Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

J58 — Chain of arrows, F53.

173 Myths, legends and folktales

173 Unique narratives for motif J58

78 Cultures & traditions where J58 is told

3 Sub-motifs of motif J58

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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

Characters shoot arrows (darts) that stick into each other and form a chain. They usually climb up the chain to the upper world.

Berezkin category: Avenger heroes: The amerinday cycle

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

J58 has 3 other sub-motifs

J58.  Characters shoot arrows (darts) that stick into each other and form a chain. They usually climb up the chain to the upper world.
J58a.  To cross the river, each of the three men uses his own magical method.
J58b.  With the help of a chain of arrows, the sky or the sun is pulled down or pushed up, or a hole is made in the sky.
J58c.  A chain of arrows forms a bridge across a water barrier.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of J58’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
J59	98.00%	To reach the sky, one must shoot an arrow that will pierce the vault of heaven. See motif J58; see motif J59A: a man flies after or on an arrow (without the motif of an arrow piercing the vault of heaven).
F96	97.02%	A girl or wife rejects an unattractive man. He becomes handsome (usually after encountering a supernatural being), and those who treated him badly are punished.
K4	96.87%	The character climbs a tree or rock to get a bird, bird eggs, or chicks, climbs into a bird's nest, comes into conflict with another character, and/or cannot climb down. See motifs K1, K2A. Traditions in which the nest destroyer is a woman are highlighted in italics; bold italics indicate those in which the character falls into the trap not through the fault of another person, but by accident, or, having climbed up to destroy the nest, does not fall into the trap at all, although he quarrels with his companion; an asterisk* marks those in which the character remains in the trap (undergoes a metamorphosis).
L46	96.77%	The character walks, climbs or descends upside down, or sees the world turned upside down.
L63	96.68%	The character eats food with the womb or anus. See motif F9A.
M12	96.66%	Unable, unwilling or unable to obtain game (fish), the hunter (fisherman) cuts flesh from his own body, removes his own entrails and collects his blood. He usually offers this to others under the guise of animal meat or fish. Alternatively, a woman cuts flesh from her own leg to feed her husband.
M18	96.06%	The character turns into an object of fishing or hunting and presents himself as a target. The fisherman or hunter does not harm them, but they take away what they use: arrows, darts, harpoons, hooks, bait; or they catch fish, having turned themselves into hooks; or they are caught but escape death by taking on human form again.
I66	96.03%	The Milky Way is ash or smouldering embers.
F53	95.80%	An unattractive man marries, but hides his face. When he is seen, the marriage is dissolved.
E3	95.75%	After the destruction of the previous world, new people (rarely: new earth) are made from the remains of the dead.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

78 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 78 traditions: Hausa, Fula (Fulbe, Fulani, Pular), Gola, Melanesians of the northern coast New Guinea, nearest off-shore islands and Huon Gulf (Morobe district): Watut, Bilbil (Bilibili), Jabim (incl Kai), Tami, Bukawac, Wogeo, Tumleo, Yakamul, Manam, Sissano, Sio, Southern Solomons: southern part of Santa Ysabel (Bughotu), Guadalcanal, San Cristobal, Malaita, Ulawa, Northern Vanuatu: Banks Islands (incl Mota, Mota Lava, Gaua, Santa Maria), Torres Islands, Central Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo, Araki, Aore, Maewo, Malekula, Vao, Efate (Vate), Nguna, Mae, Ambrim, Pentecost, Oba (=Aoba, East Ambae, Lepers'), Omba, Batak (Toba, Dairi), Bidayuh (incl. Maloh), Iban (Sea Dayak), Sakarram; Brunei, Semang, Senoi, Lepcha, Vepsians, Udeghe, Oroch, Nanai, Nivkh, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Koyukon, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Carrier, Shuswap, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lillooet, Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Comox, Pentlatch, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Quinault, Tillamook, Kalapuya, Coos, Alcea, Okanagon, Sanpoil, Coeur D'Alene, Kalispel (Pend d'Oreille; incl Spokane), Kutenai, Sicuani, Makiritare (Yecuana), Trio, Hixkariyana, Palikur, Wayana, Aparai, Wayapi, Emerillon, Mai Huna (Coto, Orejon), Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Witoto, Ocaina, Yagua, Asurini, Parakana; Arawete, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Tenetehara, Shipibo, Conibo, Setebo, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Bolivian Guarani: Chiriguano (including assimilated Chane Arawaks), Pauserna (=Guarasu), Guarayu, Tapiete, Siriono, Yabuti, Amniapä, Kumana, Wari (Aikana), More (Itene), Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Kamayura, Kayabi, Iranxe, Paresi, Botocudo, Mataco, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Chorote, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Ache (Guayaki), Manao, Katawishi (Teffe lake); groups of uncertain affiliation mostly from Rio Jamunda, Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Halkomelem (Snaymuk)

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