Kitsune Yosei (kìtsúné yòóséé)

Bian, Bich, Cam, Chau, Cuc, Hang, Hoa, Linh, Mai, Nguyet

Hien, Hung, Chih, Danh, Duc, Duong, Phuc, Quang, Thao, Trang

Binh, Hanh, Hau, Lanh, Long, Ngoc, Nhung, Vinh, Truc, Xuan

Lieu, Le, Dang, Bui, An, Banh, Tien, Ngo, Ho, Tran, Phuong, Su, Cao

Xiaoyu, which, itself, as a dialect of the spiritual tongue, Kuoyu.

Far to north, on the frozen steppe, on the outskirts of the steppe nomads' societies exists a little-known off-shoot of the fox elves called the Anh em Tuyết (Snow Brothers) in the elven tongue, the Unegnii Sünsnüüd (Fox Spirits) by the steppe tribesmen. Unlike their southern brothers and sisters, the northern fox elves never suffered in the great civil wars, and thus, didn't learn the same, painful lessons. Therefore, looking at the Snow Brothers' society is like looking through a window into the fox elves' past. The Snow Brothers tend to live in small, family units within small, stupa-like structures constructed over a small, underground warren. From these places, which dot the arctic landscape, they tend to serve the role of ancestral shamans to the nomad tribes. They tend to dress in the manner of the steppe peoples, in warm felts and hides, while eking out an existence from the arctic lands around them. Unlike their southern brothers, their ears are a bit smaller than a standard elf, with a more rounded tip, and their hair and tails are of a silvery-white color. They are also smaller and more compact, physically, rarely ever clearing a 5ft height. They value storytelling, magic, meat, and booze. The fox elf folk hero, Badma, was a transplant from the Snow Brothers.
All fox elves, regardless of geographic location, trace the origin of their species back to the Thiên cáo, the Celestial Fox Spirits. This fact has remained a cultural touchstone for all kitsune yosei from the Age of Breath when the first spirits decided to take on mortal forms and live within the beauty of the physical world to the modern day. The shared origins and reverence for their god-like ancestors has bridged many, specific, cultural gaps between the two ethnic groups and even between two disparate villages.
As well, the cultural hero, Badma, is another touchstone that is shared between all kitsune yosei. The specific details may differ between clans or villages, the overarching narrative of Badma is shared between them all.
The love of nature and the overall natural world is a trend that transcends every cultural group of elves. Whether they're descended from the spirits of wood, water, fox, or tanuki, every elf across the face of the empire has an abiding reverence for the natural places of the world. They were at one point a very intrinsic part of that natural world, and many would argue that they still are. The love of natural places isn't just an "elf thing" for the kitsune yosei, however. The serene beauty of natural places often serves as a calming counterpoint to some of the more horrific things they are forced to see while going about their daily lives. In this same vein, simple things of beauty, such as a child's laughter, can serve as a similar centering mechanism for the often-beleaguered fox elves.
While the Snow Brothers rarely truck in the trickster motif of their southern brothers (when the object of your lesson is an 800lb, 7ft tall yak-man, you tend to have second thoughts about it), it remains a powerful, cultural unifier for the southern fox elves. Riddles, tricks, and stories of past exploits are often traded between fox elves who come from villages distant to each other.
Loyalty is another shared, cultural trait. Loyalty to family, clan, and fox elves as a whole. Most kitsune yosei will act in the defense of another fox elf against even another elf. The ideal of loyalty and community among them runs deep. In part, this is why if an individual fox elf vouches for another, even a non-elf, their word is taken as bond. Which means, of course, that if the vouched-for friend proves false, any of his behavior is reflected upon the kitsune yosei who vouched for the guy and he will share in equal, if not greater, punishments.
The shared rivalry with the mao xiao also serves as a cultural touchstone amongst the disparate groups of fox elves. The eternal battle of wits, tricks, and one-upmanship has been passed down through both cultures for generations and has become an inherent part of their cultural heritage. Both species engage in playful competitions, trying to outsmart and outdo each other with their cleverness and cunning. These competitions can take various forms, such as prank wars, riddles, or contests of skill and agility. The rivalry has become such an integral part of their cultures that it is celebrated through folklore, games, and even an annual festival.

