Motif family
Sacred Knowledge and Wisdom
The acquisition, transmission, protection, or concealment of sacred or transformative knowledge. Includes wisdom teachings, forbidden knowledge, stolen fire/knowledge, divine instruction, and the paradox of knowledge that transforms the knower.
107 traditions
31,093 occurrences
718 mapped motifs
10 sub-families
- aboriginal australian
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- armenian
- arthurian
- australian aboriginal
- basque
- bavili
- biblical
- buddhist
- burmese
- buryat mongol
- caucasian
- celtic
- celtic irish
- celtic welsh
- chaco amerindian
- christian
- christian apocrypha
- comparative
- confucian
- daoist
- egyptian
- ekoi
- estonian
- ethiopian christian
- fijian
- filipino
- finnic
- finnish karelian
- fjort
- ganda
- georgian
- germanic
- gnostic
- greek
- greek roman
- guiana amerindian
- hausa
- hawaiian
- hermetic
- hindu
- hopi
- inca
- indigenous australian
- inuit
- islamic
- islamicate folklore
- jain
- japanese
- jewish christian
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- khoekhoe
- khoisan south african
- kikuyu
- kimbundu
- korean
- malagasy
- malay
- mangaian
- maori
- maya
- maya quiche
- melanesian
- mesopotamian
- micronesian
- mongol
- nahua
- nahua maya inca
- native american california
- native american great lakes
- native american northeast woodlands
- native american northwest coast
- native american plains
- native american plateau
- native american southeast
- native american southwest
- navajo
- norse
- oceanic
- persian
- roman
- romanian
- samoan
- san
- shan
- shinto
- siberian
- sikh
- slavic
- sufi
- taoist
- temne
- tibetan buddhist
- tongan
- vietnamese
- xhosa
- yoruba
- zoroastrian
- zulu
- zuni
Conserved neighbors: initiation · sacrifice · theophany · trickster · sacred substance · prophecy divination
Sub-families · the next landing down
Revelation and Scripture
56 motifs
- Angelic mediation of revelation 3 occurrences · 2 traditions
- islamic
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- abrogated or vanished revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- angel-mediated descent of revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- angelic transmission of ritual practice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Betrayed secret disclosed by divine revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- book as necessary vessel for preserving a complex vision 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Burning of condemned writings 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Contested revelation accused of poetry, legend, or sorcery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Corrupted earlier scripture contrasted with protected later scripture 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- created divine word in written copies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- custody of a sacred transcript 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- death by poisoned book or pages 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- declaration of divine unity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Destruction of sacred or philosophical writings by fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Disputed revelation attributed to human teachers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Divine disclosure of a hidden secret 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine incomparability and anti-anthropomorphic caution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine message to humans 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- divine purification through revealed religion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine truthfulness and changeless form 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- divine unity and incomparability 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine unity and non-generation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- found writing with contents suited to one hearer but not another 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Gradual descent of sacred scripture 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Heavenly decree and mediated revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- hidden hearts and secrets revealed or known by God 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Hidden or alternative sacred books used as authority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- humble recognition of revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- humble sacred recitation and angelic worship 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- living word superior to written sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- miraculous scripture or sacred book 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- oral and written preservation of sacred revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- parcelled revelation over time 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- preservation of threatened revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Prophetic proclamation becomes sacred book 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- public interreligious disputation before royal and popular witnesses 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- recovery of a buried ancient work 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Rejected tangible revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejection of astral divine agency under monotheistic correction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejection of prophetic revelation as sorcery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejection of revelation as magic or human speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- restoration of primordial monotheism 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- revealed recitation as guidance and warning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- revelation as recitation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Revelation confirming earlier revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- sacred book as miracle or divine oracle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Sacred recitation overwhelms the hearer 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- sacred speech used for religious defense 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- sacred text as inimitable miracle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Sacred utterance of a deity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- scriptural inimitability challenge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Scriptural succession and confirmation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Successive dispensations of written revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- supernatural beings converted by sacred recitation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Supernatural conversion through sacred recitation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- vindication of monotheistic teaching 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Prophet and Prophetic Mission
15 motifs
- accusation of foreign source for revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- chosen helpers who bear witness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Chosen twelve as doctrinal propagators 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Claimant prophet brings radical communal doctrine 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- closure of revelation with final prophet 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine presence transmitted through successive persons 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divinely protected messenger commissioned to proclaim revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- final prophet after earlier prophets 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- humble claimant interrupts learned authority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Prophet foretold in earlier revelation by a name or title 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic continuity without distinction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic succession and scriptural inheritance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- protected apostolic revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Rejected messenger in continuity with earlier apostles 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- wronged prophet as model of patience 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Wisdom Teaching and Moral Instruction
78 motifs
- Wisdom 27,751 occurrences · 106 traditions
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- +98 more
- Sacred Theft 1,284 occurrences · 90 traditions
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- armenian
- +82 more
- death of the mind as greater sorrow than bodily death 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- secret speech against an all-hearing enemy 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- celtic
- celtic welsh
- threefold distance from truth 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- usefulness of uselessness 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- daoist
- taoist
