The Fox’s Four Guardian Kings
"The next day, at the hour of the ox, the foxes staged a grand funeral procession. An aged priest led the way, flanked by patākās and a canopy. Following closely behind was a palanquin, bejeweled and shimmering, meant for the departed. A grandchild, entrusted with the spirit tablet, walked ahead, whilst grieving relatives, clad in white mourning robes, joined the march, their tears flowing freely. Townsfolk, attired in hakama and kataginu, followed the cortège as it made its way to the fields to bid farewell to the deceased."
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The illustration depicts the penultimate scene of the story: the funeral procession.
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Some details from left to right:
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The fox on the far left is masquerading as a michibiki no chōrō (導の長老), a "Guiding Elder" who performs the final rites for the deceased.
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The two foxes behind the elder hold takajō-chōchin (高張提灯), high-hanging lanterns.
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The following two foxes are carrying hata (幡) or ritual banners that were used to solemnize the funeral.
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In the center-right, the fox riding atop another fox's shoulder is the grandson of the deceased, holding an ihai (位牌) which is a spirit tablet bearing the posthumous Buddhist name on the front and the date of death on the back. It is blank since the deceased has not yet been cremated.
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To the right of the grandson is a tengai (天蓋), a ceremonial canopy.
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Below the tengai is the Tama no mu (たまの無), the palanquin that holds the coffin. Perched above the palanquin is a meido-dori (冥途鳥), a cuckoo-like bird of the afterlife.
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A fox in the bottom right is carrying the shiji (榻), a stand for carrying the palanquin.
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The weeping fox in the middle right is a nakionna (泣女), a professional female mourner.
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