This novella tells the story of a young nun who lives in a Buddhist temple in Japan. She is devoted to her faith and has renounced worldly desires. However, she begins to experience strange visions and auditory hallucinations that suggest she may be possessed by a malevolent spirit. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the nun's visions are not just random occurrences but are actually connected to an ancient curse that has been placed on the temple. The curse is said to have been caused by a group of samurai who were killed in battle and whose spirits have become trapped between the world of the living and the afterlife. The nun becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the curse and ultimately discovers that she herself is connected to it. She learns that her family has a dark history and that she is the descendant of one of the samurai who was killed in battle. In the end, the nun's obsession with the curse leads to her downfall. She becomes consumed by madness and eventually dies, still trapped between the world of the living and the afterlife.
By Lafcadio Hearn · First published 1897 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Spiritual Fiction · 4 chapters