- adviser fails to follow own counsel 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- agonistic debate as combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- agonistic debate between questioner and forceful opponent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- ally-counselor restores courage after apparent defeat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ancestral inheritance overcome by conscious action 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- ancient exemplum used to overcome revenge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- apparent cruelty explained by hidden cause 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Apparent weakness becomes advantage 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Appeal from lesser authority to supreme teacher 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- ascetic imitation of an ancient model 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- avoidance of extremes as path of happiness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Bad company leads a stronger figure into danger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Brahmanical power overcomes martial weaponry 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Carpe diem before death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- character shaped by overheard speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Corruption of gifted nature through bad education 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- counsel awakens dormant heroic valor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Dead ancestor or master gives counsel 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- deathbed counsel to prevent kin-strife 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- dependent motion through hidden causes 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- didactic past-life identification 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Distance from truth by degrees 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- education as an indelible imprint 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- education as indelible coloring 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Education through disciplined aesthetic formation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- endurance through address to the heart 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- enemy scout captured as source of spoils and knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- External aims cause loss of proper nature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- fatal misunderstanding of ambiguous speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- forbidden warning by loyal companion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- God-favored mortal instructed in wealth-getting arts 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Guidance on the straight path 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- healing through confession to a wise female helper 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Humility increases with promotion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- ideal realized in death and misery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- impartial endurance and benevolence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Impartial virtue modeled on natural elements 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Internal division destroys strength 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- loss of original nature through imposed refinement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- Mistaken helper harms the one he intends to comfort 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- moral reform through corrective instruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Natural disposition harmed by artificial cultivation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- natural integrity damaged by artificial control 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- Olympian fellowship of arts and refinement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- one and many virtues 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- one virtue contrasted with many vices 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- past appointing future conduct 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- patriarchal precepts remembered in crisis 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- predator exploits division among prey 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- public shame for improper sacred learning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejected invention after self-recognition in water 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- reversal of moral names 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- rival good and bad counselors 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- sealed heart and failed understanding 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- searching for the sunrise in the west 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- secret withheld because allies may become enemies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- self-mastery versus inner tyranny 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- self-preserving concealment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- small creature's world mistaken for a vast sea 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- small danger becomes destructive if neglected 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- Speech as an ordered living body 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- spiritual incapacity figured as deadness, deafness, and blindness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- testing inherited tradition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Tyranny as inner enslavement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Unused hoarded wealth is equivalent to worthless substitute 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Useless tree theme 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- virtue as health of the soul 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- warning despite command to be silent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- wealth fails to confer immortality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- wise warning against provoking a sleeping destructive power 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- worldly appearance contrasted with the next life 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- worldly splendor contrasted with the next life 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Esoteric and Hidden Knowledge
13 motifs
- Forbidden Knowledge 1,326 occurrences · 94 traditions
- aboriginal australian
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- arctic inuit
- armenian
- +86 more
- Allegorical figures explained by a host 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Awakening from dreamlike ignorance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- cave as constricted world of appearances 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Concealment and ill-fated disclosure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- cryptic written disclosure of concealed wrongdoing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Egypt as a source of potent herbs and medical knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- enemy spy learns the source of supernatural advantage 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- esoteric secret doctrine 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- movement from darkness into light 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- transformative ingestion of a dragon’s heart 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Veiled esoteric teaching 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- wandering holy man knows hidden treasure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
Signs and Recognition
16 motifs
- child's speech exposes concealed food 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- Demand for a validating sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Demand for extraordinary signs from a human messenger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- demand for heavenly written proof 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Demand for revelatory sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Demand for tangible or angelic proof rejected 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- desire for a marvel at the wrong time 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- hero recognizes false identity by speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- impossible food as proof device 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- inscribed signs requiring interpretation across groups 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- intimate memory as authentication sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- miracle signs tested against deeper evidence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Prophetic sign overcomes worldly power or skill 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Recognition by secret knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- voice exposes false identity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- wound-reading identifies attackers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Inspired Speech and Eloquence
12 motifs
- drinking blood for inspiration 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- blind poet receives identity through blindness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- celestial musician 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Divine inspiration of eloquence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Former humans as divine messengers of song 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Fourfold sacred inspiration 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- hidden origin of inspired song 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- inspired speech in a holy place 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Invocation of divine helpers for inspired speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Place-inspired eloquence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- poetic inspiration through sweet lips and fragrant book 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- seeress consulted before a military journey 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Magic Through Speech and Name
17 motifs
- capture caused by revealing voice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- divine totality encoded in speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- failed invincible spell 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Ineffective verbal formula contrasted with action 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- interrupted healing incantation leaves permanent wound 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- invocation of cosmic and chthonic powers for magical operation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Liberation from enchantment through revealed recitation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Magic control over ghosts and lower-world powers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- magic speech summoning collective powers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- music enchanting animals and trees 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- name explaining destiny or character 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- prophetic or speaking severed head 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- ritual formulaic speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Sacred name as refuge and protection 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- secret magical concealment condition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- supernatural music commanding nature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- truthful declaration brings miraculous aid 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
