Note:
For new readers, This is a lore-heavy chapter. (Connecting Real Japanese history+real Japanese folklore+ Jujutsu Kaisen verse+ my fiction)
For previous readers, I realised I made some mistakes in the interpretations of some things previously .
Apologies for the disturbance and sudden n simultaneous changes, (I'm still learning) and thankyou for reading!
I used Wikipedia and google sites and AI assistant interpretations and some historical books to copy paste most of the things and researching exact facts in this chapter, because I needed correct data even while making fictional story (though i never get the correct data fully)👁️
Other than this, every chapter is my own creation.
Now,
I need to tell you all about Japanese folklore and history (read: I'm worried that you may not know the folklore exactly, and I'm going to tell you for understanding at deeper level, and correct the previous misinterpretations)
I'll tell ya about few major things:
1- Lady Kuzunoha
2- Abe no Seimei (reality and myths)
3- The Nine-Tailed Fox
4- Sugawara no Michizane
5- The relation of Abe no Seimei (and his descendants) with Sugawara no Michizane, Kamo clan, and others.
LADY KUZUNOHA (real Japanese folklore)
One of the most famous and beloved Kitsune (fox spirit) in Japanese Folklore. Celebrated as a figure of maternal love and sacrifice.
According to myth, Abe no Yasuna (a nobleman) saved a white fox from the hunter in the Shinoda Forest. During the rescue, Yasuna was injured. Shortly after, a beautiful woman named Kuzunoha appeared and nursed him back to health. Time passed, they fell in love, married, and had a son named Dōji. They lived happily for several years until Kuzunoha's true nature was accidentally revealed. She was caught in her fox form— by her son catching sight of her tail.
Because of a rule— a supernatural being cannot stay with humans once their identity is known, Kuzunoha had to return to wild. She left a famous farewell poem, written on a sliding paper door (shoji) for her husband:
"Koishiku ba
Tazune kite miyo
Izumi naru
Shinoda no mori no
Ura-mishi no kuzu"
Translation: "If you love me, come and seek me out;
In the forest of Shinoda, in the Province of Izumi,
The arrowroot leaf (kuzu-no-ha) showing its underside in regret."
Yasuna and his son eventually travel to the forest, where Kuzunoha appears to them one last time in her fox form to say a final goodbye. She leaves behind a crystal ball and a silk box, granting her son supernatural powers.
The young boy, Dōji, grows up to become Abe no Seimei, the legendary onmyōji (diviner/wizard/sorcerer) of the Heian period. His extraordinary wisdom and magical abilities were traditionally attributed to his "Shinoda Mother" and his half-yōkai heritage.
Some points-
The Kuzunoha Inari Shrine in Izumi (Osaka) is dedicated to her and remains a popular site today.
In the hierarchy of Japanese mythology, Kuzunoha is a Byakko (a white fox spirit) - While the word Byakko can mean either "White Tiger" (白虎) or "White Fox" (白狐) depending on the kanji used, Lady Kuzunoha is exclusively a fox spirit (kitsune).
Information about the category of foxes:
In Japanese mythology, kitsune aren't just one thing. Think of Kuzunoha as a high-ranking, "holy" version of a fox spirit rather than a wild animal or a mischievous trickster.
Here is exactly what she was:
1- A Messenger of Inari
The most important job she had was being a messenger for God Inari, the Shinto deity of rice, prosperity, and foxes. In Japanese belief, the god Inari doesn't usually walk among humans, but their white fox messengers do.
The Guard Aspect: You'll see statues of foxes guarding the entrances to Inari shrines (like the famous Fushimi Inari in Kyoto). Kuzunoha is essentially a living version of those guardian statues.
2- A Zenko VS Nogitsune
To understand her, you have to look at the two main categories of foxes in Japanese lore:
Zenko (Good Foxes): These are celestial, holy foxes that serve the gods and protect people. This is Lady Kuzunoha.
Nogitsune (Wild Foxes): These are "unsworn" foxes that like to play pranks, possess people, or cause trouble. Kuzunoha is the direct opposite of these ones.
3- A Kami (Spirit/Deity)
After Kuzunoha left her human family, she didn't just go back to being a normal fox in the woods. She is actually venerated as a kami (a Shinto spirit or deity) at the Shinoda Shrine in Osaka. People still visit her today to pray for safe childbirth and the health of their children, given her history as a devoted mother.
