Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

M3 — Human chain

80 Myths, legends and folktales

80 Unique narratives for motif M3

38 Cultures & traditions where M3 is told

2 Sub-motifs of motif M3

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Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.

Summary of motif

Overview

The character crosses a water or air barrier on the backs of chained animals, birds, or fish.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

M3 has 2 other sub-motifs

M3.  The character crosses a water or air barrier on the backs of chained animals, birds, or fish.
M3a.  The character invites aquatic creatures to count them, and to do this, form a chain; crosses it to the other side or climbs to land. See M3 motif.
M3b.  Trying to grab a hare, another animal tears off (bites) its tail. It's been short ever since.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of M3’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
E5B	97.35%	The first human (a group of brothers) or the first human couple emerge from underground (from a cave) or from a small object on the surface (a mound, a reed, a tree, a stone, a pumpkin). Cf. motif E5A: people from the underworld.
E32	96.27%	The first humans or the first woman (progenitor, goddess) are born from trees, emerge from a tree, stump, flower, or reed.
M3A	95.44%	The character invites aquatic creatures to count them, and to do this, form a chain; crosses it to the other side or climbs to land. See M3 motif.
F86A	94.20%	The character cares for a fish, crab or other creature. Others watch the character, kill and eat his pet, or try to do so.
G24A	92.25%	The character steals cultivated plants for people, hiding the seeds on/in his own body.
C8C	91.60%	After a global catastrophe, at the beginning of time or when settling a new land, a woman and her son give birth to humans.
M29O	90.53%	See the motives in square brackets.
L85B	89.97%	A pregnant woman curses the Sun, Rain or another powerful character. Because of this, the child is born physically disabled. He possesses magical powers and usually acquires a normal body.
I81A	89.81%	The giant crab causes earthquakes or floods, closes or can close the water outlet.
B1D	89.81%	Two characters are building the world, one works poorly, the other well, so different parts of the universe (or a specific island) have different appearances.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

38 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 38 traditions: Ganda, (Ba)Nyoro, Nyankole, Masaba (Gisu), Luia (=Luyia, Haya, Luhya, Bantu Kawirondo; incl. Vugusu, Maragoli), Lingala, (Ba)Ngala, Ntomba, Kioque, (Ki)Bangi, Bolia, Balolo, Boloki, (Ba)Akwa, (U)Poto, Zulu, Swazi, Dan (=Gio), Guro (=Kweni, incl Gagu, Neio), Toura, Mano, Ngere, Beng, Guro , Sangir Islands, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Numfoor, Warope, Wamesa (Wandamen, Windesi), Minahasa (incl. Tondano, Tentemboan), Bantik, Batak (Toba, Dairi), Aceh (Acheh), Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken), Lampung (Lampong); South Sumatra Malays (incl. Bengkulu), Mentawai, Dusun, Murut, Kelabit, Tombonuwo, Bajau, Tidong, Northern Luzon: Apayao, Bontoc, Nabaloi (Ibaloi), Ifugao, Igorot (highland people, not specified), Ilocan, Ilongot, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanay, Tingian (Tinggian, Bilongan Itneg); Ibanag, Kasiguran Agta, Keley-i Kallahan, Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, Kachin (Singpho), Chak, Early Chinese written sources, Mongols (Khalkha), Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Udeghe, Oroch, Nanai, Negidal, Nivkh, Chukchi, Iowa, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Huastec (Teenek), Gulf Nahuatl, Lacandon, Waiwai, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Yamana (Yaghan), Alacaluf, Sundanese, China

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How to cite: Fielder-White, J. (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com

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