Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

M73 — Excretion substitution: who is stronger, K1721

47 Myths, legends and folktales

47 Unique narratives for motif M73

31 Cultures & traditions where M73 is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif M73

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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

Two characters compare their excrement or vomit to learn about each other's diet and decide which of them is the more powerful beast. One of them manages to replace the selections. (Traditions in which vomiting is substituted are greasy).

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.

M73 has 1 other sub-motifs

M73. Two characters compare their excrement or vomit to learn about each other's diet and decide which of them is the more powerful beast. One of them manages to replace the selections. (Traditions in which vomiting is substituted are greasy).
M73a. Two (animal) persons compare their feces (with different purpose). One of them gets to exchange them

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of M73’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
J16	98.20%	The character perishes because, being forced to look for insects in the head of another, he refuses to chew insects, spits them out in disgust, or is suspected of doing so.
K18A	98.16%	The boy's father is recognised as the man whose bow or arrows he chooses. See motif K18.
L9A	97.50%	The character's leg is crippled (intentionally or accidentally) or originally pointed. He uses the pointed bone for hunting, fishing or killing people.
B27B	97.28%	The characters ponder what they should transform into and decide to become a celestial object.
J60	95.78%	A woman conceives twins from two different fathers.
E13A	95.50%	Sacred knowledge, objects and rituals were first obtained by humans from the inhabitants of the underwater world.
F96	95.24%	A girl or wife rejects an unattractive man. He becomes handsome (usually after encountering a supernatural being), and those who treated him badly are punished.
B27	95.16%	The characters ponder what object or creature they should transform into, and once they have made their choice, they undergo metamorphosis.
E14	95.05%	Rituals received from the spirits of the dead.
D13C	94.56%	Two companions or brothers live together. The older one has a wife, whom he hides. To discover her, the younger one, left alone in the house, makes her laugh.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

31 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 31 traditions: Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Lepcha, France, Eastern Cree, Kiowa, Plains Cree, Shuswap, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lillooet, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Tillamook, Natchez (incl Avoyel), Alabama, Koasati, Cherokee, Yana, Western Shoshone, Gosiute, Navajo, Jicarilla, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Sicuani, Makiritare (Yecuana), Warao, Trio, Wayapi, Emerillon, Tenetehara, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Bakairi, Rikbaktsa, Caraja, Botocudo, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal)

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