Like the other elven peoples, the fox elves place high value on wisdom and knowledge. They have the utmost respect for those who have lived long enough to garner wisdom. Even more respect for those who know that they still have much to learn. Therefore, education and the continuing pursuit of knowledge is one of the most important aspects of their society. Particularly in the young.
Adherence to tradition and the lessons of the past are another significant part of the kitsune society. When there is even the smallest likelihood that one could come face to face with an ancestor to answer for the shirking of cultural traditions, it tends to keep those traditions even more firmly in mind.
The importance of teaching those who find themselves in need of lessons in humility and mindfulness, and the importance of dealing with Yomi, itself, are central facets in the lives and society of these yosei. Some of the most highly regarded people amongst the fox elves are those that can deal with a snobbish minister in the local market without ever deviating from her errand. A true master of the fox elves' craft. 
It is, in fact, often these types of people, those who can deal with a troublesome ghost or a smug merchant, without missing a step, those who have demonstrably proven their own cunning, are those who hold the highest status and influence within the communities themselves. 
A prank is a prank. Yet, sometimes those without the proper experience or lacking in wit, may take things much too far. While the tales of malevolent fox spirits, particularly the gumiho, are told throughout the empire, the kitsune yosei's pranks are rarely about hurting anything aside from someone's dignity. When this does happen, stepping up and taking responsibility for one's actions is always encouraged. The youngster who is able to face their own mistakes and shortcomings is held in greater esteem by the community at large than one tries to place the blame on others.
To the kitsune yosei, all they really have is each other. Therefore, the ideal of community cooperation and collaboration is one of the most important values of the fox elves. It's why they build their homes the way that they do. It's why they place so much emphasis on trust and loyalty in interpersonal relationships. To their minds, nobody suffered more than they during the War of Tears, and they will never allow that to happen again.

Like much of the rest of the empire, regardless of individual race or ethnic group, respect and politeness are the hallmarks of fox elves' common etiquette. The backbone of this politeness is the use of courteous language and the appropriate honorifics when speaking to others. Especially strangers. The specific honorifics follow the same ones as the rest of the xiaoren language, reprinted here for ease of reference. Honorifics come before the name or title of the subject being addressed:

• Anh/Chị/Em: These terms are used to address individuals of a similar age or younger. "Anh" is used to address older males, "Chị" is used for older females, and "Em" is used for younger individuals of either gender.
• Ông/Bà: "Ông" is used to address an older man, while "Bà" is used to address an older woman. These terms are similar to "Mr." and "Mrs./Ms." in English.
• Cô/Dì: "Cô" is used to address a woman who is slightly older than the speaker but not old enough to be an aunt. "Dì" is used to address an aunt or a woman who is significantly older than the speaker.
• Chú/Bác: "Chú" is used to address an uncle or a man who is slightly older than the speaker but not old enough to be a grandfather. "Bác" is used to address an older man who is significantly older than the speaker.
• Thưa: "Thưa" is an honorific used to show respect when addressing someone of higher status, such as a teacher, an elder, or a person in authority. It is often used with their name or title, such as "Thưa thầy" (Dear teacher) or "Thưa ông/bà" (Dear sir/madam).
• Ông/Chị: "Ông" and "Chị" can be used as generic terms of respect for addressing an older man or an older woman, respectively, regardless of their specific relationship.

