An Eagle to Protect the Home from Foxes

Here’s a print to protect a house from fox spirits. An eagle holds down a beautiful girl with its talons, having caught the fox spirit which possessed her in its beak. The Chinese translates:  

A divine eagle with an iron beak catches vixens. Ghosts and demons dare not face it, and evil spirits cannot withstand it. People should buy these prints to put up in their homes. Their protection will ensure a peaceful household all year round. The people within will prosper, and their wealth and happiness increase every year.  

Cheng Yizhai, Wuqiang (武強 承埶齋)

Fox spirits were mischevous and spiteful creatures who were dangerous to cross, but might bring great riches to those who befriended them. In some parts of China their flaming red tails were blamed for starting house fires; elsewhere they guarded the seals of government officials.  

Vixens played the part of vampires in Chinese lore, taking the shape of beautiful young women and luring men into having excessive, fatal sex with them in order to absorb their victim’s “yang” essence and prolong their own lives. In legend, a female fox named Daji bewitched the last Shang king, turning him into a cruel tyrant and precipitating his overthrow by the rising Zhou dynasty in 1050 BC. Not surprisingly, the Female Fox Spirit is the patron deity of brothels.  

On the other hand, possession by a male fox spirit often brought great benefits to the medium – there’s a great article about modern fox cults here.  

The Cheng Yizhai workshop at Wuqiang is run by master craftsman Ma Xiqin (马习钦; born 1959). This print is a modern recut, with slightly different text, of a Qing-dynasty version originally issued by the Zhonghesheng Studio (忠合盛畫店).