Now,
ABE NO SEIMEI (安倍 晴明) (A real dude)
Abe no Seimei was a prominent court official and a specialist in Onmyōdō (The Way of Yin and Yang) during the middle of the Heian period. While he was a real person who served the Imperial Court, his life is so shrouded in mystery that he is often compared to the Merlin of Japan. He lived to be 84 years old. In an era where most people died in their 40s, his long life convinced people he had discovered the secret to immortality or was "non-human."
Today, Seimei is remembered at the Seimei Shrine in Kyoto. Locations like the Abeno district in Osaka still bear his name, ensuring that the legacy of Japan's greatest sorcerer is never forgotten.
1-While the historical Abe clan claimed descent from Prince Ōhiko (son of Emperor Kōgen), folklore tells a much more mystical story about Seimei's birth:
The Mother (Kuzunoha): Legend says Seimei was not entirely human. His mother was Kuzunoha, a kitsune (fox spirit) who lived in the Shinoda Forest. She married a human, Abe no Yasuna, but had to leave when her true nature was discovered as said previously.
The Gift: From his mother, Seimei inherited "Spirit Sight," allowing him to see yōkai, oni, and spirits invisible to ordinary men.
The Guardians: Before leaving, Kuzunoha allegedly left Zenko (invisible fox guardians) to protect Seimei throughout his life.
2- Seimei was not born a master; he was a prodigy trained by the Kamo Clan. His primary masters were Kamo no Tadayuki and Kamo no Yasunori. His potential was recognized early when, as a child, he detected a demon (oni) that even his masters hadn't noticed yet.
After the death of Kamo no Yasunori, the responsibilities of the Bureau of Onmyōdō were split:
Kamo Clan: Retained control over Reki-dō (Calendar-making).
Abe Clan (Seimei): Took control over Tenmon-dō (Astronomy and Divination).
Over centuries, the Abe clan became the public face of Japanese sorcery, while the Kamo clan remained focused on the academic and bureaucratic side.
3- Symbols and Tools- Seimei popularized several magical practices that are still synonymous with Japanese occultism today:
The Seimei Kikyō (Pentagram): A five-pointed star representing the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). He used this "Seal of Abe no Seimei" as a spiritual shield to seal away evil.
Kuji-kiri: The "Nine Symbolic Cuts," a series of hand gestures (mudras) used to channel energy.
Katashiro (Paper Dolls): Seimei was a master of creating shikigami from paper, infusing them with breath and command to perform tasks or transform into animals.
4- The Shikigami- Seimei's power was defined by the entities he commanded. He wasn't just a priest; he was a "tamer" of the supernatural.
The Twelve Heavenly Generals: His "heavy hitters." These were powerful celestial deities. Because they looked monstrous and terrified his wife, Seimei famously housed them under the Ichijo Modori-bashi (Bridge of Return) in Kyoto. He would summon them with a simple whistle.
Zenki & Goki: In some versions, he commanded these legendary "Front and Back" demons, previously associated with the ascetic En no Gyōja.
5- Abe no Seimei found the most famous and powerful branch of the clan.
He named it...Tsuchimikado Family
The aristocratic Tsuchimikado family, survived into the Meiji era and were considered the heirs to the main Abe clan line despite having a different name.
Fictional point I weaved for sake of story:
Abe descendants still looked at Kamos as their teachers, respects and gratitude.
But—when Tsuchimikado Family (branch of Abe clan founded by Abe no Seimei) got divided into another small branch, namely Kuzunoha Clan, residing in Izumi Province in Shinoda forest. Kamo (after death of kamo no yasunori) felt a deep sense of offense. The mastery of the responsibilities (and cursed energy and techniques in JJK terms) given all went to a forest, far from politics, it felt like an insult to the Great Kamo.
Though Kuzunoha and Abe clans see Kamo clan as their teacher, with respect and gratitude. But Kamo sees Kuzunoha clan as a waste of the potential.
Kuzunoha clan- Abe no Seimei established that, to show gratitude to his late mother—Lady Kuzunoha. Even though she left when he was around 5, but the stories told by his dad stayed with him later in life. Part guilt.
THE NINE TAILED FOX (Japanese folklore)
In Japanese myths, foxes are shapeshifters that gain more power and wisdom as they age. Every 100 years (not fixed, but folklore repeat this number again n again), a fox may grow an additional tail.
