The Mythology and Folklore Database
C8 - Blood relatives give birth to people.
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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
At the beginning of time or as a result of a catastrophe, the only human couple is a brother and sister (less often a mother and son, father and daughters). They marry and give birth to people.Berezkin category: Disasters
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 5, Origin of human beings, ethnic groups, etiology of human anatomy, strange body configuration, ways of behavior, marriages before the establishment of the present norms
C8 has 10 other sub-motifsC8. At the beginning of time or as a result of a catastrophe, the only human couple is a brother and sister (less often a mother and son, father and daughters). They marry and give birth to people. C8a. Finding themselves alone and without other marriage partners, a brother and sister make it possible to marry each other by the occurrence of an incredible event. This event takes place, giving them a sign to become spouses. Among such events (alternatively or sequentially): 1) millstones rolling down from two different mountains fall on top of each other; 2) swords thrown from two mountains end up in the same scabbard; 3) objects thrown up join together; 4) smoke from two fires joins together (rising in a column); 5) two planted bamboo stalks join at the tops. See motif C8. C8a1. Finding themselves alone and without other marriage partners, a brother and sister make their marriage possible by the occurrence of an incredible event: a thread far from the needle must enter the eye of the needle. C8a2. The lion (often stone) helps to survive the flood. c8aa. At the beginning of time, or as a result of a catastrophe, the only human couple are a brother and sister. They marry and give birth to people. C8b. A brother and sister (or mother and son) find themselves alone, without marriage partners. Both of them (or only the brother, son) refuse to marry, but do so after accepting each other (or the brother accepts the sister, the son accepts the mother) as strangers. They give birth to new people. C8c. After a global catastrophe, at the beginning of time or when settling a new land, a woman and her son give birth to humans. C8c1. At the beginning of time or after the destruction of the rest of humanity, a father and daughter (daughters) remain. They marry and give rise to humans or certain ethnic groups. C8D. A brother and sister survived the flood. They married after having had smallpox and therefore did not recognise each other. c8e. During the flood or at the beginning of time, people (usually a brother and sister) float in a large gourd. c8f. During the flood, a brother and sister float in a drum. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of C8's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| B3D | 99.03% | The earth is obtained by a worm; it arises from worm excrement, extracted from the worm. |
| A2A | 99.00% | The world was or will be (almost) burned when several suns lit up or will light up simultaneously; or destructive heat (or light) once emanated from one sun. |
| A2 | 98.60% | There was a time when several, i.e. more than two, suns shone in the sky at the same time. |
| A46A | 98.39% | The sun and moon (Rigveda: only the sun) are associated with the eyes of an anthropomorphic being (the motif of their emergence from the eyes of this being may be absent). |
| A2B | 98.37% | In addition to the current sun and/or moon, other suns and moons shone in the sky, which were then destroyed. See motif A2A. |
| B43 | 98.21% | Elements of the landscape or parts of the universe are created from the body of the original being. |
| A46 | 98.08% | The sun and moon (Rigveda: only the sun) emerge from the eyes of an anthropomorphic creature. |
| I8H | 97.85% | The earth is supported by a man and a woman in the underworld. |
| K33A3 | 97.85% | A woman, turned into a turtle because of her rival's intrigues, tries to establish contact with her children or husband. |
| F45A | 97.77% | A woman or female animal conceives by deliberately exposing her genitals to the wind. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 60 traditions: Yao, Makua, Maka (Makaa), Baya, Kaka, Tiv, Bamum (Bamun), Mungaka (Mgaka, Bali), Beba, Anaguta, Bete (Mbete, Karang), Ekoi, Nyang, Vute (Wute), Jukun, Chamba, Bamileke, Kwotto, Kirri; Denya (Nyang), Tasmania, Papua-NewGuinea Highland Papuans:Trans New Guinea & unclassified:Chimbu,Gimi,KaugelHuli,Gadsup,Kuman,Kutubu,Foi (Foe),Kyaka,Kamano (Kafe),Mawatta,Kukukuku (=Anga,=Sambia;Manki,Nauti,Ejuti),Baruya,Kewa,Tembregak,Menya,Melpa,Wiru,Pondoma, Sepik-Ramu stock: Abelam, Yatmul, Aibom, Ayom (incl Tembregak, Asai-river pygmies), Tangu, Porapora (Ambakich), Rao and other groups of Middle Ramu and Upper Keram River tribes; Kwanga, Watam, Kaian, Gamei, Awar; Kire (Lower Ramu), Torricelli family: Valman, Samap, Arapesh (Upper, Coastal), Monumbo, Lilau, Ngaimbom; Moando (Banara); Menya, Olo, Timor: Amarasi, Tetum, Meto, Atoni (incl Mollo), Kedang (Lomblen island), Leti Islands (Leti, Moa, Lakor), Alor, Solor, Wetar, Atauru, Flores, incl Mangarai (Western Flores), Nage, Keo, Riung, Ngada or Nad'a (Central Flores), Sika (Eastern Flores), Minahasa (incl. Tondano, Tentemboan), Bantik, Aceh (Acheh), 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, 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, Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), Thai of Vietnam, Tai Lue, Khao (Kho, Tai Don, White Tai), Tai Dam (Black Tai), Nung; Zhuang, Buyi; Shui, Bahnar, Bana, Sedang, Por, Khmu (Kammu), Puoc, Nicobarese, Semang, Senoi, Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, 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, Chin-Naga: Ao, Mao, Sema, Zeme, Kolren, Kom, Lhota, Rengma, Angami, Kabui, Tangkhul, Koirenf, Kuki, Chiru, Falam (Hallam), Chin (Meitei =Manipuri, Khami, =Kumi), Lakher, Mizo (Lushei), Anal, Pawi (Lai), Purum, Koireng, Milhiem, Kolhen, Mru, Rawang, Dulong; Anong, Drung, Kachin (Singpho), Chak, Maria, Muria, and other South-Central Dravidians: Binjhwar, Bacop, Bhattra, Bom, Jhoria (=Jhodia), Gadaba (in Koraput, neighbors of Munda-speaking Gadaba), Duruwa (Parji), Mehtar; Pardhan, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Meo (Hmong) of Thailand, Laos and Northern Vietnam, Li , Lahu, Kucong, Nosu, Nisu, Nusu, Sani, Jino, Early Chinese written sources, Lavrung, Jiarong; Qiang (incl rGyalrong), Lepcha, Koreans, Western Sami, Ainu, Udeghe, Oroch, Nanai, Nivkh, Manchu, Chukchi, Dogrib, Slavey, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Kitanemuk, Tzeltal, Yaruro, Sanema, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Waorani, Witoto, Ocaina, Yagua, Bolivian Guarani: Chiriguano (including assimilated Chane Arawaks), Pauserna (=Guarasu), Guarayu, Tapiete, Canela: Ramkokamekra, Apaniekra, Mocovi; Kechua of Santiago del Estero with probable Guaikuruan substratum; Abipon, Kodiak, China