Though not as rigid or nuanced as, say, the wood elves, or even the Daiyin humans, the customary form of greeting among the kitsune yosei is to bow or, at least, give a slight nod of the head. When greeting someone of higher station, such as an elder, a full bow from the waist is the appropriate greeting.
Of course, again much as the rest of the empire, the respect for elders is paramount within the fox elves' society. This goes back to using the appropriate honorifics, speaking to them formally, and treating them with the utmost respect. It is considered to be quite rude to not offer tea to elders when they are visiting.
Being descended from the spirits of a more predatory species gives the kitsune yosei a bit more awareness of the space and territories of others. Even within the communal homes that most fox elves reside in, it is considered to be a massive breach of etiquette to enter into another's claimed space without an invitation.
Within that vein, it is polite to remove one's shoes before entering into the dwelling space of another fox elf, and it is considered to be polite for a guest to bring a small gift (such as food) as thanks for being allowed into another's territory.
When visiting temples or graveyards, it is considered appropriate to be well-groomed and dressed modestly for the occasion. In order to be respectful to the spirits and ancestors.
Dining etiquette among the fox spirits is much the same as it is for the other cultures throughout the empire. Wait for the eldest person at the table to begin eating. Serve others before serving yourself, or at the very least offer. Leave some small bit of food on your plate. Never point or gesture dramatically with chopsticks.
Due to their natures as natural mediums, kitsune yosei are encouraged to always try to treat the ghosts around them with the utmost respect and reverence. Every spirit is someone's ancestor, after all. This includes the use of polite language and appropriate honorifics.
Though every fox elf community is largely protected against the incursions of unwanted spirits, it is still expected that every elf within the Đồ Lâu maintain their seals and talismans on their own, personal, dwelling spaces. To allow their personal seals to decay and create a gap in the community's defenses against ghostly incursions is a considered to be a grave error.

The customary dress of the kitsune yosei is much as their river elf cousins with the main differences being that the fox elf dress is typically more conservative. While river elves tend to leave a lot of skin bare, particularly in the southern environs where the weather is warmer and more humid, fox elves leave more of their bodies to the imagination. Though nowhere near to the same extremes as their wood elf cousins. They will often cede to the climate during the hotter months of summer with looser, lighter, and more breathable clothing choices. The colors of the clothes tend to range from white to red.
The clothing for males is basically exactly the same as those worn by male river elves consisting of a long, robed tunic belted at the waist, loose trousers to cinched at the knee or ankle, with straw sandals or felt or leather shoes or boots in the winter. A conical straw hat is common headwear for protection from the rain or to keep the sun from biting into their fair skins.
For females, again, the dress is much the same as female river elves with the exception of the traditional halter top always being covered by either a long tunic or five-paneled dress. As well, pants of a rather tight fit are worn under the skirts during the colder winter months. One accession that the kitsune yosei females have made in regards to the usual cultures which surround them is in the form of so-called "Flower Shoes." These are shoes that are all the rage among the more well-to-do and socially upwards of imperial society. Shoes of more delicate and expensive fabrics than hemp, cotton, or leather, delicately embroidered with various flower motifs said to reflect the wearer's personality. Female fox elves are not much different than other females from around the empire, their clothing (within their means) tends to be more brightly colored and fancifully embroidered than the males. As well, many females tend to accessorize themselves with various bits of jewelry from hairpins, necklaces, rings, and sash pins.
One fashion accessory that is common to all of the kitsune yosei, regardless of gender, is a pair of jade earrings. Though the size, color, and style may differ from individual to individual, but the subject of the pieces is always the same: a talisman to ward against spiritual intrusion. These earrings are worn as a way to keep, not just the whispers of the spirit world to a low din, but to keep the yosei who wear them from being possessed.

