Kitsune Lore

Kitsune are often presented as tricksters, with motives that vary from mischief to malevolence. Stories tell of kitsune playing tricks on overly proud samurai, greedy merchants, and boastful commoners, while the crueler ones abuse poor tradesmen and farmers or devout Buddhist monks. Their victims are usually men; women are possessed instead.

Kitsune are thought to employ their kitsunebi to lead travelers astray similar to the Western will-o'-the-wisp. Another tactic is for the kitsune to confuse its target with illusions or visions.

Other common goals of trickster kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.