These chapters are dominated by a strong influence of Buddhism and sense of uncertainty, and the character of Kaoru is irresolute and can't take the initiative in love, which makes a strong contrast with his rival Niou Miya and Genji in the first and second section.
つよい仏教色、無常感が作品の主調をなし、優柔不断で恋に対して決定的な強引さを持たない薫の人物造形がライバル匂宮や第一部第二部の源氏と対比されている。