Motif Index of German Secular Narratives                 
Published by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna
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C. Tabu

Index of Motifs
A B C D E F
G H I J K L
M N O P Q R
S T U V W X
Y Z Back
C0–99 Tabu connected with supernatural beings
C100–199 Sex tabu
C200–299 Eating and drinking tabu
C300–399 Looking tabu
C500–549 Tabu: touching
C550–599 Class tabu
C600–699 Unique prohibitions and compulsions
C700–899 Miscellaneous tabus
C900–999 Punishment for breaking tabu
 

C. Tabu

C0–99 Tabu connected with supernatural beings

30:   Tabu: offending supernatural relative
MN: EvSPS 380 (ca. 1310)
31.1:   Tabu: Looking at supernatural wife
MR: KvWP 1931, KvWP 3047, KvWP 7293, KvWP 7778 (1277)
31.5:   Tabu: boasting of supernatural wife
MdB: KvSGM 95, KvSGM 206 (>1250)
31.8:   Tabu: striking supernatural wife
MR: KobS 680, KobS 937 (>1350)
32:   Tabu: offending supernatural husband
MdB: Lohe 227 (>1285)
32.2.1:   Tabu: asking name of supernatural husband
MdB: Lohe 696, Lohe 708 (>1285), WvEP 823 (<1200/10)
MN: KvWSR 1299 (1257/58)
32.2.2:   Tabu: asking where supernatural husband comes from
MdB: Lohe 696, Lohe 708 (>1285)
MN: KvWSR 1299 (1257/58)
53.2:   Tabu: arrogance toward deity.
MdB: HvdTCr 19178 (>1225)
61:   Disbelief in religious teachings
MdB: Lohe 11 (>1285)

C100–199 Sex tabu

100:   Sex tabu
MdB: Lanc3 22, Lanc3 85, Lanc3 103, Lanc3 165, Lanc3 221 (<1250), WvEP 478, WvEP 493 (<1200/10), WvETi 1 (<1217/20)
110:   Tabu: sexual intercourse
MR: KobS 319, KobS 574 (>1350)
111:   Tabu: loss of chastity
MdB: Lanc2 437, Lanc3 22, Lanc3 77 (<1250), WvEP 471, WvEP 474, WvEP 478 (<1200/10)
MR: FvS 402 (>1314)
115:   Tabu: adultery
RoA: HvNAp 13607 (1300)
118:   Tabu: violating woman
RoA: UvEAlx 9949 (1278/83)
151:   Tabu: man not to be present at childbirth
HE: WDieB 841 (ca. 1250)
169:   Tabu connected with marriage–miscellaneous
RoA: OttEr 2349, OttEr 2645 (after 1215)

C200–299 Eating and drinking tabu

211.2.2:   Tabu: eating in hell (Hades)
MR: Wuert 191, Wuert 240 (>1300)
260:   Tabu: drinking at certain place
MdB: WCRPa 359, WCRPa 362 (1331-1336)
262:   Tabu: drinking in otherworld
MdB: HvdTCr 28455, HvdTCr 29287 (>1225)
MR: Wuert 191, Wuert 240 (>1300)

C300–399 Looking tabu

312:   Tabu: man looking at woman
MR: FvS 535, FvS 1184 (>1314)
313.1:   Tabu: woman seeing nude man
RoA: GoTK 8768 (1280)
400–499:   Speaking tabu
400:   Speaking tabu
RoA: GoTK 8457 (1280), HvVEn 42 (1170/74)
410:   Tabu: asking questions
MdB: WvEP 817 (<1200/10)
MN: KvWSR 1299 (1257/58)
420:   Tabu: uttering secrets
MdB: WCRPa 272 (1331-1336)
MN: UBEd 97 (ca. 1345)
RoA: UvEAlx 17457 (1278/83)
423:   Tabu: revealing the marvelous
MdB: WCRPa 160 (1331-1336)
423.2:   Tabu: speaking of extraordinary sight
MdB: WCRPa 289 (1331-1336)
423.5:   Tabu: revealing sacred mysteries
MdB: HvdTCr 29462, HvdTCr 29578 (>1225), Lanc2 633 (<1250), WCRPa 1, WCRPa 255, WCRPa 448, WCRPa 598 (1331-1336)
436:   Tabu: disclosing own identity
MdB: WvEP 493 (<1200/10)
450:   Tabu: boasting
RoA: GoTK 8132, GoTK 8210 (1280)
453:   Tabu: boasting of love-conquest
MdB: HvdTCr 1892 (>1225), KvSGM 95, KvSGM 206 (>1250)

