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The Lounge => Kitsune Discussion => Topic started by: Inari Kitu on Sep 25 2007, 01:46 AM

Title: the ten oaths
Post by: Inari Kitu on Sep 25 2007, 01:46 AM
Ok, I know this isn't the place for 'serious' discussion, but the serious place (Kitsuhana) doesn't have anything remotely approaching an answer to this, and as it's RP related I think this forum is more appropriate ~_^

I run a kitsune character in RP on a mush who has recently been blessed with twin daughters. As a member of clan Inari, she is a myobu kitsune, and of course wishes her daughters to become so as well. It's the tradition of her family to have something a bit like a 'christening' for new kits where the parents stand in for them in the taking of the Ten Oaths to Inari. (I'm assuming everyone familiar with the myobu are also familiar with the fact that the first kitsune servants of Inari took ten oaths of service and were granted the shelter and power of Inari's shrines) The kits themselves will take the oaths at their coming of age ceremony, but for now this makes them 'honorary' myobu until they're old enough to actually work in Inari's service.

Now I have a lil question... I've searched literally hundreds of sites focusing on kitsune, and while they universally agree that the original myobu kitsune took ten oaths to Inari, none of them have anything about what those ten oaths actually were. One site said these formed the basis of the bushido code, but I researched that as well... Bushido has only 4 oaths, and none of them mention Inari.

In a worst case scenario, I'll improvise and make up oaths that seem appropriate, but if anyone can actually tell me where to find accurate info on the ten oaths, it'd be much appreciated. Also, if you've got an idea for an oath (if we can't find out the 'real' ones) go ahead and post it. Who knows, maybe it'll make it into my kits' myobu ceremony ^_^
Title: the ten oaths
Post by: PrinceKuro on Nov 01 2007, 07:14 PM
I know a few...I think.
The oath to follow orders to the best of our ability,
oath not to turn on our fellow myobu unless ordered to,
oath not to use violence whenever possible,
oath never to make ourselves unnecessarily known,
oath not to use illusion or skills unless necessary,
oath to represent the Courts and especially the court of Inari-sama in a proper manner,
oath to protect humans and spirits alike, reguardless of "sides" or "opinions," and without expecting anything in return
oath not to do things solely for personal gain.

At least, I'm 85% sure those are eight of them.  I KNOW they're at least our virtues.

And this would've been fine in Kitsuhana.  We do take oaths, though I'm not sure if they're set in stone or not.
Title: the ten oaths
Post by: Shiori on Nov 03 2007, 03:27 PM
I am not sure I agree with these 'oaths" it makes some seem like slaves (no offence) obay orders?.. um ya.
Title: the ten oaths
Post by: TalonShadowfox on Nov 06 2007, 05:55 PM
perhaps the oaths don't have to have anything to even do with inari

rather they could be a code of conduct or a series of laws which the kitsune in question is honor (and possibly) spirit bound to obey and up hold perhaps in this way they are in fact based off the bushido code (code of the samurai if i recall correctly) its also entirely possible that only half of the oaths are from the bushido and the other half are based off of Shinto, Tao, or Buddhist principles, if not you can always use those for your own ^^
Title: the ten oaths
Post by: PrinceKuro on Nov 16 2007, 06:58 PM
Quote
I am not sure I agree with these 'oaths" it makes some seem like slaves (no offence) obay orders?.. um ya.
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Umm, that's why they're taken by MYOBU.  People who choose to serve  inari-sama. not nogitsune or the like.  -.-;
Title: the ten oaths
Post by: ReiTsukikage on Apr 19 2008, 04:45 AM
an oath to a kitsune isn't a strict rule but more like a suggested guide line.. and from what i've heard is that kitsune normally only serve under inari as a way to gain penance for particularly bad screw ups

if it's RP related i remember the hengeiyokai passage of the Nagah stating that it was very particularly hard to judge kitsune as they them selves dont hold tight to what they consider right and wrong

for sure though i do know one thing that all kitsune abide by

no suicide as it's a common known fact that a kitsune must die for one to be born.


other things are really open to interpretation as is the common nature of the kitsune, which is another one of the tennents  that kitsune stay true with as well,

 i have a book some where and i know it has a lot more but i have to dig it up, but bushido? thats a rediculous thing for most kitsune to even begin to consider remeber bushido has budhist origins where as the japanese kitsune and inari and or dakiniten(a more Buddhist hybrid incarnation of inari ) are stemmed from shinto which in it self lends out a more flexible nature then the earlier mentioned

Rei
Title: Re: the ten oaths
Post by: Tashiro on Aug 02 2013, 07:58 AM
The Shinri Kyo sect of Shinto has these ten precepts - the oaths you take before joining.
1. Do not transgress the will of the gods.
2. Do not forget your obligations to ancestors.
3. Do not offend by violating the decrees of the State.
4. Do not forget the profound goodness of the gods through which calamities and misfortunes are averted and sickness is healed.
5. Do not forget that the world is one great family.
6. Do not forget the limitations of your own person.
7. Do not become angry even though others become angry.
8. Do not be sluggish in your work.
9. Do not bring blame to the teaching.
10. Do not be carried away by foreign teachings.

#3 was probably introduced when Shinto became the state religion.  It does have some bearing though on the Japanese mentality - the duty to your lord outweighs your personal desire.

#10 was possibly introduced because of the intrusion of either the Buddhist religion, or the Christian religion.  Either way, this would make sense.

Also... a shot in the dark:  When the book on kitsune mentioned thirteen types of kitsune, it may have been related to the 13 sects of Sect Shinto ( Fuso-kyo, Taisha-kyo, Jikko-kyo, Konko-kyo, Kurozumi-kyo, Misogi-kyo, Ontake-kyo, Shinri-kyo, Shinshu-kyo, Shinto Shusei-ha, Shinto Taikyo, Taisei-kyo, Tenri-kyo )

Hope this helps.