Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

G23A — Plants from body parts.

139 Myths, legends and folktales

139 Unique narratives for motif G23A

77 Cultures & traditions where G23A is told

2 Sub-motifs of motif G23A

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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

Parts of the body and organs of living beings are transformed into various plants (teeth into corn, testicles into yams, etc.).

Berezkin category: Fertility and Agriculture

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 6, Origin and interpretation of culture elements, in particular related to agriculture, inadequate forms of subsistence and economic activity before the establishment of the present norms.

G23 has 2 other sub-motifs

G23.  The origin of various (more than two) creatures or objects is explained by the metamorphosis of a living creature or part of its body. {Only texts of an aetiological nature are taken into account. For statistical purposes, all texts with motifs G23A and G23B are also included in motif G23}.
G23a.  Parts of the body and organs of living beings are transformed into various plants (teeth into corn, testicles into yams, etc.).
G23b.  People from different ethnic groups arise from parts of the creature's body, or people from different groups receive their names (and characteristics) depending on which parts of the creature's body they have received.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of G23’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
M7	98.32%	The character goes to the lower world, to the sky, to the country on the horizon, etc. and waits for someone to give him a ride to his goal. Usually, some animals/birds or celestial bodies follow by, and the last (often the Sun or Month) delivers.
E27	95.55%	People arise from drops of blood from a wounded anthropomorphic creature.
M44B	95.08%	The character discovers that someone is stealing game or fish from his trap, mountain, etc. or ravages his garden, vegetable garden, field; he or his messengers wait and catch the thief. The kidnappers are women, or the aquatic animal is the kidnapper, but when caught, it gives the hero a woman.
I125	94.69%	Hyades (sometimes, possibly, Pleiades or Orion) – jaw or severed head of a large animal or anthropomorphic creature.
M1B	93.15%	A caiman/crocodile carries a monkey across a river. She manages to jump ashore and runs away from the caiman.
B55	93.12%	Fish grow on tree branches or tree leaves turn into fish.
G20	92.74%	Edible (cultivated or wild) plants emerge from the body of an old woman, a young woman or a girl.
I43A	92.02%	A giant reptile, serpent, fish, or chain of fish stretches across the earth and/or supports the sky. Usually associated with the Milky Way, sometimes with a rainbow.
D5	90.48%	The original owner or inventor (but not the embodiment) of fire is a female character.
A12E	90.35%	The spider attacks the sun or moon (usually causing lunar eclipses).

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

77 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 77 traditions: Tiv, Bamum (Bamun), Mungaka (Mgaka, Bali), Beba, Anaguta, Bete (Mbete, Karang), Ekoi, Nyang, Vute (Wute), Jukun, Chamba, Bamileke, Kwotto, Kirri; Denya (Nyang), Igbo (Ibo); Isoko, Urhobo, Kru: Kru proper, Sapo (Sapã), Grebo, Kran (Krahn, Guere-Krahn; incl. Putu, Tchien), Bete, Neyo, Wobe, Devoin (Dey), Belle (Kuwaa), Bassa, Sikon, 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, Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni, Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria, Yap, Timor: Amarasi, Tetum, Meto, Atoni (incl Mollo), Kedang (Lomblen island), Leti Islands (Leti, Moa, Lakor), Alor, Solor, Wetar, Atauru, Flores, incl Mangarai (Western Flores), Nage, Keo, Riung, Ngada or Nad'a (Central Flores), Sika (Eastern Flores), 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), Bali, Lombok, Batak (Toba, Dairi), Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken), Dusun, Murut, Kelabit, Tombonuwo, Bajau, Tidong, Bidayuh (incl. Maloh), Iban (Sea Dayak), Sakarram; Brunei, Central islands and Bikol: Vizaya, Mansaká, Bikol, Mangyan, Panayan, Sulod, Cebuano (Cebu), Capiz, Romblomanon, Manuyu, Stieng, Chrau, Sre (Koho), Maa, Mnong, Semang, Senoi, Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Koreans, Iranian literary tradition (including Avesta, Pahlevi scripts, Sah-nameh, Marzban-nameh); Zoroastrians of Iran, Indian Parsees, Zoroastrianism, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Athna, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Huron (incl Wyandot), Five Nations Iroquois (Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga), Alabama, Koasati, Yana, Navajo, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Chinantec, Mazatec, Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Makiritare (Yecuana), Wapishana (incl Ataroi); Mapidian; Taruma, Locono, Guiana Kariña, Kaliña, Galibi, Wayana, Aparai, Wayapi, Emerillon, Aguaruna, Huambiza, Karijona, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Puinave, Witoto, Ocaina, Mura (Pirahã), Maue (Mawe), Juruna, Xipaya, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Northern Peru: Sierra (Kechua-speaking communities, Cajamarca, Ancash, Huanuco and San Martin departments; Chavin pre-Columbian iconography; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries), Kechua-speaking communities of Apurimac, Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno departments; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries; Callawaya (Kechua with Pukina substratum), Piro (Yine), Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Parintintin; Villa Bella (tribal affiliation unknown), Mundurucu, Curuaia, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Kuikuro, Kalapalo, Calapalo, Kayabi, Iranxe, Nambikwara, Umotina (Umutina), Suya, Txukarramae, Kaingang, Xokleng, Mataco, Toba (incl Pilagá), Lisu, Lolo (incl. Bai), Achang, Yi, Axi, Nasu, Jino, Taungyo, Lao, Papua-New Guinea Northern Lowland Papuan groups (Trans New Guinea and unclassified): Komba, Gimi, Susure, Orokaiva, Bogadjim, Ngain, Sentani, Bargam, Imonda, Nankina, Yupta Valley, Urawa Valley, Warupu (Barupu), Pondoma (Anam), Sundanese, Japan

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