C500–549 Tabu: touching

500:   Tabu - touching
MdB: AlbJT 297 (<1272/1294), HvdTCr 29010 (>1225), Lanc2 633 (<1250)
RoA: HvVEn 53 (1170/74)
510:   Tabu: touching tree (plant)
RoA: BaAlx 3445 (1150/60), StrAlx 5099 (1170), UvEAlx 22331 (1278/83)
515:   Tabu: touching (plucking) flowers
MdB: PlGar 2617, PlGar 3170 (<1270), WvEP 600, WvEP 604 (<1200/10)
519:   Tabu: touching tree (plant) [garden] – miscellaneous
HE: RosGBr 1, RosGD 8 (ca. 1250)
541.1:   Tabu: dead body not to be on ship
MdB: Lohe 596 (>1285)
MN: FLWM 250 (>1271)
542.1:   Tabu: contact with things on journey to hell
MR: Wuert 191, Wuert 240, Wuert 297, Wuert 341 (>1300)
544:   Tabu: crushing eggs
MN: GvMFa 104 (>1270)

C550–599 Class tabu

571:   Tabu: doing thing at certain time
MdB: AlbJT 500 (<1272/1294)

C600–699 Unique prohibitions and compulsions

614.1.0.2:   Tabu: hunting in certain part of forest
RoA: UvEAlx 18958 (1278/83)
617:   Forbidden country [on island]
RoA: SeAlx 5029, SeAlx 6675 (1352)
619.4:   Tabu: women [men] to be on certain island
RoA: SeAlx 5029 (1352)
621.2:   Tabu: touching fruit
RoA: GrAlx 4521 (1397), UvEAlx 22331 (1278/83)
624:   Forbidden barrel
MN: GvMFa 105 (>1270)
650:   The one compulsory thing.
MdB: HvdTCr 28455, HvdTCr 29396, HvdTCr 29462 (>1225)
650.1:   Customs connected with unique compulsion [”costume”]
MdB: HvAIw 693, HvAIw 989, HvAIw 1738, HvAIw 2542, HvAIw 7781 (>1190/1200), Lanc3 60, Lanc3 324 (<1250)
MR: BvHCra 3209 (<1275)
651:   The one compulsory question
MdB: AlbJT 5808 (<1272/1294), HvdTCr 28455, HvdTCr 29462 (>1225), WCPap 163, WCRPa 602, WCRPa 607 (1331-1336), WvEP 239, WvEP 254, WvEP 314, WvEP 471, WvEP 483, WvEP 780, WvEP 787, WvEP 794 (<1200/10)
680:   Other compulsions
MR: JvWW 3900 (1314)
686.1:   Tabu: to refuse help to a woman
RoA: GoTK 7419 (1280)

