The Mythology and Folklore Database
A37 - The sun is subjected to armed attack.
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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 deliberately and by resorting to special means (usually shooting with a bow) strikes the sun or several suns or attempts to do so.Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 1, Sun and Moon
A37 has 3 other sub-motifsA37. The character deliberately and by resorting to special means (usually shooting with a bow) strikes the sun or several suns or attempts to do so. A37a. A small animal (marmot, rabbit, mole, toad, frog, earthworm) or a person who turns into such an animal tries to hit the heavenly body with arrows or helps the archer. Since then, this animal has been hiding in burrows and in water. A37b. A small animal (marmot, rabbit, mole, frog) or a person who turns into such an animal tries to hit a target in the sky (a celestial body or a bird) with arrows and as a result loses their thumbs. A37c. The character shoots an arrow into the sky, aiming to hit a celestial body or deity, but the arrow hits an obstacle blocking the target. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of A37's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| B6 | 95.94% | The first or only remaining man and woman move towards each other, going around a mountain, a pole or otherwise following a circle from opposite sides, and when they meet, they get married. |
| A12B | 95.93% | During an eclipse or at sunset (marked *), the luminaries are swallowed by a toad or frog. |
| F18D | 95.41% | Female genitals were enormous in size. |
| F77A | 93.57% | A huge penis serves as a bridge. |
| B28C | 92.50% | Lice grab a person and drag him into the sea. |
| H24G | 92.31% | A woman returned from the other world or obtained there disappears when a man opens the vessel in which she is kept prematurely. |
| I73 | 92.17% | Stars (rarely suns and moons) – sparks, hot coals. |
| E4 | 92.05% | From mud on the skin (rarely: from under the fingernails), the character creates the earth, people or other creatures. |
| A2A | 91.86% | 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. |
| C8 | 91.41% | 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. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 50 traditions: Yao, Makua, Alor, Solor, Wetar, Atauru, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), 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, Central Taiwan: Bunun (Vonum), La'arua, Tsou, Kanabu, Kanakanabu, Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, Wa (incl Kawa), Bulang, Northern Munda of Kharwar branch: Birhor, Ho, Mundari, Kol, Asur (including Agaria, Kol, Birjhia), Bhumij, Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), 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, Kuki, Chiru, Falam (Hallam), Chin (Meitei =Manipuri, Khami, =Kumi), Lakher, Mizo (Lushei), Anal, Pawi (Lai), Purum, Koireng, Milhiem, Kolhen, Mru, Rawang, Dulong; Anong, Drung, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Meo (Hmong) of Thailand, Laos and Northern Vietnam, Early Chinese written sources, Namuci (Namuyi), Naxi; Pumi (Primi), Lepcha, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Svans, Armenians, Bashkirs, Komi (Zyrians and Permyaks), Forest Nenets, Buryats: Western (cis Baikal), Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Mongols (Khalkha), Darkhad, Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu, Udeghe, Oroch, Nanai, Negidal, Nivkh, Tonkawa, Nez Perce, Yurok, Sierra Miwok, Kawaiisu, Western Shoshone, Gosiute, Panamint, Upland Yuma: Walapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Chemehuevi, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Juruna, China