batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l7767-l7813
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l7767-l7813
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
passage_locator:
label: MACAULAY. / CHAPTER II. THE PERILS OF THE SOUL. / HEINE. / CHAPTER III. KILLING
THE GOD.; lines 7767-7813
start: '7767'
end: '7813'
translation: 'The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)'
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'Frazer compares harvest customs involving a rice soul or crop spirit:
Dyak rites secure the soul of the rice in grains and later sow part of it; Karen
formulas summon the rice soul back to failing fields; and a Javanese rice-harvest
rite treats selected rice ears as a Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom with wedding
and bridal-chamber observances before the harvest is housed.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The Dyaks of Northern Borneo hold a special harvest feast whose stated object
is to secure the soul of the rice so that the produce will not rot and decay.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: In one Dyak form of the rite, a priest catches the rice soul as a few grains
of rice in a white cloth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: In another Dyak form, a shed, altar, bamboo posts, white streamer, dancing,
music, and spectators are part of the harvest rite.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: During the Dyak altar rite, elders and priests seize the white streamer, an
elder shakes the bamboos, and small stones, hair bunches, and rice grains fall
and are collected.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The passage identifies the collected rice grains in the Dyak rite as the soul
of the rice.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: At sowing time, some of the collected soul of the rice is planted with other
seeds and thereby propagated and communicated.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The Karens of Burma suppose that an unflourishing rice-field may result from
the rice soul being detained from the rice.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The Karen formula calls the rice-kelah to come back to the field and rice
from many directions, rivers, animals, regions, kingdoms, and granaries.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: In Java, before reaping begins, a priest or sorcerer selects ears of rice,
ties them together, anoints them, and adorns them with flowers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The decorated rice ears in the Javanese rite are called the Rice-bride and
the Rice-bridegroom, and their wedding feast is celebrated before cutting begins.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: When the Javanese rice is being brought in, a bridal chamber is made in the
barn with a new mat, a lamp, and toilet articles.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Sheaves of rice are placed beside the Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom as wedding
guests, and for forty days after housing the rice no one may enter the barn for
fear of disturbing the newly-wedded pair.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Dyaks of Northern Borneo
description: People described as holding harvest rites to secure the soul of the
rice.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Dyak priest
description: Ritual specialist who may catch the rice soul in a white cloth and
participates in seizing the white streamer.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Dyak elders
description: Ritual participants who rush at and seize the white streamer; one elder
leaps on the altar and shakes the bamboos.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Dyak dancers and attendants
description: Men and women dance near the altar; attendants pick up the fallen objects
and rice grains.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Soul of the rice
description: Described in Dyak rites as present in a few grains of rice and in collected
grains that are later planted with seed.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Karens of Burma
description: People described as recalling the rice soul when a rice-field does
not flourish.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Rice-kelah
description: Karen term in the passage for the soul of the rice, addressed in a
recall formula.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Javanese priest or sorcerer
description: Ritual specialist who selects, ties, anoints, and adorns rice ears
before reaping.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom
description: Decorated ears of rice in Java, named as a bride and bridegroom and
treated as a newly wedded pair.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Rice sheaves as wedding guests
description: Sheaves of rice placed beside the Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom to
represent wedding guests.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: harvest-rite community
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:6
basis: The passage attributes harvest or crop-soul rites to these peoples.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: ritual specialist
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:8
basis: The passage describes a priest, or priest/sorcerer, performing ritual actions
connected with the rice soul or rice bride-pair.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: elder ritual actor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Elders seize the streamer, and an elder shakes the bamboos on the altar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: ritual participants and collectors
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Dancers move near the altar, and attendants collect fallen objects and grains.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: crop soul
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:7
basis: The passage explicitly calls the relevant rice grains or kelah the soul of
the rice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: personified crop marriage pair
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Decorated rice ears are called the Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom, given
a wedding feast, and treated as newly wedded.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: represented wedding guests
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Sheaves of rice are placed beside the Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom to represent
wedding guests.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: rice grains as rice soul
literal_form: few grains of rice or collected grains identified as the soul of the
rice
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: white cloth or streamer
literal_form: white cloth used to catch the rice soul; long narrow white streamer
hanging from a bamboo at the altar
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: altar with bamboo posts
literal_form: high spacious altar with lofty bamboos with leafy tops at the corner-posts
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: rice-kelah recall
literal_form: spoken formula summoning the soul of the rice to the field and rice
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom
literal_form: selected rice ears tied together, anointed, flower-adorned, named
as bride and bridegroom
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: bridal chamber in barn
literal_form: partitioned barn space furnished with a new mat, lamp, and toilet
articles
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: forty-day restriction
literal_form: forty-day period during which no one may enter the barn after the
rice is housed
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Dyak securing of the rice soul at harvest
summary: At harvest, Dyak rites secure the soul of the rice either by catching grains
in a white cloth or through an altar rite in which participants seize a streamer,
shake bamboos, and collect fallen grains identified as the rice soul.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Dyak propagation of the rice soul at sowing
summary: At sowing time, some of the previously secured rice soul is planted with
other seeds so that it is propagated and communicated.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Karen recall of the rice-kelah
summary: When a rice-field fails to flourish, the Karens suppose the rice soul may
be detained, and a formula summons it back to the field and rice from many places.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Javanese rice wedding before reaping
summary: Before reaping, a priest or sorcerer selects and adorns rice ears, names
them Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom, and celebrates their wedding feast before
cutting begins.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Javanese bridal chamber and post-harvest restriction
summary: As the harvest is housed, a bridal chamber is prepared in the barn, rice
sheaves are placed as wedding guests, and entry to the barn is forbidden for forty
days to avoid disturbing the newly wedded pair.