Once, before the elven civil wars, the kitsune yosei were a much more individualistic group of people. Like their modern-day river elf and tanuki counter-parts. The wars taught them that reliance upon a community could keep them alive. It also taught them that the best ways to keep their new communities safe were to turn their homes into nominal fortresses.
The very first Đồ Lâu, or earthen buildings, were fortresses that had been abandoned or destroyed during the civil war. The fox elves then adapted the building methods to suit their own needs when they began constructing their own villages after the War of Tears. These villages are usually circular (though typical squared constructions do exist) and constructed of one, large communal structure surrounding an inner courtyard. The outer walls are usually two-to-three stories high and very thick, made of either fired brick, granite, or a composite of earth, sand, and lime, depending on the region it was built. Aside from the main gate, any openings in the outer facade are usually high up and narrow for defensive purposes.
Beneath the main building, the structure dives another three to four stories underground in a series of reinforced, interconnected halls, rooms, and storehouses, where much of the day-to-day living is done. Food is stored in the cool, lower level of the structure to stave of spoiling. While much of the actual homes are constructed in the levels between. Much of the communal areas such as shops, kitchens and other necessities like bathhouses are constructed on the above-ground floors with the top floor being used for storage of weaponry. Just in case.
Within the central courtyard are the gardens, a communal hall, the temple, some more storehouses, and a well, itself covered in a stone facade to prevent contamination from outside sources.
The earthen walls of the underground living spaces are sealed and reinforced with the same composite of earth, sand, and lime sometimes used for the outer walls to keep out moisture. This mixture, both for the inner and outer walls, is often mixed with wood dust from mulberry trees as well as dried, crushed berries and leaves, as it is believed among the elven peoples that mulberry trees ward of malevolent spirits.
The completed walls are then either carved and painted or paneled in wood and hung with various knickknacks and pieces of art. Much of these decorations depict scenes from the Shinkai, kitsune or spirit ancestors, scenes of daily life, nature scenes, and fox elf folk heroes such as Badma. Scenes and subjects typically focused on within kitsune yosei artworks.

Being descended from the spirits of a canid species, the senses of smell and taste of a kitsune yosei are typically more sensitive than the average imperial inhabitant. This means that the fox elves' palates are ordinarily more refined than a lot of folks around them. For this reason, they typically eschew overpowering or heavier tastes within their cuisine and go for more subtle, delicate, and natural flavors of the dishes that they cook. They use only gentle seasonings and are quite precise in their cooking techniques to bring out the true flavors of their food.
Though they prefer a protein-heavy diet, especially wild game, they tend to incorporate ingredients from the environments around them. Things such as wild herbs, mushrooms, edible flowers, and wild vegetables from the forests, meadows, and bodies of water around their walled villages. They'll even supplement their protein intake with invertebrates such as crickets, ants, mealworms, or silkworms pupae. These are usually fried or steamed in the case of the silkworms. Though the latter tends to be fairly expensive given its necessity to sericulture so is only consumed on special occasions such as the New Year. Where it is consumed to represent rebirth and new beginnings.
They typically use all the same cooking techniques as the rest of the peoples of the Middle Empire. Techniques such as stir-frying, steaming, grilling, and fermentation techniques to create a diverse array of flavors and textures to their foods.

