with shinto, but I am only a student of the language and don't know very much.

[Hermione Granger]

well i know they r called kitsunes...and are acosiated with death i believe

[ægis]

Well, actually, Kitsune is the japanese word for fox, if you have heard them reffered to as such, then it would be the brown version of this pet. The myths surrounding them involve multiple tails that go up to nine, when they are the most powerful. And I think that Bakeneko/Nekomata are the spirits actually associated with death, and they're cats. Thanks for posting, though.

[Sunfang]

"In Japan, the color red is associated closely with a few deities in Shinto and Buddhist traditions, and statues of these deities are often decked in red clothing or painted red. There are many clues that underpin the red association. The most compelling clues involve demon quelling and disease (e.g., smallpox, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, measles). According to Japanese folk belief, RED is the color for "expelling demons and illness"............."

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/color-red.html

In the Shinto religion, white symbolizes purity, so it would make sense Ammy and the others you listed were white and red.

I'm not sure on the markings though, I haven't really looked into it.
The markings could just be traditional folk design.
edit:
Now that I think about it, the ? looking designs on the CS pet and the fire looking thing (lol) by it do more than likely symbolize something. I've seen them before on tons of other games, japanese folk and traditional art, and even animes on Adult Swim.

edit:
All I can seem to find on 'swirls' is the magatama, which were 'beads' used in pray, offerings, and royalty.
The ones by the CS pets, and of other demons in Ookami and folk art... I'm not sure. They may be some kind of religious seal or symbol meaning ghost, demon or such.
I'm not sure. I've been wanting to know for a while now if they mean anything.

I'm probably sounding like an idiot, but oh well, I hope I helped a little.


But yes, you're right about the Shinto. XD

An has for why wolves, i believe I read somewhere, in Japan, wolves symbolize 'hero/heroism'.


Has for examples, I know in the horror/survival PS2 game Kuon you can summon a white paper wolf.