The Mythology and Folklore Database
M3 - Human chain

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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 character crosses a water or air barrier on the backs of chained animals, birds, or fish.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes

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

M3 has 2 other sub-motifs M3.  The character crosses a water or air barrier on the backs of chained animals, birds, or fish. M3a.  The character invites aquatic creatures to count them, and to do this, form a chain; crosses it to the other side or climbs to land. See M3 motif. M3b.  Trying to grab a hare, another animal tears off (bites) its tail. It's been short ever since.  Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of M3's motifs?

Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Motif	Similarity	Motif Summary
E5B	97.35%	The first human (a group of brothers) or the first human couple emerge from underground (from a cave) or from a small object on the surface (a mound, a reed, a tree, a stone, a pumpkin). Cf. motif E5A: people from the underworld.
E32	96.27%	The first humans or the first woman (progenitor, goddess) are born from trees, emerge from a tree, stump, flower, or reed.
M3A	95.44%	The character invites aquatic creatures to count them, and to do this, form a chain; crosses it to the other side or climbs to land. See M3 motif.
F86A	94.20%	The character cares for a fish, crab or other creature. Others watch the character, kill and eat his pet, or try to do so.
G24A	92.25%	The character steals cultivated plants for people, hiding the seeds on/in his own body.
C8C	91.60%	After a global catastrophe, at the beginning of time or when settling a new land, a woman and her son give birth to humans.
M29O	90.53%	See the motives in square brackets.
L85B	89.97%	A pregnant woman curses the Sun, Rain or another powerful character. Because of this, the child is born physically disabled. He possesses magical powers and usually acquires a normal body.
I81A	89.81%	The giant crab causes earthquakes or floods, closes or can close the water outlet.
B1D	89.81%	Two characters are building the world, one works poorly, the other well, so different parts of the universe (or a specific island) have different appearances.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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Terrain Minimal Countries

This motif has been recorded in 20 traditions: Ganda, (Ba)Nyoro, Nyankole, Masaba (Gisu), Luia (=Luyia, Haya, Luhya, Bantu Kawirondo; incl. Vugusu, Maragoli), Lingala, (Ba)Ngala, Ntomba, Kioque, (Ki)Bangi, Bolia, Balolo, Boloki, (Ba)Akwa, (U)Poto, Zulu, Swazi, Northern Halmahera Papuans: Galela, Loda, Pagu, Modole, Tabaru (Tobaru), Tobelo, Tidore, Ternate, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Minahasa (incl. Tondano, Tentemboan), Bantik, Aceh (Acheh), Lampung (Lampong); South Sumatra Malays (incl. Bengkulu), Mentawai, Dusun, Murut, Kelabit, Tombonuwo, Bajau, Tidong, 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, Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, Early Chinese written sources, Evens (Lamuts), Udeghe, Nanai, Negidal, Chukchi, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Sundanese

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