Motif
Avoidance of sharp instruments near the dead or the soul
avoidance_of_sharp_instruments_near_the_dead_or_the_soul
A motif of the Sacred Law and Social Order family, within the sub-family Taboo and Ritual Restriction. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
comparative
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The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2) CHAPTER I. THE KING OF THE WOOD. / MACAULAY. / CHAPTER II. THE PERILS OF THE SOUL. / HEINE.; lines 4265-4343 confidence: high
The passage connects the Burmese rule with customs after death that avoid sharp instruments near the ghost; Roumanians avoid an edge-up knife while the corpse is in the house lest the soul ride on the blade.
The passage lists multiple customs avoiding knives, needles, axes, edge-up blades, or cutting edges while the dead or their souls are near.
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