"Tails increase with age and power"
Once a fox reaches 1,000 years of age and grows its ninth tail, its fur often turns white, silver, or gold. At this stage, it is referred to as a Kyūbi no Kitsune (Nine-Tailed Fox). It gains near-infinite wisdom and the ability to see and hear almost anything happening anywhere in the world.
Their key characteristics :
Shapeshifting - They most commonly transform into beautiful women, though they can also mimic elderly men or specific individuals.
Kitsunebi "Fox-fire"-They can generate fire or lightning from their mouths or tails.
Possession - Known as Kitsunetsuki, they can enter a human body to influence their behavior.
Moral Ambiguity - They are often depicted as either Zenko (benevolent messengers of the rice god Inari) or Yako (mischievous or malicious "field foxes").
The Legend of Tamamo-no-Mae
The most famous Nine-Tailed Fox in Japanese history is Tamamo-no-Mae.
According to legend, she was a highly intelligent and beautiful courtesan to Emperor Konoe in the 12th century. However, the Emperor fell mysteriously ill. An astrologer eventually unmasked her as a monstrous nine-tailed fox who was "draining" the Emperor's life force.
After being hunted down and killed, her spirit was said to have passed into the Sessho-seki (Killing Stone), which allegedly killed anyone who touched it.
*remark : Lady Kuzunoha (a good fox) birthed Abe no Seimei. And a descendant of Abe no Seimei was the one who unmasked Tamamo-no-Mae (a bad fox).
TWO TYPES OF NINE TAILED FOXES:
The Good (Tenko): A 1,000-year-old nine-tailed fox can become a Tenko (Heavenly Fox), which is a divine, almost god-like messenger of the heavens.
The Bad (Yako): The most famous nine-tailed foxes in stories—like Tamamo-no-Mae—are usually "Wild Foxes" (Yako). These aren't messengers; they are powerful, chaotic tricksters who try to overthrow emperors or cause havoc.
Lady Kuzunoha was NOT a nine tailed fox, but Kuzunoha had the potential to become a nine-tailed fox. Kuzunoha was already a White Fox (Zenko), messenger of god inari , she is already considered a high-ranking, divine spirit.
In folklore, a kitsune's tails aren't just a physical trait they are born with; they are a rank earned through time and spiritual cultivation..
Plus, i realised (after nth searches ) that, if Kuzunoha had stayed in the human world for another 900 years (she alr had one tail, so we take it that she alr lived 100 years in human world, it's only an estimate on my side though) or continued her service to Inari long enough, she would have absolutely become a nine-tailed fox.
SUGAWARA NO MICHIZANE (one more real dude)
Michizane was born into a family of scholars and showed incredible talent for poetry and literature at a young age. He rose quickly through the ranks of the Imperial Court during the Heian period, eventually becoming the Right Minister (one of the highest positions in government).
He was a trusted advisor to Emperor Uda, but his rapid rise earned him the jealousy of the powerful Fujiwara clan, who traditionally dominated court politics. In 901, the Fujiwara family successfully conspired against him. They falsely accused Michizane of plotting against the new Emperor Daigo. As a result, he was demoted and exiled to Dazaifu on the island of Kyushu. He died there in isolation and grief just two years later.
Shortly after his death, Kyoto was struck by a series of disasters:
Lightning strikes hit the Imperial Palace.
Floods and plague ravaged the city.
Several of his political rivals (and the Emperor's sons) died unexpectedly.
The court became convinced that Michizane's onryo (wrathful spirit) was seeking revenge. To appease him, the Emperor restored his titles, burned the records of his exile, and deified him as Tenjin (Heavenly Deity).
If you visit Japan today, you will see his influence everywhere, particularly at Tenmangu shrines (like Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto or Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka).
Patron of Students: Because of his immense intellect, Tenjin is worshipped as the God of Learning. Before entrance exams, thousands of students flock to his shrines to buy charms (omamori) and pray for success.
Plum Blossoms: Michizane loved plum trees. Legend says his favorite tree in Kyoto missed him so much after his exile that it uprooted itself and flew to Kyushu to be with him. This is why you will always see plum trees planted at his shrines.
Connecting this to canon:
You already know that Michizane is recognized as one of the Big Three Vengeful Spirits of Japan. In the jujutsu world (JJK), "Vengeful Spirits" aren't just ghosts; they are sorcerers who died with deep grudges and transformed into incredibly powerful, high-grade Curses.
