Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

M3A — Count the inhabitants of the waters

80 Myths, legends and folktales

80 Unique narratives for motif M3A

32 Cultures & traditions where M3A is told

2 Sub-motifs of motif M3A

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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 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.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 11, Tricks and competitions won thanks to deception, absurd and obscene behavior.

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
M3	95.44%	The character crosses a water or air barrier on the backs of chained animals, birds, or fish.
B1D	94.32%	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.
F54D	94.32%	A woman gives birth to a boy after accidentally drinking animal urine, or a female animal gives birth to a boy after drinking a man's urine.
M144	94.32%	One character manages to convince another that dangerous and inedible objects are attractive and delicious (a wasp's nest is a drum, a snake is a flute, dung is a delicacy, etc.).
I81A	93.85%	The giant crab causes earthquakes or floods, closes or can close the water outlet.
L85B	93.75%	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.
F54A	93.56%	In her husband's appearance, the woman discovers signs that are not immediately noticeable, indicating that he has hidden his true nature from her and is not the right marriage partner (he is an animal, or her son, brother or father); or the husband discovers in the same way that his wife is his sister.
C8C	93.18%	After a global catastrophe, at the beginning of time or when settling a new land, a woman and her son give birth to humans.
F86A	92.67%	The character cares for a fish, crab or other creature. Others watch the character, kill and eat his pet, or try to do so.
E32	92.54%	The first humans or the first woman (progenitor, goddess) are born from trees, emerge from a tree, stump, flower, or reed.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

32 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 32 traditions: Arabs of Sudan, Sudanese, Lingala, (Ba)Ngala, Ntomba, Kioque, (Ki)Bangi, Bolia, Balolo, Boloki, (Ba)Akwa, (U)Poto, Zulu, Swazi, 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, Kachin (Singpho), Chak, Kazakh, Dolgans, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Evens (Lamuts), Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu, Udeghe, Oroch, Uilta (Orok), Nanai, Negidal, Nivkh, Reindeer Koryak, Evens (Lamuts) of Kamchatka, Sundanese, China

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