Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

E32 — Progenitor plants.

176 Myths, legends and folktales
176 Unique narratives for motif E32
89 Cultures & traditions where E32 is told
0 Sub-motifs of motif E32
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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 first humans or the first woman (progenitor, goddess) are born from trees, emerge from a tree, stump, flower, or reed.

Berezkin category: The origins of people and culture

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 5, Origin of human beings, ethnic groups, etiology of human anatomy, strange body configuration, ways of behavior, marriages before the establishment of the present norms.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny
MotifSimilarityMotif summary
E5B97.84%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.
M396.27%The character crosses a water or air barrier on the backs of chained animals, birds, or fish.
M29O93.71%See the motives in square brackets.
B7793.54%The sky was close to the ground, then rose.
M3A92.54%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.
F40B92.47%A single man finds himself in a village of women. Usually, he is forced to satisfy a woman against his will, or each woman demands to have sex with him.
I10491.94%Stars are formed from particles of the body, fragments of a larger celestial body (usually the moon); stars (usually also the sun and moon) are formed from the body of a single being.
L10791.68%People have disproportionately large ears (rarely: lips): they cover themselves with them like a blanket, use them as an umbrella, can step on them, etc.
K25E91.47%Humans in general or a specific ethnic, tribal or social group are considered descendants of an earthly man and woman of supernatural origin.
F86A91.37%The character cares for a fish, crab or other creature. Others watch the character, kill and eat his pet, or try to do so.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

89 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 89 traditions: Dinka, Atuot, Nuer, Bari (incl Fajulu), Kakwa, Efe Pygmies, Kango (Mbuti) Pygmies, Tonga, Mbundu (Umbundu, Kimbundu, Chimbundu, Ovimbundu), Kwanyama, Owambo (=Ambo), Lozi (Losi, Rotse, Barotse), Lui, Subiya (Subia), Herero (Herrero), Zulu, Swazi, Fang (Pangwe), Eton, Bafia, Batanga, Benga, Bube (Bubi), Buheba, Yaunde (Ewondo), Yebekolo, Koko, Bulu, Beti (Beti-Bulu), Sekiani, Eghap, Aka, Baka (Badjue) and other Western (Bantu speaking) Pygmies, Khoekhoe (=Hottentot; incl Nama, Korana); Damara, Sandawe, Trans-New Guinea and unclassified Papuan groups of Irian Jaya: Mejprat, Arandai-Bintuni, Inanwatan-Berau, Papua of Gelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Kamoró, Marind Anim, Sawi, Mafore; Korowai; Kwerba; Momina, Eipo, Yale, Awyu, 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, Melanesians and Papuans of Bismark Archipelago: New Britain (Paparatava, Lakalai, Kuni, Sulka, Gazelle peninsula), New Ireland, St Matthias Group, Mioko (Melanesians between New Britain and New Ireland), Southern Solomons: southern part of Santa Ysabel (Bughotu), Guadalcanal, San Cristobal, Malaita, Ulawa, Fiji, Niue, Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands), Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Ceram: Alune and Wemale (West Ceram), Patasiwa (Ceram), Honitetu (West Ceram Highlands); Nusawele, Hatuolu, Huaolu, Patasiwa; Ambon; Buru, Simeulue, Nias, Mentawai, Kayan, Bahau, Kenja, Aoheng, Punan (Bukat, Basap, Oloh Ot, etc); "Klemantan", 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, Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Central Taiwan: Bunun (Vonum), La'arua, Tsou, Kanabu, Kanakanabu, Ami, Yami, Thai of Vietnam, Tai Lue, Khao (Kho, Tai Don, White Tai), Tai Dam (Black Tai), Nung; Zhuang, Buyi; Shui, Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Mon, Viet, Muong, Andamanese, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Kafir, or Nuristani: Prasun; Kati (incl. Paruni), Ashkun (Ashunu), Waigali, Early Chinese written sources, Koreans, Ireland, England, British, Bretons, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Ancient Greece, Lithuanians, Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia), Tajik, Iranian literary tradition (including Avesta, Pahlevi scripts, Sah-nameh, Marzban-nameh); Zoroastrians of Iran, Indian Parsees, Zoroastrianism, Armenians, Kalmyk, Uyghur, Bashkirs, Komi (Zyrians and Permyaks), Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Southern Selkups, Northern Selkups, Central Yakuts (Sakha), Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Ainu, Udeghe, Nanai, Olcha (Ulch), Negidal, Nivkh, Manchu, Reindeer Koryak, Lenape (Delaware), Seri, tarasques, Chinantec, Mazatec, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Zapotec, Chatino, Lacandon, Bari, Piaroa, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Suruí, Gaviâo, Zoro, Arua, Cinta Larga, Chamacoco (Ishir), Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Tonga (Tsonga; incl, Soli, Sala, Lenje), 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, Fiji, Kenya, Nauru, Japan

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