The Mythology and Folklore Database
B38A - Two birds adorn each other.
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Motif Summary - Motifs with Simlar Dispersals - Map of Myth Distribution - List of Traditions - Myths |
Source Data from Berezkin's Analytics Catalogue, if using this data please acknowledge and link to it here:
Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of Motif
Two birds agree to paint each other. One of them does not become more beautiful as a result and often becomes uglier. See motif B36A.Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 7, Etiology of plants and animals and of their peculiar features, particular animals as protagonists of cosmological stories, metamorphoses, weather and calendar
B38 has 5 other sub-motifsB38. The character decorates birds or animals, or they decorate each other. Some are dissatisfied with the result. B38a. Two birds agree to paint each other. One of them does not become more beautiful as a result and often becomes uglier. See motif B36A. B38b. Two quadrupeds (or a quadruped and another creature) adorn each other themselves or are adorned by someone else. B38c. The raven and the loon paint each other. B38d. The Raven and the Owl paint each other. B38e. The character kicks a loon or other waterfowl. Since then, it has had a flattened tail and finds it difficult to walk on land. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of B38's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| B42O | 95.10% | A certain constellation is represented by a person who has been struck or wounded in the back. |
| B38 | 93.66% | The character decorates birds or animals, or they decorate each other. Some are dissatisfied with the result. |
| L102A | 91.26% | A seagull kidnaps a girl or woman, but she manages to return to people. |
| B38D | 91.15% | The Raven and the Owl paint each other. |
| E9A | 87.59% | Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a fox. |
| M46D | 85.87% | A small child cries and calms down only after being given a valuable item hidden in the house to play with. After receiving an item, a child or an associated character takes it away. |
| A44 | 84.96% | A character fleeing from pursuit, wronged or suffering on earth, asks the Moon to take him to her, or climbs up to the moon himself using a ladder or rope that has descended from there. |
| M29A | 83.09% | See the motives in square brackets. |
| K51 | 82.03% | The husband feigns death, disappears or leaves home for a long time. The wife learns that he has married another woman, finds and, as a rule, kills her husband and/or rival, who often turns out to be a creature of non-human nature. |
| L5F | 81.95% | Head, face or skull – a woman's husband, fiancé or son; not dangerous to her, brings wealth, saves from hunger, etc. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 28 traditions: Melanesians of the islands of Massim District ( =Milke Bay Province) to the east of New Guinea: Dobu, Rossel, Fergusson, Goodenough, Murua (Woodlark), Trobrian Islands, d'Entrecasteau Islands, Central Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo, Araki, Aore, Maewo, Malekula, Vao, Efate (Vate), Nguna, Mae, Ambrim, Pentecost, Oba (=Aoba, East Ambae, Lepers'), Omba, 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, Bahnar, Bana, Sedang, Por, Khmer, Kuki, Chiru, Falam (Hallam), Chin (Meitei =Manipuri, Khami, =Kumi), Lakher, Mizo (Lushei), Anal, Pawi (Lai), Purum, Koireng, Milhiem, Kolhen, Mru, Yazgulami, Karachays, Balkar, Central Yakuts (Sakha), Evens (Lamuts), Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu, Forest (Upper Kolyma) Yukaghir, Chugach, Athna, North Alaskan Inupiat, Mackenzie Delta, Netsilik, Caribou, Iglulik, Polar Inuit, Baffin Land Inuit, East Greenland (Angmassalik, Kulusuk), Eyak, Plains Cree, Kodiak, Greenland, Vietnam