Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
I49 — Runner-earthquake.
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
OverviewEarthquake â an anthropomorphic character (or category of characters) that moves around, shaking the earth.
Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures
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 |
|---|---|---|
| A32C1 | 97.85% | The figure or imprint of a predatory mammal (fox, wolf, dog, coyote, jaguar, lion) is visible on the lunar disc. Either this animal is associated with the moon, belongs to it. See motif A34. |
| M29Y | 97.42% | See the motives in square brackets. |
| A42A | 96.90% | Having risen into the sky, the character unsuccessfully performs the role of the sun and as a result falls or is thrown down to earth. |
| K23A | 96.90% | Birds use their feathers as arrows, or falling feathers cover the mouths of their victims. |
| L50 | 96.79% | The character kills travellers passing by. Usually, he does not attack them unexpectedly, but distracts their attention first. Often, he pushes his victims down somewhere. |
| D4E | 96.67% | The thief or giver of fire, light or sun is a coyote or fox (indicated in square brackets). See motif 4A. |
| H36J | 96.67% | The lark is to blame for the fact that man is mortal. |
| H22 | 96.48% | Large game animals did not have a sense of smell. They acquired it and began to flee from hunters after someone created olfactory organs for them or gave them a strong smell to smell. Cf. motif H22A. |
| K50 | 96.35% | A man approaches the enemy disguised as a woman and kills him at night (usually cutting off his head and taking it with him). |
| B92 | 96.32% | A character whose body is hard and has broken into small pieces, or (rarely) a small object, turns into flint or other hard stones (the origin of flint). |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Traditions
14 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 14 traditions: Bari (incl Fajulu), Kakwa, Bunak, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: Abor (incl Minyong, Shimong, Padam, Pasi, Panggi), Apa Tani (Apatani), Bori, Bugun, Dafla (=Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing, incl Tagin), Gallong (=Galo, Adi), Mishmi, Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Micmac, Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Hupa, Chilula, Klamath, Modoc, Yurok, Wintu, Patwin, Nomlaki, Yokuts, Bari, Cashibo, Itelmen
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How to cite: Fielder-White, J. (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
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