Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

B9 — Water in a tree.

101 Myths, legends and folktales

101 Unique narratives for motif B9

47 Cultures & traditions where B9 is told

0 Sub-motifs of motif B9

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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

A huge amount of water is contained in the trunk of a tree, or the tree turns into water.

Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 3, Cosmogony, the earth and the sky, etiology of the elements, natural and biological phenomena (fire, water, soil, thunderstorms, dream, etc.), cataclysms and cosmic threats, spirits of nature.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
G5	98.05%	The fruits and shoots of various cultivated plants or the fruits of various wild plants grow on the branches of a single tree or on a single vine; the cultivated plant has a tree-like form that is not characteristic of it in nature.
K55	97.60%	A powerful character finds out whether his guest has made love to his daughter or wife (if the character is a woman: whether he has attempted to have sexual contact with her). A man who is impotent or (successfully pretends to be) chaste is rewarded (at least not punished). In most cases, the other character engages in sexual contact or is unable to hide what he has done and is punished as a result.
G17	96.88%	Cultural or important food crops, partially cultivated plant species owe their origin to snakes, moray eels or crocodiles/caimans.
E9F	96.86%	Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a parrot.
B55	96.62%	Fish grow on tree branches or tree leaves turn into fish.
H30	95.73%	When meeting two women (together or one after the other), the hero must or may choose one. Usually, he chooses either the less beautiful or the dangerous one, bringing trouble or misfortune upon himself or upon people in general.
L78	94.82%	In the images, the character has the features of a jaguar and a toad; the toad/frog turns into a jaguar; the toad/frog is the mother or wife of the jaguar.
L39A	94.77%	A supernatural character emerges from the underworld and attacks a man who has climbed a tree.
L22	94.75%	Having broken some taboo, seen an unusual object or a strange character, people fall into a deep sleep; at night, while asleep, they are killed or maimed.
A1A	94.74%	Before the sun appeared, the world was lit by a large bird with bright colours (a parrot or toucan).

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

47 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 47 traditions: Bari (incl Fajulu), Kakwa, Efe Pygmies, Kango (Mbuti) Pygmies, Zande (Azande, incl Nzakara), Shone (Shona, =Mashona, =Karanga), Makoni (Shoni dialect), Remba (=Hungwe, Wahungwe); Zezuru, Rozwi, Ndau (Vandau), Maka (Makaa), Baya, Kaka, Aka, Baka (Badjue) and other Western (Bantu speaking) Pygmies, Arnhem Land: Enindhilyagwa (Groote Eilandt), KuTiwi, Yulengor, Mara, Oenpelli, Murngin, Roper River, Maung, Murinbata, Murngin (Duwal), Millingimbi, Goulburn Island, Ngulugwongga, Yirrkalla, Voctoria River Downs, Alawa, Anu, Kunwinjku, Papua-NewGuinea Highland Papuans:Trans New Guinea & unclassified:Chimbu,Gimi,KaugelHuli,Gadsup,Kuman,Kutubu,Foi (Foe),Kyaka,Kamano (Kafe),Mawatta,Kukukuku (=Anga,=Sambia;Manki,Nauti,Ejuti),Baruya,Kewa,Tembregak,Menya,Melpa,Wiru,Pondoma, Palau (Western Carolines), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Dusun, Murut, Kelabit, Tombonuwo, Bajau, Tidong, Semang, Senoi, Sinhalese; Vedda, Nenets, Wawenock, Abenaki, Penobscot, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Bari, Makiritare (Yecuana), Wapishana (incl Ataroi); Mapidian; Taruma, Trio, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Akawai, Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Waorani, Chayahuita , Karijona, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Andoque, Bora, Yagua, Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Kuikuro, Kalapalo, Calapalo, Paresi, Caraja, Makka, Ayoreo, Chamacoco (Ishir), Mataco, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Chorote, Toba (incl Pilagá), 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, Palau

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