Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

A7 — The sun chases the moon.

74 Myths, legends and folktales

74 Unique narratives for motif A7

49 Cultures & traditions where A7 is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif A7

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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 sun and the moon (month) are two characters, one of which eternally pursues the other across the sky or pursued it when they rose into the sky from the earth.

Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.

A7 has 1 other sub-motifs

A7. The sun and the moon (month) are two characters, one of which eternally pursues the other across the sky or pursued it when they rose into the sky from the earth.
A7a. The light of the sun (moon, Venus) is a burning torch in the hand of a celestial body.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of A7’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
B4	81.40%	Islands or mainland pulled out of the ocean, pulled by a rope.
B4A	78.65%	Fish beat against the ground, breaking off islands from the mainland.
M60A	77.30%	The creature/character runs away or swims away with a hook, harpoon, arrow, or other object thrown by the hero in his body. Local shamans can't heal an existence/character. The hero or his friend comes to the wounded man's village, takes out the object that caused the injury, or drives him even deeper into the body. The patient recovers or dies accordingly. See L105 and M60 motifs.
B38	76.68%	The character decorates birds or animals, or they decorate each other. Some are dissatisfied with the result.
B38A	76.63%	Two birds agree to paint each other. One of them does not become more beautiful as a result and often becomes uglier. See motif B36A.
E12	76.55%	A character draws an object or creature on sand, ash, a wall or the surface of water, and it comes to life.
I35	75.98%	Thunder is produced by a (tanned) animal skin or (rarely) a person being dragged, or clothing being dragged behind or shaken out.
A43A	75.16%	The moon or character currently visible on the moon hastily ascends to the sky. He is missing one trouser leg or shoe on one foot. Cf. motifs A43 and K13A.
B10	75.06%	The character drinks a lake or all the water in the world, or the only water is in his stomach. They pierce his stomach or remove the plug, forcing him to burp up the water - the water pours out. See motif B7.
F49	74.92%	Women had their stomachs cut open to remove the baby. Someone explains how to give birth or makes childbirth possible.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

49 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 49 traditions: Lingala, (Ba)Ngala, Ntomba, Kioque, (Ki)Bangi, Bolia, Balolo, Boloki, (Ba)Akwa, (U)Poto, Fang (Pangwe), Eton, Bafia, Batanga, Benga, Bube (Bubi), Buheba, Yaunde (Ewondo), Yebekolo, Koko, Bulu, Beti (Beti-Bulu), Sekiani, Eghap, Mandingo (Manden, incl San, Samo), Kagoro, Bambara (Bamana), Malinke, Kassonke, Diula, Southeast Australia: Kamilaroi, Yualarai (Ualarai, Euahlayi), Milpulo (Mailpurgu), Wuradjeri (Wiradjurim, Wiradjeri, Wurundjeri, Yarra, Yarra Yarra), Wongaibon (Wonghibon), Noongahburrah (Narran, Narran River), Kurnai, and many others (see file 0.doc), Ceram: Alune and Wemale (West Ceram), Patasiwa (Ceram), Honitetu (West Ceram Highlands); Nusawele, Hatuolu, Huaolu, Patasiwa; Ambon; Buru, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken), 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, Negrito (incl. Mamanwa), Central islands and Bikol: Vizaya, Mansaká, Bikol, Mangyan, Panayan, Sulod, Cebuano (Cebu), Capiz, Romblomanon, Manuyu, Mindanao and Sulu: Blaan (Bilaan), Bagobo, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Hiligáynon, Binukid, Magindaan (=Magindanao: main Muslim population), Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo (Agusan, Ata, Dibabawon, Sarangani, Ilianen), Maranao, Samal, Subanon (=Subanun), Subanen, Tboli, Tjam, Ede, Jörai (Jarai), Santali, Turi, Mahli, Germans: North (Low- and Central German dialects): Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pommern, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony, incl East Frisia and Oldenburg), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Thüringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Brandenburg, Rügen, Latvians, Wakhi, Ishkashimi (including Sanglich), Munji, Ingush, Lezgians, Archin, Kürin; Khinalug, Rutul, Tsakhur, Dargin (Dargwa), incl. Müregin, Khürkilin, Kubachi, Laks, Avar, Andi, Akhvakh, Kumyk, Terekemen, Armenians, Talysh, Nanai, Central Yupik, Inland Tlingit, Ingalik (Der Hit’an), Koyukon, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Mackenzie Delta, Netsilik, Caribou, Iglulik, Polar Inuit, East Greenland (Angmassalik, Kulusuk), Labrador Inuit (Koksoagmiut), Tlingit, Blackfoot, Tepehua, Totonac, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Selknam, Yamana (Yaghan), Alacaluf, Papua-New Guinea Southern Lowland Papuan groups (Trans New Guinea and unclassified): Gimi, Kiwai, Bina, Mawabula, Mawatta, Keraki, Gambadi (incl. Kwavaru), Purari River delta, Masingara, Wiram (=Suki), Ngain, Daga, Elema, Greenland

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

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