figure_refs:
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: securing the soul of the crop
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Dyak rites aim to detain the soul of the rice, represented in grains
collected through ritual action, so the crop will not decay and future seed can
receive it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level motif label, not a supplied taxonomy identifier.
- id: motif:2
label: recalling the absent crop soul
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Karen explanation for crop failure is that the rice soul is detained,
and the formula calls the rice-kelah back from many locations to the field and
rice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the formula but does not describe the full ritual context
beyond its use in recalling the rice soul.
- id: motif:3
label: ritual marriage of crop spirits
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
basis: The Javanese rite names decorated rice ears as Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom,
celebrates their wedding feast, houses them in a bridal chamber, and protects
them as a newly wedded pair.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is based on explicit bride, bridegroom, wedding
feast, and bridal chamber language in the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: harvest-to-sowing continuity of crop vitality
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The Dyak rice soul is secured at harvest and later planted with other seeds
at sowing time to propagate and communicate it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The seasonal-cycle classification is inferred from the passage’s harvest
and sowing sequence, not from an explicit phrase in the text.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The Dyak and Karen examples share the function of treating crop success as
dependent on the presence or recovery of a rice soul.
claim_level: same_function
target: Dyak securing of the rice soul and Karen recalling of the rice-kelah
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: 'The specific ritual procedures differ: Dyak rites secure or plant
rice-soul grains, while the Karen example centers on a recall formula.'
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage presents the Javanese Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom as a parallel
to the European custom of representing the corn-spirit in the double form of bride
and bridegroom.
claim_level: same_motif
target: European corn-spirit represented as bride and bridegroom
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage states the parallel but gives no detailed European example
within this line range beyond the bride-and-bridegroom formulation.
- id: claim:3
claim: The passage uses Dyak harvest customs as comparative evidence for interpreting
European peasant harvest customs.
claim_level: same_function
target: European peasant harvest customs
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The European customs are referred to generally here; their specific
actions are not described in this passage.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 7767-7773
quote_or_summary: The passage says Dyaks of Northern Borneo hold a harvest feast
whose object is to secure the soul of the rice so the farm produce will not rot
and decay.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 7773-7775
quote_or_summary: One mode described is that the priest catches the soul of the
rice, in the form of a few rice grains, in a white cloth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 7775-7787
quote_or_summary: Another Dyak rite uses a shed, high altar, leafy bamboo posts,
a white streamer, dancing, music, seizure of the streamer, shaking of bamboos,
and collection of fallen stones, hair, and rice grains; the grains are identified
as the soul of the rice.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 7787-7789
quote_or_summary: At sowing time, some of the rice soul is planted with the other
seeds and is thereby propagated and communicated.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 7789-7793
quote_or_summary: The Karens of Burma are said to feel the need to secure the rice
soul; if a rice-field does not flourish, they suppose the rice soul is detained
from the rice, and if it cannot be called back the crop will fail.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 7793-7802
quote_or_summary: The Karen formula summons the rice-kelah to come to the field
and rice from rivers, directions, animals, river sources and mouths, countries,
distant kingdoms, and granaries.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 7802-7809
quote_or_summary: At the rice-harvest in Java, before reaping, a priest or sorcerer
selects ears of rice, ties them together, smears them with ointment, adorns them
with flowers, calls them the Rice-bride and Rice-bridegroom, celebrates their
wedding feast, and then cutting begins.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 7809-7813
quote_or_summary: When the Javanese rice is housed, a bridal chamber is made in
the barn with a new mat, lamp, and toilet articles; rice sheaves represent wedding
guests; no one may enter the barn for forty days to avoid disturbing the newly
wedded pair.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 7767-7770; 7802-7804
quote_or_summary: Frazer frames Dyak harvest customs as a comparison for European
peasant harvest customs, and separately says the European corn-spirit in the double
form of bride and bridegroom is paralleled by a Javanese rice-harvest custom.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage directly describes the rites.
Motif and comparison labels require modest abstraction from Frazer's comparative
framing.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No external taxonomy IDs beyond the supplied motif-family list were used; available symbol taxonomy did not include rice, cloth, altar, barn, or bride-pair.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg__l7767-l7813
passage_sha256=c2180916a0f6e15dce7ef5510d5605562b090b10b5e91b86427145d63a72814d