The Mythology and Folklore Database
J52 - Children kill children in revenge for their parents.




93 Myths, Legends and Folktales
93 Unique Narratives for Motif J52
49 Cultures & Traditions where J52 is told
0 Mythemes Indexed
2 Sub-Motifs of Motif J52


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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

A character (usually zoomorphic and female) treacherously kills another. The victim's children take revenge by killing the murderer's children.

Berezkin category: Avenger heroes: The amerinday cycle

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


J52 has 2 other sub-motifs


J52.  A character (usually zoomorphic and female) treacherously kills another. The victim's children take revenge by killing the murderer's children.
J52a.  A she-bear or bear treacherously kills his companion, neighbour, etc., who is associated with a herbivorous animal or a weaker predator. The victim's children take revenge by killing the murderer's children or flee. See motifs J52, J54.
J52b.  A girl, young woman or children associated with hares (rabbits) are heroes-victors or successful tricksters.

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
J53A99.20%A character invites another to play. The latter follows the rules, but the initiator of the game does not and kills the other.
H20A99.00%A woman or several women keep fish or water in some kind of container; a man releases all the fish into rivers or the sea, releases the water. See motif H20.
J52A98.98%A she-bear or bear treacherously kills his companion, neighbour, etc., who is associated with a herbivorous animal or a weaker predator. The victim's children take revenge by killing the murderer's children or flee. See motifs J52, J54.
J5398.97%The children of a character associated with a hoofed animal (deer, antelope) come into conflict with an enemy associated with a predator or a larger hoofed animal. They kill his children and/or run away from him. See motif J52.
E3798.94%The creator collects many sticks, feathers, reeds, etc., and turns them into people (either people of both sexes and all ages, or no mention is made of gender or age).
A32B98.89%The figure or imprint of a toad or frog is visible on the lunar disc; the moon is associated with this animal.
D4E98.80%The thief or giver of fire, light or sun is a coyote or fox (indicated in square brackets). See motif 4A.
H18A98.77%The owner of the hunting animals hides them underground; one of the first ancestors turns into a puppy, which is picked up by the owner's children, and releases the animals. See motif H18.
J22A98.76%Two men or a brother and sister emerge from a single body or embryo cut in half, or the second emerges from a part of the body or from the secretions of the first. Cf. motif M37.
A5A98.76%The younger brother (usually the Sun) is made from the urine and swaddling clothes of his older brother (usually the Moon), who was kidnapped as a baby. See motif A5.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 49 traditions: Kalenjin; including Sabaot, Nandi (Nande), Arusha, Kipsigis, Pokot (Suk), Keiyo (Elgeiyo), Marakwet, Sebeei, Northern Halmahera Papuans: Galela, Loda, Pagu, Modole, Tabaru (Tobaru), Tobelo, Tidore, Ternate, Ceram: Alune and Wemale (West Ceram), Patasiwa (Ceram), Honitetu (West Ceram Highlands); Nusawele, Hatuolu, Huaolu, Patasiwa; Ambon; Buru, Numfoor, Warope, Wamesa (Wandamen, Windesi), Lavrung, Jiarong; Qiang (incl rGyalrong), Mansi, Chukchi, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Menominee, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Yuchi, Shuswap, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lillooet, Comox, Pentlatch, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Kalapuya, Takelma, Coos, Shasta; Chimariko, Klamath, Modoc, Yurok, Wailaki, Mattole, Lassik, Sinkyone, Cahto, Yuki (Yuki proper, Coastal Yuki, Huchnob), Wappo, Wintu, Patwin, Nomlaki, Maidu, Nisenan, Konkov, Sierra Miwok, Lake Miwok, Plains Miwok, Coastal Miwok, Salinan, Mono (Monache), Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Northern Shoshone, Western Shoshone, Gosiute, Serrano, Cahuilla, Cupeño, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Chamacoco (Ishir), Mataco, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Eastern Tibetans (Kham; Sichuan, NW Yunnan), Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Salars, Northeastern Yakuts (Sakha): Yana, Indigirka and Kolyma Basins, Halkomelem (Snaymuk)


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