The Mythology and Folklore Database
G23A - Plants from body parts.
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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
Parts of the body and organs of living beings are transformed into various plants (teeth into corn, testicles into yams, etc.).Berezkin category: Fertility and Agriculture
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 6, Origin and interpretation of culture elements, in particular related to agriculture, inadequate forms of subsistence and economic activity before the establishment of the present norms
G23 has 2 other sub-motifsG23. The origin of various (more than two) creatures or objects is explained by the metamorphosis of a living creature or part of its body. {Only texts of an aetiological nature are taken into account. For statistical purposes, all texts with motifs G23A and G23B are also included in motif G23}. G23a. Parts of the body and organs of living beings are transformed into various plants (teeth into corn, testicles into yams, etc.). G23b. People from different ethnic groups arise from parts of the creature's body, or people from different groups receive their names (and characteristics) depending on which parts of the creature's body they have received. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of G23's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| M7 | 98.32% | The character goes to the lower world, to the sky, to the country on the horizon, etc. and waits for someone to give him a ride to his goal. Usually, some animals/birds or celestial bodies follow by, and the last (often the Sun or Month) delivers. |
| E27 | 95.55% | People arise from drops of blood from a wounded anthropomorphic creature. |
| M44B | 95.08% | The character discovers that someone is stealing game or fish from his trap, mountain, etc. or ravages his garden, vegetable garden, field; he or his messengers wait and catch the thief. The kidnappers are women, or the aquatic animal is the kidnapper, but when caught, it gives the hero a woman. |
| I125 | 94.69% | Hyades (sometimes, possibly, Pleiades or Orion) – jaw or severed head of a large animal or anthropomorphic creature. |
| M1B | 93.15% | A caiman/crocodile carries a monkey across a river. She manages to jump ashore and runs away from the caiman. |
| B55 | 93.12% | Fish grow on tree branches or tree leaves turn into fish. |
| G20 | 92.74% | Edible (cultivated or wild) plants emerge from the body of an old woman, a young woman or a girl. |
| I43A | 92.02% | A giant reptile, serpent, fish, or chain of fish stretches across the earth and/or supports the sky. Usually associated with the Milky Way, sometimes with a rainbow. |
| D5 | 90.48% | The original owner or inventor (but not the embodiment) of fire is a female character. |
| A12E | 90.35% | The spider attacks the sun or moon (usually causing lunar eclipses). |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 54 traditions: Igbo (Ibo); Isoko, Urhobo, Trans-New Guinea and unclassified Papuan groups of Irian Jaya: Mejprat, Arandai-Bintuni, Inanwatan-Berau, Papua of Gelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Kamoró, Marind Anim, Sawi, Mafore; Korowai; Kwerba; Momina, Eipo, Yale, Awyu, 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, Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni, Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria, Yap, 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), Ceram: Alune and Wemale (West Ceram), Patasiwa (Ceram), Honitetu (West Ceram Highlands); Nusawele, Hatuolu, Huaolu, Patasiwa; Ambon; Buru, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Dusun, Murut, Kelabit, Tombonuwo, Bajau, Tidong, Bidayuh (incl. Maloh), Iban (Sea Dayak), Sakarram; Brunei, 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, Kachin (Singpho), Chak, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Koreans, Iranian literary tradition (including Avesta, Pahlevi scripts, Sah-nameh, Marzban-nameh); Zoroastrians of Iran, Indian Parsees, Zoroastrianism, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Five Nations Iroquois (Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga), Alabama, Koasati, Yana, Cahuilla, Cupeño, Navajo, Western Mexico Nahuatl, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Locono, Wayana, Aparai, Aguaruna, Huambiza, Chayahuita , Karijona, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Maue (Mawe), Juruna, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Parintintin; Villa Bella (tribal affiliation unknown), Mundurucu, Curuaia, Kuikuro, Kalapalo, Calapalo, Kayabi, Nambikwara, Paresi, Umotina (Umutina), Caraja, Suya, Txukarramae, Kaingang, Xokleng, Mataco, Manao, Katawishi (Teffe lake); groups of uncertain affiliation mostly from Rio Jamunda, Lisu, Lolo (incl. Bai), Achang, Yi, Axi, Nasu, Jino, Taungyo, Lao, Sundanese