管くだ狐ぎつね

noun

kuda-gitsune; pipe fox; mythical fox spirit kept in a bamboo tube

A fox-like spirit in Japanese folklore, said to be kept inside a bamboo tube and used by its master for divination and curses. The term is primarily encountered in folklore and supernatural contexts.

• 管くだ狐ぎつねは、竹たけ筒づつの中なかに飼かわれていると伝つたえられる妖よう怪かいだ。

  The kuda-gitsune is a yōkai said to be kept inside a bamboo tube.

• 昔むかし話ばなしでは、管くだ狐ぎつねを使つかう者ものは富とみを得えるが、やがて不ふ幸こうになると言いわれる。

  In old tales, those who use a kuda-gitsune gain wealth but are said to eventually meet misfortune.

noun

stoat

A regional or older name for the stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as オコジョ. This usage is less common and may be encountered in dialectal or historical contexts.

See also: オコジョ

• 地ち方ほうによっては、オコジョのことを管くだ狐ぎつねと呼よぶことがある。

  In some regions, the stoat is called kuda-gitsune.