Cosmos and Cosmology
20 motifs
- Animated speaking cosmos 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- cosmic decree of impermanent pleasure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- cosmic record of divine decrees 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- cosmic writing of decrees 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Cosmos as game board or field 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- cosmos as illuminated image-container 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- divine decree inscribed on a heavenly record 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- guidance by celestial observation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- image and original as graded reality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Imitative image removed from truth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Immortal soul as source of motion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Immortality and unity of the created state 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- indestructible immortal soul 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- macrocosm examined before microcosm 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- personal deity and impersonal principle as parallel expressions 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- pre-created book of destiny 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- predestination as hidden divine mystery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Problem of evil under one almighty agent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- tripartite ordering of the soul and lives 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Tripartite soul or three inner principles 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Falsehood and False Teaching
9 motifs
- Deceptive speech as empty or unstable form 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Dangerous speech displaced to another speaker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- deceptive entertainment diverting from sacred teaching 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- deceptive flattery exposed and rejected 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- False all-wise enchanter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- False teachers serving tyranny 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- False textual alteration exposed before public assembly 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- rival prophet imitates established revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Secret instruction followed by public claim of revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Knowledge Through Animals and Nature
13 motifs
- Animal as moral emblem 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- animal explanation of human life stages 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animal informer carrying hidden knowledge to a divine master 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- animal morally transformed by human speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- creation joins a holy figure in divine praise 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- fruit leads ruler to hidden tree and animal encounter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- marvellous nonhuman speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- nature and animals joined in sacred praise 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- personified tree as moral speaker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- questioning the natural world as witness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- secret revealed by nature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- speaking enchanted fish reveal hidden mystery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- virtues taught through natural and cosmic exemplars 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
Not yet placed in a sub-family
469 motifs, showing the 60 most attested
- catalogue of divine names or epithets 4 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- catalogue of divine names 3 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- sympathetic magic as practical knowledge 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- australian aboriginal
- indigenous australian
- animal qualities as models for monastic discipline 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Faith inscribed in the heart and strengthened by Spirit 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Revelation preserved through writing and memorization 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- abridged sacred or disciplinary recitation under threat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Abrogating revelation replaces an earlier verse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- acceptance of a divine word 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- Acquisition of net-making knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Acquisition of planting knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- filipino
- adorned heavenly book displayed to prophet 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Affliction transformed into learning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- biblical
- alteration or erasure of the fate record 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Alternative privately read sacred book 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Analogy of bodily suffering used to explain indirect knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- ancestral language transmission 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- ancient precedent as practical guide 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- Ancient record validated by celestial correspondence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- ancient records recovered from a royal tomb 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- ancient writing as difficult or lost knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- maya
- angelic authorization of sacred writing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- arthurian
- angelic transmission of revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animal informants with partial knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Animal messenger reveals hidden speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- akan
- Animal metaphor for social hierarchy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Animal song becomes known after human discovery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Animal treats overheard human speech as personal instruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- animals recognize or receive sacred discourse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- apparent smallness containing inexhaustible vastness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- appeal to authoritative teaching for judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- appearance contrasted with immutable reality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- appearance mistaken for reality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- appearance versus reality of virtue 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- appointed ritual place for communal recitation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Artisanship as breaking natural integrity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- astral causality corrected to divine providence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Audibility of sacred or disciplinary recitation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Authoritative tradition supplementing scripture 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- authorized recension replacing variant copies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Authorized vernacular transmission of sacred teaching 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- avoid splendid objects and choose the humble object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
- Balanced character: substance and ornament 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- Beneficent and harmful uses of magical knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- blocked understanding through veiled hearts and deaf ears 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- body as ally or instrument of mind 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- body made transparent to inner thought 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- book as lure beyond familiar boundaries 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Bride reward decided by public proof of knowledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- akan
- Buried ancient narrative restored 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Canonical rehearsal by a fixed sacred number of monks 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- captive woman threatened but spared by counsel 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Causal chain of existence and suffering 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- causal cycle without apparent first beginning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- cave as confined field of perception 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- celestial and environmental wayfinding 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- inuit
- Celestial bodies rejected as objects of worship 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Challenge to produce equivalent revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Changing phenomena contrasted with changeless Buddha nature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Child witness tells hidden supernatural truth but is disbelieved 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
Each motif link opens its evidence page: every tagged passage with its quote, and a path into the book where the passage lives.