Izanami da Bien-Mat: Kitsune yosei recognize the first full moon after the harvest, also known as the blood moon, to be the date that the original goddess, Izanami, died and descended into Yomi to become the goddess of death, the empress of yin. This is the first full moon of the First Month of Metal, or the tenth month on the imperial calendar. While most of the empire observes this solemn occasion three months earlier on the seventh month, or the First Month of Earth, during the Hungry Ghost Festival, the fox elves know that the blood-red moon signaling the beginning of autumn is the true date of the goddess' passing. During the entire phase of the moon, the fox elves' temples remain closed to all but the priests and shrine maidens, while most of the citizenry stays indoors in a period of meditation and reflection, and only going out when necessary. It is thought that, during this time, the servants of Izanami are particularly active, and going out attracts their attention unnecessarily. Therefore, if going out is unavoidable, the kitsune yosei don the yellow masks of the tenko in order to fool the servants into passing them by. The end of the the three day period is celebrated with a small feast with foods symbolizing long-life and prosperity.
Cáo-Lửa lễ Hội: This festival directly precedes the one for Izanami. It takes place in the last month of Earth after the last rice harvest. Inari is the god of rice and is celebrated as a patron of the fox elves even above Okuninushi, the ruler of the kunitsukami, the shinkai, and considered to be the god of elves by default. Called the Foxfire Festival, it celebrates both Inari and the spirit ancestors of the fox elves. Of particular reverence for the fox elves is Công-Chúa Cáo, or Otohime Kitsune. Though her real name has long-since been lost to the past, she is revered as one of the first kitsune to achieve the coveted byakko status and serve Inari. She is also said to be the direct ancestor to several kitsune yosei family lines. Many shrines are adorned with her image placed prominently.
During the festival, the kamunushi and miko don silver and gold tenkogitsune masks, respectively, to symbolize the dual nature of Inari. Offerings of đậu rán, or friend tofu, are made to the ancestors. The miko dances the sacred kagura dedicated to the rice god while the kamunushi plays for her.
The high point of the festival comes after the sacred dance when the children don the red and white kiko masks and the adults wear the red masks of nogitsune. The children are then given small sacks of rice to take to the shrine as offerings of thanks and continued prosperity. All the while, trying to avoid being caught and "tricked" by the wild foxes. It is believed that the more rice that makes it to the shrine to offer, the better the harvest will be the next year.
Zhangyuan or Obon: Like the other elves, the kitsune yosei call this festival Tết Trung Nguyên. It is celebrated empire-wide and is thought to be the day when hell's gates are opened and the hungry ghosts are allowed to roam the living world looking for appeasement. The fox elves know this to be at once both true and false. However, they celebrate the day by wearing the red and white fox masks and divulging their services as mediums for free to both the dead and the living.
Dám Cưới Cáo: Throughout the empire, sun showers, are known as Kitsune no Yomeiri or Húlí de hūnlǐ, "Fox Weddings," due to the general belief that on days when it rains and the sun is shining, foxes are celebrating a wedding. The foxes' descendants, the fox elves, consider these days to be particularly auspicious and will endeavor to do anything that may benefit from an extra dose of luck on these days.
True Fox Weddings, however, are held predominantly at night during the months when the foxfires are particularly visible; the months of Wood and the months of Fire. The ceremonies are typically held deep in the forests where the witch lights can surround the gathered parties. The more foxfires which appear around the wedding party, it is believed the more auspicious the match. If the wedding party happens to meet a true kitsune wedding party on the march back home, then all the better.
Cuộc Chiến Gấu Trúc Cáo: There is a yearly festival, much like the sumo matches of the sourthern provinces, that takes place between the kitsune yosei and the hao xiao. Taking place in the late Wood, early Fire seasons, after the spring planting, the Fox-Tanuki Battle is a two-week long festival where the local populations of fox and tanuki elves come together to perpetuate their eternal rivalry in a contest festival.
A site is chosen by both parties beforehand, then the individual gods of each village are carried to the site in mikoshi, and housed in temporary shrines built on-site. This part of the festival is treated much like a parade with participants and spectators chanting and banging drums and playing pipes. If the two parties happen to meet each other on the road to the site, a mock battle might begin en route with the bearers and shrines jostling each other aside to make it to the battle site first. Though the "fight" can get quite rough, it is considered bad form to actually hurt another bearer or break a mikoshi.
Once the site is reached, preferably near water where shrines and participants may be purified, and camp is set up, the next two weeks are devoted to daily "battles" between the participants. The actual events can vary between participants from village to village or year to year, but they generally involve contests of wits, skill, magic, and, sometimes, martial prowess. Every once in a while, an actual mock battle with small armies may even take place. The contests held, though, tend to involve those things attributed to their spirit ancestors: typically cleverness, trickery, illusion, and shape-changing.
The end of the two weeks, once all the contests are done, and winners decided, tends to devolve into one, long, raucous party with lots of food and booze, good-natured mocking of the losers, and a nominal Night Parade back home.
The camellia flower, specifically the white variety known as "tsubaki," is often linked to kitsune. It is believed that kitsune have a strong affinity for camellia flowers, and these flowers are often used as offerings in household shrines, at temples, and even in charms, whether in effigy or real, to invite the protection of the kiku ancestors.

