I22G — Colliding rocks.

Mountains (rocks) are mentioned that constantly collide and diverge, or a crevice or gap in a vertical rock that opens and closes. Cf. motif I22g1, Colliding rocks.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 8, Queer and monstrous beings, creatures, objects and loci, folk beliefs related to particular phenomena and objects.

I22.  There are objects that, while remaining in place, move constantly or periodically (collide and diverge, fall and rise, open and close, rotate).
I22a.  The sky constantly beats against the earth like the lid of a boiling cauldron.
I22b.  Migratory birds (or shamans in the form of birds) fly from our world to another; the path lies through a narrow opening between jutting rocks, or the sky strikes the earth, crushing those who fly through; and/or at the passage to the other world there is a character who feeds on birds; and/or in the world on the other side of the pulsating barrier there is the mistress of the birds.
I22b1.  Some migratory birds (shamans in the form of birds) die on the border of our world.
I22c.  The character safely slips, sails or flies through the opening, which then slams shut, but the edge of the stern of the boat, the tail of an animal or bird, the body of a riding animal, the hero's companion or his own heel is crushed, torn off, etc.
I22d.  To obtain a miraculous life-giving (healing) remedy, one must penetrate the space behind the shifting rocks.
I22e.  The deceased, travelling to the afterlife, must pass by colliding rocks or other moving obstacles.
I22f.  The character must pass small objects (trees, logs, blades) that constantly collide and diverge, fall and rise.
I22g.  Mountains (rocks) are mentioned that constantly collide and diverge, or a crevice or gap in a vertical rock that opens and closes. Cf. motif I22g1, Colliding rocks.
I22g1.  In another world, the hero sees many strange things, including colliding stones (but they do not block his path).
I22h.  The character must jump over a gap (abyss) beneath his feet, which alternately widens and narrows, or a river whose banks converge and diverge.

This motif has been recorded in 115 traditions: Greeks of Cyprus, Western Sahara and Mauritania Arabs; Berbers of Mauritania (Zenaga), Tunisia Arabs, Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken), 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, Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, Thai of Vietnam, Tai Lue, Khao (Kho, Tai Don, White Tai), Tai Dam (Black Tai), Nung; Zhuang, Buyi; Shui, Khmu (Kammu), Puoc, Semang, Senoi, Kuki, Chiru, Falam (Hallam), Chin (Meitei =Manipuri, Khami, =Kumi), Lakher, Mizo (Lushei), Anal, Pawi (Lai), Purum, Koireng, Milhiem, Kolhen, Mru, Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples, Konkani (incl Goa), Burusho (Hunza), Lepcha, Spain, Spaniards, Sicily, Sicilians, Sardinia, Corsica, Sardinians, Corsicans, Ancient Italy: Latins, Etruscans, Magna Graecia, Slovakians, Slovaks, Greeks (modern), Balkarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Albanians, Balkarians, Ancient Greece, Lithuanians, Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia), Western Ukrainians, Uzbek, Cherkassians, Adyghe, Kabardin, Abkhaz, Abkhazians, Karachays, Balkar, Ossetians, Ingush, Lezgians, Archin, Kürin; Khinalug, Avar, Andi, Akhvakh, Tats, Georgians, Armenians, Kazakh, Bashkirs, Buryats: Western (cis Baikal), Mongols (Khalkha), Shor, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Dolgans, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Western Tungus (Evenki), Western Siberia Tungus (Evenki): Sym River, Ket River, Oroch, Chukchi, Central Yupik, Tanana, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Caribou, Iglulik, Polar Inuit, Baffin Land Inuit, Tsimshian, Malecite, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, Five Nations Iroquois (Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga), Kiowa Apache, Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Comox, Pentlatch, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Pomo, Sierra Miwok, Lake Miwok, Plains Miwok, Coastal Miwok, Chumash, Yokuts, Kawaiisu, Northern Shoshone, Western Shoshone, Gosiute, Eastern Shoshone, Upland Yuma: Walapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Navajo, Jicarilla, Western Apache (White Mountain, San Carlos), Hopi, Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Huichol, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Chinantec, Mazatec, Yupa (Yukpa), Guiana Kariña, Kaliña, Galibi, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Tupinamba, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Tacana, Bolivian Guarani: Chiriguano (including assimilated Chane Arawaks), Pauserna (=Guarasu), Guarayu, Tapiete, Kayabi, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Lisu, Lolo (incl. Bai), Achang, Yi, Axi, Nasu, Jino, Taungyo, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Buryats: Eastern (trans Baikal), i.e. Khori, Ilimpii Tungus/Evenki, Yerbogachen Tungus/Evenki, Tungus/Evenki of Nercha - Chita area, Phoenicia, Bosnians, Morocco, Greenland, Berbers of Algeria, Vanuatu, Russian Federation