The concept of spirits and the afterlife is a common motif in many cultural works throughout the world. Within the Kwaidan selections, searching and aimless spirits, portray ghastly brutality as we read about them mutilating, murdering, and haunting without remorse. The theme of untamed brutality pervades throughout many tales in the Kwaidan selections, including "The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi," "Yuki-Onna," as well as the "The Story of O-Tei." Ultimately, there is no escape from the wrath of these aimless spirits.
In "The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi," the notion of untamed brutality within the spirits is immediately brought forth with a description of how the spirits "would rise about ships passing in the night, and try to sink them; and at all times they would watch for swimmers, to pull them down" (Kwaidan, 4). From the very get go, the theme of untamed brutality is introduced. The purposeless nature of these spirits sends a chill to the reader, which reaches a peek when the servants discover Hoichi "sitting alone in the rain before the memorial tomb of Antoku Tenno," followed by a intimidating message from the priest to Hoichi about the nature of these beastly spirits (Kwaidan, 14). Alas, this violent theme is driven home with the samurai warrior tearing Hoichi's ears right off of his face. The Buddhist portrayal of these brutal spirits sets a horrific mood for this selection as well as the rest of the Kwaidan selections.
"Yuki-Onna" carries on the theme of brutal spirits as the spirit of Yoki-Onna blows a wisp of breath, "like a bright white smoke," upon Mosaku, immediately bringing about his death. Naturally, there is no reasoning behind this murder except for untamed brutality which immediately becomes tame once it is impressed by Minokichi's handsomeness. However, once the secret is unleashed, Yuki-Onna's threatening nature is let loose as she says "for those children asleep there, I would kill you this moment!" The brutal image of the spirits is further carried on in "The Story of O-Tei," in a more subtle manner.