A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Two fox brothers prepare to visit humans in human form, making false treasures and clothing from leaves and false food from tree gum. The watching mole-god answers their deception by making a place resembling a human village. He takes the appearance of a very old chief, turns crows and other birds into human-shaped householders, and manufactures fine objects from leaves and herbs. His food, however, is made from mulberries and grapes. The foxes enter, sell their goods and enjoy a dance, during which the transformed birds begin flying despite their human forms.

The brothers return for more of the delicious food, still thinking that they have visited people. The mole now receives them alone in a large golden house, appearing as a venerable god. He reveals both his identity and their deception, forbids them to continue assuming human shapes, and offers access to fruit instead. The foxes obey and thereafter share the fruit dropped by crows. This is a particular teller’s account of the animals’ feeding relationship. It does not establish the mole as the creator of every village or revoke shape-changing from foxes in other stories.

Assumed elderly human appearanceBirds given human formsConstructed village and treasures
01

Origins & earliest records

Ainu oral narrative in Chamberlain’s historical English collection

02

Records & interpretation

Complete numbered tale, ending, attached notes, title and collection introductions read; teller and recording method retained.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Aino Folk-Tales

    Basil Hall Chamberlain, collector and English translator; narrative by Ishanashte · 1888

    xi, The two Foxes, the Mole, and the Crows, pp.14–16; Ishanashte, 11 November1886; labelled translated literally. Folk-Lore Society XXII. Page markers from the English transcription, not independent scan collation.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Complete English narrative and edition context read

Aino Folk-Tales

Basil Hall Chamberlain; Folk-Lore Society XXII,1888; introductionEdwardB.Tylor. xi, The two Foxes, the Mole, and the Crows, pp.14–16

Complete cache chamberlain-aino-11.txt; master chamberlain-aino.html/.txt. Ishanashte, 11 November1886; labelled translated literally. Actual Ainu original not collated. Source-specific divine or transformed identity; no genericJapanese/Chinese identification. Preface distinguishes male named informants, memory and literal methods, and separately expurgated illustrated adaptations.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical English record of a named Ainu tellingChamberlain, Aino Folk-Tales — xi, The two Foxes, the Mole, and the Crows, pp.14–16Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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