Upon first discovering that she is pregnant, a female fox elf will visit the closest shrine dedicated to a god or goddess of childbirth to give her thanks for the blessing and to ask for the healthy development and birth of her child. After which, she will either make or buy from a priest several protective amulets made of mulberry wood to wear on her wrists in order to protect the child within her from ghosts and malevolent forces. Some women have even been known to go as far as copying the red pregnancy band worn by Daiyin women and spread a paste of crushed mullberries and leaves underneath in an attempt to protect their child.
Once three months have passed during the pregnancy, the fox elf woman and her mate will announce the pregnancy to their family and friends. This is usually everyone within a Đồ Lâu, after which a celebratory feast is generally had.
Expectant mothers are encouraged to eat healthy, nutritionally balanced foods in order to encourage the development of the baby. Fox elf women, in particular, are encouraged to eat as many protein-rich foods as possible, including poultry and fowl. Any form of fried tofu is also considered to be extremely beneficial for the mother and child, as well, due to its connection to the ancestors. They are, however, discouraged from eating overly spicy foods, as it is believed that it could cause harm to the developing baby.
There are also several proscriptions against pregnant women within general, elven culture. Such as: avoid entering temples or other sacred spaces. As it is believed that the energies within these sacred spaces and the energies involved in pregnancy may disrupt each other and cause harm. Pregnant women are discouraged from being involved in funerary processes as the negative energies involved with these practices could harm the mother and the baby. For much the same reason, pregnant women are to avoid touching dead animals of any sort. Therefore, working in the kitchens is a definite no-go. In the relatively rare instances of a lunar or solar eclipse during pregnancy, elven women are discouraged from going outside during such times to avoid these inauspicious events.
The birth, itself, is attended only by the females of the Đồ Lâu, at least one of which will be a midwife. Once the baby is actually born, the midwife cuts the cord with a small knife made of fox bone and then spreads a bit of mulberry poultice upon the child's brow. This is to help protect it for the next thirty days while it and its mother rests. During the time of birth, the immediate family not within the birthing chamber, i.e. the males, will busy themselves at the temple or family shrine making intercessory prayers on behalf of the mother and child to come through the labor safely and healthy.
Much like the Dàyáng humans, elven women are expected to rest for thirty days after the birth of their child. They are to avoid going out and any strenuous activity. Called nằm chừng in elven, the period is believed to help the mother and child recover and bond with the infant. This is something that is readily practiced throughout the elven world. The main difference between the kitsune nằm chừng and the "sitting in" practiced by other races is that the mother is not forbidden from touching water. Being of yin alignment, bathing, washing, or otherwise being in contact with water is considered to be beneficial to both mother and child. This is the same practice used by their cousins, the kawa yosei. Though they tend to take it to more extremes.
Dietary practices for the nằm chừng is much the same as it was during the pregnancy. Chicken, boiled or soup, freshwater fish, steamed or boiled, bone broth, grains such as rice, millet, or wheat, dark, leafy greens such as bok choy, (Chinese) yam, red dates, and sesame seeds, walnuts, and almonds are typically recommended for women at this stage. Even those females of the wood elves are encouraged to eat the prescribed meat during the sitting in process.
After about three months, after it is confirmed that the child is relatively healthy, the baby is taken to the community shrine to be introduced to the gods and ancestors and is given his or her first name. This is followed by a general celebration of the mother and the baby, with foods symbolic of long life and joy being served, along with rice and fried tofu. The baby is given small gifts, such as small talismans symbolizes long life, health, and luck, or small fox charms. This is also when the baby will get their first earring charms to ward off malevolent spirits.

