Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
N28F — The water has no knots
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewIt is said that water has no boughs or twigs
Berezkin category: Fabulous and epic formulas
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 13, Formulae.
N28 has 7 other sub-motifs
RelatedN28a. The roots (belt) of mountains or stones are mentioned in myths, riddles, spells, and songs as something that does not really exist.
N28b. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a ladder or stairway to the sky (variant: a ladder in the sky) is mentioned
N28c. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a pillar of the sky is mentioned
N28d. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a lid or covering for the sea, ocean or river are mentioned
N28e. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a bridge across the sea, ocean or lake is mentioned
N28f. It is said that water has no boughs or twigs
N28g. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a gall of horse or ass is mentioned
N28h. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, horns of the horse are mentioned
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| B32A | 100.00% | The enemies of a hero sailing the sea turn into seals or dolphins. |
| I137 | 100.00% | One of the constellations is associated with footwear, usually with (worn-out) bast shoes. |
| I95B | 100.00% | Orion is a yoke. |
| K35A7 | 100.00% | A character finds a feather, the touch of which brings health and beauty. |
| K38F3 | 100.00% | To kill the dragon, the hero digs a pit and hides in it. When the dragon crawls nearby or over the pit, the hero strikes it with a fatal blow of his sword. |
| M39A2A | 100.00% | fool buys spoons and/or a table, tells the table to go on its own feet, throws away spoons because they rattle. The two episodes are usually combined. |
| M39A3B | 100.00% | fool decides that stumps need hats, puts pots on the stumps. |
| N31 | 100.00% | Late autumn and then winter sets in line with the departure of two or three species of birds flying in a wedge (Zugvogel). |
| N32 | 100.00% | The ornithomorphic character is said to be sitting on several trees. |
| I95 | 99.76% | The Pleiades are a sieve or riddle for sifting agricultural products. See motif I95. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Cite this map
Distribution of the traditions attesting motif N28F, ‘The water has no knots’, as recorded in the Berezkin–Duvakin Analytical Catalogue of Folklore Motifs (4 traditions mapped). Geolocation and cartography by Jonathan Fielder-White, Folklore Database, release 1.26206.1 (25 July 2026), https://www.folkloredatabase.com/motif/N28F (accessed 8 August 2026). Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Traditions
4 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 4 traditions: Estonians, Karelians, Mari (Cheremis), Chuvash
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