C700–899 Miscellaneous tabus

710:   Tabus connected with other-world journeys
MR: Wuert 191, Wuert 240, Wuert 297, Wuert 341 (>1300)
735:   Tabu: sleeping.
MdB: HvdTCr 28455 (>1225)
740:   Tabu: doing deed of mercy or courtesy.
MdB: HvdTCr 15932 (>1225)
761.1:   Tabu: remaining on journey too long
MdB: HvAIw 2697, HvAIw 2999 (>1190/1200)
761.4:   Tabu: staying too long in certain place
MdB: WCRPa 473 (1331-1336)
811:   Tabu: heeding persuasive voices
MdB: HvdTCr 15932, HvdTCr 15998, HvdTCr 16081, HvdTCr 16228, HvdTCr 16434 (>1225)
833:   Tabus for journeys
MdB: Lanc3 22 (<1250)
833.2:   Tabu: turning aside for anyone
MdB: HvdTCr 15932, HvdTCr 15998, HvdTCr 16081, HvdTCr 16228, HvdTCr 16434 (>1225)
835:   Tabus concerning fighting
MdB: AlbJT 4152 (<1272/1294), HvdTCr 15932, HvdTCr 15998, HvdTCr 16081, HvdTCr 16228, HvdTCr 16434 (>1225)
835.2:   Tabus concerning weapons
RoA: GoTK 4961 (1280)
841.2:   Tabu: hunting [killing] birds
MdB: UvZLa 7036 (>1194)
RoA: BaAlx 3472 (1150/60), StrAlx 5135 (1170)
842:   Tabu: exposure to sunlight.
845:   Tabus concerning war
HE: Ortnit 312 (ca. 1230)
867.1:   Tabu: abusing [killing] women or children
RoA: UvEAlx 20557 (1278/83)

C900–999 Punishment for breaking tabu

900:   Punishment for breaking tabu
MdB: WvEP 817 (<1200/10)
HE: Laurin 230 (>1250)
MN: KvWSR 1461 (1257/58)
901:   Tabu imposed
RoA: HvNAp 13607 (1300)
901.1:   Tabu imposed by a certain person
HE: Laurin 1 (>1250)
901.1.5:   Tabu imposed by fairy
MR: KvWP 1931, KvWP 3047, KvWP 7293 (1277)
MN: EvSPS 380 (ca. 1310)
905:   Supernatural being punishes breach of tabu
MN: EvSPS 715 (ca. 1310)
905.1:   Dwarf punishes for the breach of a tabu
HE: Laurin 230 (>1250)
910:   Permanent sign of disobedience for breaking tabu
MdB: KvSGM 206 (>1250), WvEP 516 (<1200/10)
MR: FvS 2421 (>1314), Wuert 240 (>1300)
MN: EvSPS 715 (ca. 1310)
920:   Death for breaking tabu
MdB: UvZLa 7036 (>1194)
MR: KvWP 1931 (1277)
MN: EvSPS 715 (ca. 1310)
921:   Immediate death for breaking tabu
MdB: Lanc2 672 (<1250)
RoA: SeAlx 5029, SeAlx 6675 (1352), UvEAlx 22331, UvEAlx 25181 (1278/83)
927:   Burning as punishment for breaking tabu
RoA: BaAlx 3472 (1150/60), StrAlx 5135 (1170)
929:   Death for breaking tabu–miscellaneous
RoA: UvEAlx 9949 (1278/83)
932:   Loss of wife (husband) for breaking tabu
MdB: HvAIw 2697, HvAIw 3102 (>1190/1200), KvSGM 206 (>1250), Lohe 227, Lohe 708 (>1285), WvEP 823 (<1200/10)
MR: KobS 680, KobS 937 (>1350)
MN: EvSPS 715 (ca. 1310), KvWSR 1461 (1257/58)
934.2:   Land made sterile because of broken tabu
MdB: WCRPa 272 (1331-1336)
937.1:   Immortality lost because of breach of tabu
MdB: HvdTCr 19178 (>1225)
939.5:   (Bm) Loss of kingdom as punishment for breaking tabu
RoA: HvNAp 14294 (1300)
940:   Sickness or weakness for breaking tabu.
MdB: Lanc3 350 (<1250), WvEP 478 (<1200/10)
943.2:   Loss of one eye for breaking tabu
MR: FvS 535, FvS 1184 (>1314)
948:   Mutilation as punishment for breaking tabu
MdB: Lanc2 633 (<1250)
MR: Wuert 240 (>1300)
952:   Immediate return to otherworld because of broken tabu
MdB: WvEP 817, WvEP 823 (<1200/10)
MN: KvWSR 1564 (1257/58)
961.1:   Transformation to pillar of salt for breaking tabu
MR: ReivB 27072 (>1291)
968:   Disenchantment for breaking tabu
RoA: HvNAp 14294 (1300)
980:   Miscellaneous punishments for breaking tabu [for failing unique compulsion]
MdB: WvEP 245 (<1200/10)