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Naryu — The Kitsunes Jewel and Key

Published: 2005-04-14 20:29:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 4488; Favourites: 168; Downloads: 153
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Description This was a commissioned piece for Solo and his Girlfriend, Lily. Solo asked for it for his one year anniversary with the sweetheart Lily. So here it is:
"The Kitsunes, Jewel & Key" aka "Kitsune-tachi to tama to kagi"

I know this will arise some 'cultural questions' about this picture, so please let me explain:

Q) OMGWTWFBBQ?! Nar, the anatomy is shit >O
A) Because those kitsune arent supposed to look realistic.
The foxes pictured here were based off the traditional Japanese paintings of them, foxes were pictures with "deer like" proportions, long swan like necks and limbs, very sleek 'spirit like' and elegant.

Q) What in the white foxes mouth?
A) that would be a key associated with the "key" to spiritual gateways.

Q) That is NOT a flaming pile of red steamy poo on Solo's chest or under lily's feet, those are jewels, they have deep meanings, their association with spirits, fertility, including both the womb and the testicles, and physical and spiritual wealth are also seen in relation to Inari.

Q) Whats the kanji on the red gateway say?
A) be damned if I know. @_@ It was taken off one of the many Torii (gateways) at the Fushimi Inari Jinja (shrine) Ideally i should have placed more thought/research into it.
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Comments: 22

Kuwaizair [2011-05-23 14:49:39 +0000 UTC]

so that is why they gave them weird bodies? the etchings and carvings and paintings of the foxes, their stylized shape?

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Amirit [2011-04-10 14:25:49 +0000 UTC]

Amazing!

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ZS3 [2010-10-08 03:10:39 +0000 UTC]

With jewel in heart.
And key in hand.
We unlock the 10,000 gates to the Aether.

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Nightkitsune9 [2010-09-30 22:56:21 +0000 UTC]

wow this is so cool. i like the design on the white ones chest. very well done!!!

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Aquaridragon [2009-08-21 11:59:40 +0000 UTC]

"The foxes pictured here were based off the traditional Japanese paintings of them, foxes were pictures with "deer like" proportions, long swan like necks and limbs, very sleek 'sprit like' and elegant"

Yes I agree that youve explained it very well there. And I love how authentic and close to it it looks here, I like the rounded tail tips and the shrin gate

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ac14ze [2007-05-03 20:46:15 +0000 UTC]

i like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Akamar [2006-09-02 14:25:07 +0000 UTC]

And the writing on each Torri gate is different. I suspect it has something to do with whoever comissioned it...

Or something like that...

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Akamar [2006-09-02 14:24:10 +0000 UTC]

Awww... I really did love the fushimi inari shrine... I remember thinking of it as I read your little Q&A.

Really, I think you captured it quite well.

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Maki-hoi [2006-07-13 11:30:29 +0000 UTC]

Finally some kitsune art which ISN'T of a girl/boy with fox ears and with actual reference to Japanese mythology.

The lines are so wonderfully clean and the soft colours really add the the picture.

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Lithium-WitchHazel [2006-05-07 03:26:21 +0000 UTC]

the kanji says the date: second year of the Heisei era, november, a day of luck. And I guess that last part is refering to the fact that up ahead is a building perhaps (it's the kanji for building, "tatemono" minus the -mono). Hope that helps ^^
I really like the style you used. I could tell right away that you were imitating the tradtional Japanese style for foxes. I love historical japanese art portraying animals. They bear little resemblence to their real animal counterparts, but have a great spiritual sence about them ^^

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euphorbic In reply to Lithium-WitchHazel [2006-07-17 04:25:05 +0000 UTC]

You're spot on for the date, as for the other two kanji, it is quite likely it is a business name; these gates are often donated by small and large businesses for luck. The date is likely the lucky day it was donated to the shrine.

I'm really glad to see such care taken to represent Inari's representatives. This is an excellent pic; I like how thought out it is and the colors you chose are excellent. I've never seen Inari or his messenger foxes with three tails before, but I think it looks very cool. Great work!

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zuruikitsune [2006-04-29 15:41:15 +0000 UTC]

awwwww this is really nice ^^

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TheMisfitDragon [2005-08-13 03:56:53 +0000 UTC]

Very cool piece. Looks like you put quite a bit of research into it.: ) Nice work!

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Edge-chan [2005-08-11 04:58:13 +0000 UTC]

wow!!! i love it!!! i really love the design

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animelily [2005-04-19 21:52:39 +0000 UTC]

kireina e ga tsukutte kurete arigatou. atarashii tomodachi nanoni, PRESENT wo kureyo. yasashii hito dane.

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zenithfoxie [2005-04-16 23:42:37 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful. <3

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kimikohime [2005-04-16 02:15:48 +0000 UTC]

that is awesome, Nar. It looks so authentic!

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Nashoba-Hostina [2005-04-15 19:45:47 +0000 UTC]

Wow, that's some uber-spiffy stuff. You make me want to study some Japanese art now... I love the jem and the little grey kitsune is just adorable... Great work, hon!

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cybre [2005-04-15 17:49:12 +0000 UTC]

Simply gorgeous... that's a must fave. There is beauty in simplicity and the Japanese have certainly mastered that.

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maned-wolf [2005-04-15 05:30:04 +0000 UTC]

oh theyre tails look puffy ^^ Id love to learn more about japanese culture.

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Baka-Ryu [2005-04-15 00:00:46 +0000 UTC]

SO COOL! It's all orientally and stuff!

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celticblack [2005-04-14 21:45:23 +0000 UTC]

I love this, I love the clean, simple but yet beautiful style to it. You make everything so elegant when you draw.

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