When a young elf reaches the ages of 80-90 (approx. 15-16) years of age for a female, and 100-110 years of age for a male, they are considered to have reached their age of majority and are ready for their coming of age ceremonies to enter into adulthood. These ceremonies follow many of the same cues as similar ceremonies across the face of the empire. Among these elves, these ceremonies are called Lễ thành niên for boys, and Tuổi cập kê for girls.
These ceremonies are hosted either by the father or the mother, respectively, at the Đồ Lâu's ancestral shrine. For at least a decade before this ceremony, the elven youngsters would have been learning a trade or skill under one of the other adults in the compound. This adult would be selected as the honored guest to perform the rite for the child. 
Once at the shrine, the young one is ceremonially changed into adult clothing with the help of the appropriate parent. They then offer incense, sacrifices, and prayers to the ancestors, before giving a ceremonial demonstration of their skill. If the elf is entering academia and the Bureaucracy, his or her academic accomplishments and enrollment into the National Academies will be acknowledged.
Once they have officially demonstrated their abilities to succeed to the gathered adults and ancestors, the boy's hair is usually bound up and he is given a ceremonial hat appropriate to his career choice, while the girl's hair is brushed out and gathered up into a bun before being pinned there with a hairpin given to her by her mother. The boy or girl then bow, again, to their parents and to the ancestors, and finally write their own name into their family registries. 
This coming of age right is typical among the various elven ethnicities. There is one major difference between the common rite and that performed by the kitsune yosei. The night before the actual ceremony is to take place, the elf children are taken to a place known to attract ghosts: a graveyard outside the compound, ancient battlefield, etc. Once there, they are stripped of any protective talismans, including their earrings, and made to wait there, in meditation, through the deepest part of the night. The adults wait nearby in order to keep watch over the child to make sure they follow the rituals proscriptions, or to protect them if it comes to that. If the child can wait through the darkest part of the night without acknowledging the ghosts which will invariably be drawn to them, they are considered ready to actually go through with the coming of age ritual, itself.

Though many of the same customs and rites apply to the fox elves, as they do the majority of peoples, there are certain differences in the details of the way that their funerals are conducted. First, it must be understood that all elves, as a tradition, hide their faces from death. The elven participants in any funeral procession will always don traditional masks coinciding with their natures before participating. Even the deceased is put in a mask before the procession in an elven funeral. This is done to symbolize the deceased returning to their true kami nature upon being released from their earthly body. The kitsune yosei are no different.
Before the procession, a red and white kiku mask is put on the deceased to symbolize them becoming one of Inari's servants and a revered ancestor. Upon joining the procession, each of the participants dons the red nogitsune masks to symbolize their still base and earthly natures. While the officiating priest wears the silver ginko or the gold kinko fox mask to symbolize his or her closeness to the gods. 
Much like fox weddings, their funerals also commonly take place at night, and the funeral procession to the cremation site is surrounded by the multicolored balls of foxfire, provided by the priest, to light the procession. Once at the cremation site, the priest causes the small fireballs to congregate around the deceased and become a blazing, multicolored, bonfire which cremates the body until all that is left is bone and ash. 
The funeral then proceeds in much the same way as all other funerals. The bones and ash are gathered up and put into an urn and then taken back to the compound and interred beneath the family's gravestone.

There are many taboos that the peoples across the empire share. Then there are, of course, culturally and ethnically specific taboos which only belong to those groups. Some of the more common ones among kitsune yosei are:
Avoiding Whistling at Night: Whistling at night is believed to attract the attention of malevolent spirits or bad luck.
Not Pointing at the Moon: Because the moon is not just a symbol of Tsuki-yomi, but also a symbol of spirits and the spirit world, pointing directly at the moon is considered disrespectful and could lead to bad luck.
Not Stepping on Thresholds: Stepping on thresholds is believed to disrupt the flow of positive energy and bring bad luck to the household.
Not Stepping on Shadows: Fox elves should be cautious not to step on their own shadows or the shadows of others, as it is believed to invoke unwanted attention from spiritual beings or bring about unforeseen consequences.
Avoiding Direct Eye Contact: Fox elves should avoid direct eye contact with individuals for prolonged periods, as their gaze is believed to have the potential to influence or manipulate others unintentionally. This is done more to avoid misunderstandings with others than to avoid undue influence on other people.

