The Mythology and Folklore Database
I8E1 - Four pillars of the world.
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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
The sky or earth is supported by four objects or beings located at the four cardinal points (either four groups of beings, or four at the corners and a fifth in the centre). Th A841. See motifs 8A, 8D.Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part 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
I8 has 10 other sub-motifsI8A. The world, earth or sky are supported by anthropomorphic beings. I8B. The earth or sky is supported by zoomorphic creatures. I8c. The earth is prevented from falling or swaying because it is tied with ropes. I8D. The earth or sky is supported by mountains, pillars, nails, trees. I8e. The sky or the earth is supported by four anthropomorphic male characters located at the four cardinal points. I8e1. The sky or earth is supported by four objects or beings located at the four cardinal points (either four groups of beings, or four at the corners and a fifth in the centre). Th A841. See motifs 8A, 8D. I8f. The sky, the world rests on a single object (a pillar or tree). I8g. A single giant holds up the earth or the sky. I8G1. At the foot of the world pillar is an anthropomorphic character, or a character identified with a tree or pillar on which the world rests, or a character holding ropes on which the world is suspended. I8h. The earth is supported by a man and a woman in the underworld. I8i. Initially, the earth rocks, unstable, and must be specially secured. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of I8's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| A11B | 95.35% | The sun or moon has one eye (usually the second eye is knocked out or sucked out, but sometimes the reason is not explained; among the Munduruku, the sun of the rainy season has lost both eyes, while the sun of the dry season has retained both). See motif 11A. |
| C5A | 94.05% | A bird, various birds, or people who then turn into birds are sent to explore the earth (whether it exists, whether it has dried up, whether there are any survivors, why smoke is rising from the earth, etc.) or with the task of bringing back a piece of solid substance to create dry land. |
| B2E | 94.03% | The Earth or the world as a whole is a male character (alone or alongside a female character). |
| I8G | 93.45% | A single giant holds up the earth or the sky. |
| C7 | 93.28% | Initially or after the flood, an earthen or stone barrier, the body of a character or creature prevents the flow of water. Later, this barrier is removed or destroyed. |
| J21 | 93.13% | Gods, ancestors of humans, and founders of dynasties are born from eggs. |
| I69 | 92.45% | Luminous celestial objects or atmospheric phenomena are bodily secretions of celestial beings. |
| F16 | 92.42% | Men possessed biological characteristics that are now characteristic of women, or vice versa (beards, menstruation, breasts, childbearing). |
| I78 | 92.29% | The earth is thought of as rectangular (usually square). |
| I20C | 92.03% | Dwarves live in an underground world that partly resembles the earthly world. If dwarves and humans meet, it happens underground. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 78 traditions: Arabs of Egypt, Biu-Mandara: Margi, Kilba, Bura, Kera, Karekare (Kerri-Kerri), Bachama, Zulgo, Giziga, Hdi, Kapsiki, Mandara (incl Mukulehe, Matakam), Mofu (Mofu-Gudur), Somrai (Sibine, Shibha), Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands), Hawaii, Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria, Palawan (incl Agutaynen), 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, Thai of Vietnam, Tai Lue, Khao (Kho, Tai Don, White Tai), Tai Dam (Black Tai), Nung; Zhuang, Buyi; Shui, Bhuiya (now Aryans, originally Munda; Rahman 1955: 203), Baiga, Bhaina, Bhumia (subgroup of Baiga, incl Bharia, formerly Munda, now speak Indo-Aryan languages of neighboring groups), 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, Garo (Atchik), Kachari (Bodo, incl. Lalung), Dimasa, Tripuri, Riang (of Tripura), Khami, Riga, Mori, Mikir (Karbi), Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Tamil, Muthuvan, Marvar, Tamils, Tribal groups and castes of Central-Eastern India that speak Aryan languages: Dhoba (Dhobi), Halba (Halbi), Bhunjia, Lohar (Luhar, Luhara), Kahar, Warli, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Lahu, Kucong, Nosu, Nisu, Nusu, Sani, Jino, Early Chinese written sources, Koreans, Germans: North (Low- and Central German dialects): Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pommern, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony, incl East Frisia and Oldenburg), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Thüringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Brandenburg, Rügen, Greeks (modern), Balkarians, Macedonians, Balkarians, Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Estonians, Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia), Western Ukrainians, Gagauz, Uyghur, Mordvins, Chuvash, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Central Yakuts (Sakha), Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Manchu, Chukchi, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), Copper, Winnebago, Shawnee, Mandan, Pawnee, Kiowa Apache, Cherokee, Yuki (Yuki proper, Coastal Yuki, Huchnob), Pomo, Navajo, Zuni, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Diegueño: Ipai, Tipai, Kamia (Kumeai), Kiliwa, Warihio (Guarijío), Tarahumara, Huichol, Western Mexico Nahuatl, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec, Chontal, Chinantec, Mazatec, Tzotzil, Lacandon, Kekchi; Mopan, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Tunebo, Hoti, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Shipibo, Conibo, Setebo, Tacana, Ese’ejja, Chamacoco (Ishir), Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Egypt, China