Plus, one more thing to remember here:
Yuta and Gojo are both descendants of Michizane. But Uro(from culling games) wasn't wrong about calling Yuta a Fujiwara, because he most likely has blood of both Sugawara and Fujiwara in him. Maybe Yuta is a descendant of Sugawara no Takasue no musume too, since as far I know, only she and her descendants have both Sugawara and Fujiwara blood.
Context: Sugawara no Takasue no Musume (the daughter of Sugawara no Takasue). Historically, she was a famous writer (author of the Sarashina Nikki) and her mother was a Fujiwara.
In the Heian period, these noble clans were constantly intermarrying to consolidate power. While Michizane himself was the rival of the Fujiwara, his descendants eventually integrated back into the high nobility. By the time a few generations passed, many "Sugawara" descendants would have had Fujiwara mothers or grandmothers. Even if Yuta is primarily a descendant of Michizane (Sugawara), Uro might sense the Fujiwara blood that mixed in later. To her, anyone belonging to the high-ranking "aristocratic" sorcerer lineages of that era represents the establishment that used and discarded her. Given how tangled the Heian-era genealogy was, it's almost impossible for a high-tier sorcerer lineage like the one leading to Yuta/Gojo to stay "purely" Sugawara for 1,100 years.
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE CLANS
ABE CLAN AND FUJIWARA CLAN:
The Fujiwara were the undisputed masters of the Imperial Court in Kyoto. They held the highest offices and controlled the Emperor through marriage.
The Abe, meanwhile, were a powerful provincial clan based in the north (Mutsu Province). They were often viewed by the Kyoto elite as "barbarians" or outsiders (Emishi descendants), but they were so militarily strong that the Fujiwara-led government had to give them official titles just to keep them in check.
The Abe clan of Mutsu dealed with provincial/military
The Seimei Abe line was seen as court nobility.
The most famous interaction between the two occurred during the Zenkunen War (1051-1062).
The Abe clan stopped paying taxes and began acting as an independent kingdom in the north.
The Fujiwara-controlled court sent the Minamoto clan to crush them.
During this war, a branch of the Fujiwara living in the north (the Northern Fujiwara) initially stayed neutral or had ties to the Abe. Eventually, the Northern Fujiwara sided with the Imperial forces to secure their own future.
Despite the wars, the two clans were heavily intertwined through marriage.
Fujiwara no Tsunekiyo married a daughter of Abe no Yoritoki (the head of the Abe clan).
Their son, Fujiwara no Kiyohira, carried the blood of both clans.
After the Abe clan was officially "defeated," Kiyohira survived and went on to found the Northern Fujiwara dynasty, which ruled the north for a century of peace and golden prosperity in Hiraizumi.
Conclusion :- Fujiwara and Abe were blood related at some point of time.
SUGAWARA CLAN AND FUJIWARA CLAN
I already told ya, first enemies, then eventually a marriage tie, i.e. Yuta's case.
SUGAWARA CLAN AND ABE CLAN
In the Heian hierarchy, both clans were considered "technical" officials rather than pure high-nobles like the Fujiwara.
The Sugawara were the masters of Literature and History. They ran the university system.
The Abe were the masters of Onmyodo (Divination, Astronomy, and Magic).
They worked side-by-side in the Imperial Palace. If the Emperor needed a poem written, he called a Sugawara; if he needed a curse lifted or a calendar made, he called an Abe.
They were in the same system, but different departments.
As we noted earlier, both clans eventually married into the Fujiwara clan. Because the Fujiwara acted as a massive "genetic hub," the blood of the Sugawara and the blood of the Abe eventually met in the middle.
By the late Heian period, many high-ranking nobles could claim Sugawara no Michizane as an ancestor on one side and Abe no Seimei (or other prominent Abe) on the other.
Hence, the ancestral bond.
hence, by this reveal, I can say that
Gojo Satoru (direct descendant of Sugawara no Michizane), Yuta okkotsu (indirect descendant of Sugawara and Fujiwara) and Kiyomi Kuzunoha (direct descendant of Fujiwara and Abe) are distant distant relatives (cousins for simplicity)
Note :
If there are any errors anywhere, highly unlikely though, kindly point it out to me. I'm thinking of making a group chat though. I would like to see the mistakes after all those searches😭
I hope you will like the story. Any errors may be taken as fiction made by me.
I will continue the story on the basis of this backstory.
Peace out ✨