Fox elves of both sexes adore a quick wit and a playful nature. As well, both males and females find a certain, palpable, aura of mystery around a subject to be the height of enticement in a potential partner. Much like their cousins of the water, elegance and grace are traits that are particularly admired. With the raw, graceful movements of a hunter being especially sought after.
As far as physical attributes go, wide, intense, golden eyes with just a hint of mischief; pale skin the color of the finest porcelain; hair the color of burnished copper, short on males, long and flowing on females; elegant, conical ear shapes with silky fine hair at the tips along with earrings which off-set the skin color and complement the ear fur; sharp, vulpine facial features which bring to mind the ancestors; and finally, a silken, well-maintained tail, free of snarls or burls, completes the beauty ideals of the kitsune yosei.

Empire-wide, the fox elves are known for their cunning and wit. This wouldn't be possible without those, particular traits, being valued in both genders. Whether male or female, the appreciation for sharp minds, fleetness of thought, and the ability to outsmart those around them, is universal among them. Charm and allure are the hallmark of many of the fox legends which abound through the empire, and the kitsune yosei endeavor to embody this charm in their daily lives. Therefore, an individual who shows these admirable traits would be considered an ideal partner. 
In this same vein, among males, the ideal female is alluring even in her language. A woman who has the capacity to move beyond the overall yin nature of the ethnic group, to sway others through passion, or even through casual conversation, can display the yang energy of females the world over, can capture the hearts of any male in her vicinity.
Among the race, males are known for their mental acuity, while females are known for their emotional adaptability. Therefore, men who can display a quickness of thought, and women who quickly adapt themselves to changing situations without being overwhelmed, are considered to be the perfect pairing.

During courtship, intellectual and emotional compatibility are extremely important. Therefore, it's not odd to see a kitsune couple engaging in clever wordplay, exchanging riddles, or completing puzzles would not be out of the ordinary. 
As time goes on and the compatibility has been assured, the relationship may turn...playful...in the way of the fox elves. This part of the courtship also serves as a test, of sorts, of the partners' wits, resourcefulness, and adaptability. These nominal tests may consist of playful teasing, light pranks, and small tricks meant to measure the partner's responses and gauge their tractability with each others' way of doing things. This is probably the most important part of the courtship dance the kitsune yosei play. Certain pranks, jokes, playful or not, can strain the bonds between two people. If one or the other of the courting fox elves either take things too far or react badly to an overall playful joke things are ended. Right then and there.
Those fox elves of a more mystical bent, may draw inspiration from the legends of their forebears by trying to impress their new partner with dazzling displays of illusory magic or even using it more subtle ways to enhance a romantic mood.
Probably the penultimate stage of a kitsune yosei's courtship is the exchanging of gifts with a personal, symbolic meaning to them. For many kitsune, these might be small keepsakes from a particularly memorable prank they've pulled in their past, or even something from the first prank they ever did. For others, it could be something they were gifted from a deceased parent or from their first interaction with one of the wandering dead. The particular form doesn't matter overmuch, it's the sentiment and meaning behind the gift which makes it appropriate.

Harsh lessons were learned by all the elven people after the War of Nine Tidings. Most of the elven societies still carry the scars into the present day. Despite it having happened before even humanity walked the face of the empire. One of those things that the kitsune yosei, themselves, learned was that they could only really count on themselves. This is reflected in all of their rather loose-knit society. From their art to their architecture to their very courtship rituals, themselves. 
Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to the fox elves that they find a partner who is not only compatible mentally, emotionally, and physically, but that they find a relationship where there is a strong connection, a true sense of mutual understanding, and true companionship. This is another thing that the prank stage of courtship is meant to test.  Due to their relatively fringe status within the overall imperial society, trust and loyalty are two of the most highly valued assets of any relationship. Foxes mate for life, and kitsune yosei aren't any different. When one measure their lifespan in centuries, rather than years, you have to know that your chosen partner has your back against all things. 
From the above entries, it can be extrapolated that the other ideals in any fox elf relationship to be that of intellectual stimulation, playfulness, and a strong sense of adventure.