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.
The kuda-gitsune is a yōkai said to be kept inside a bamboo tube.
In old tales, those who use a kuda-gitsune gain wealth but are said to eventually meet misfortune.
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
In some regions, the stoat is called kuda-gitsune.
Standard kanji spelling for the mythical creature.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, sometimes used for readability.
Mixed katakana-kanji spelling, occasionally seen.
Katakana spelling, often used in biological contexts for the stoat sense.
The name 管狐 literally means 'pipe fox', from 管 (tube) and 狐 (fox), referring to the belief that the spirit is kept in a bamboo tube. The origin of the folk belief is uncertain, but it is associated with traditional practices of spirit possession and divination.