Comparative mythology corpus

External Soul and Life-Token

108 tagged occurrences across 8 traditions.

A being's life, soul, vulnerability, shadow, reflection, or vital force is separable from the body and bound to an external object, animal, plant, body part, hidden place, or token whose capture, loss, damage, or restoration controls life and death.

108total occurrences

109child motifs

8traditions present

800 BCE to 1400 CEknown era range

Strongest Child Motifs

Life Bound To An External Object 2 External Or Detachable Soul 2 External Soul Located Outside The Body 2 Balder's Life In The Mistletoe 1 Coercion By Possession Of Another’s Life Container 1 Death By Destruction Of An External Animal Soul 1 Death Caused By Damage To External Life Object 1 Death Through Loss Of Shadow 1 Defeat By Destruction Or Possession Of The External Life Token 1 External Life Or Soul Hidden In Hair 1

Densest Traditions

Comparative 93 Roman 5 Islamicate Folklore 3 Greek/Roman 2 Hindu 2 Buddhist 1 Celtic Welsh 1 Norse 1

Reading Note

These counts are generated from tagged extraction evidence. Similarity means structural or thematic recurrence unless a source record explicitly supports historical contact.

Child Motifs

Sort

Child Motif	Relationship	Occurrences	Traditions
External Or Detachable Soul	uncertain	2	1
External Soul Located Outside The Body	narrower_than	2	1
Life Bound To An External Object	alias	2	2
Balder's Life In The Mistletoe	functional_variant	1	1
Coercion By Possession Of Another’s Life Container	functional_variant	1	1
Death By Destruction Of An External Animal Soul	child	1	1
Death Caused By Damage To External Life Object	child	1	1
Death Through Loss Of Shadow	symbolic_variant	1	1
Defeat By Destruction Or Possession Of The External Life Token	functional_variant	1	1
External Life Or Soul Hidden In Hair	narrower_than	1	1
External Life, Soul, Fate, Safety, Or Strength Kept Outside The Body	alias	1	1
External Or Vulnerable Soul	broader_label	1	1
External Soul Hidden Outside The Body	alias	1	1
External Soul Or Life Stored Outside The Body	alias	1	1
External Soul Or Separable Soul	uncertain	1	1
External Soul Secured In A Totemic Object	child	1	1
External Soul, Soul Recall, And Soul Transfer	broader_label	1	1
Externalized Life Hidden In Animals	functional_variant	1	1
Externalized Life Or Soul Stored Outside The Body	alias	1	1
False External Heart Deception	functional_variant	1	1
Hair As Seat Of Power Or Vulnerability	symbolic_variant	1	1
Injury To Shadow Causes Injury To Owner	symbolic_variant	1	1
Invulnerability Dependent On A Hidden Or External Life Object	alias	1	1
Invulnerability Through Externalized Soul	child	1	1
Life Bound To A Combustible Token	functional_variant	1	1
Life Bound To An Animal In A Cage	child	1	1
Life Bound To An External Object Burned In Fire	functional_variant	1	1
Life Or Consciousness Controlled By Handling An External Soul Object	child	1	1
Life Or Fate Stored Outside The Body In A Plant Or Animal	alias	1	1
Life Or Soul Deposited In An External Object	child	1	1
Life Object As Death Object	child	1	1
Life Token Reveals Absent Kin's Fate	functional_variant	1	1
Loss And Restoration Of Strength Through Cutting And Regrowth Of Hairs	functional_variant	1	1
Nested Concealment Of A Soul In Remote Containers	narrower_than	1	1
Nested Life Token Concealed Through Animals Or Containers	narrower_than	1	1
Noon Vulnerability Through Shortened Or Absent Shadow	symbolic_variant	1	1
Remote Guarded Hiding Place Of Life	functional_variant	1	1
Ritual Safekeeping Of The Soul Outside The Body During Danger	ritual_variant	1	1
Sacred Tree Whose Life Is Lodged In An Evergreen Growth	symbolic_variant	1	1
Secret Vulnerability Sought Through Intimate Deception	functional_variant	1	1
Shadow As External Soul Or Life Part	symbolic_variant	1	1
Shadow As Vulnerable Extension Of A Being	symbolic_variant	1	1
Soul Contained In Objects Or Vessels	alias	1	1
Soul Contained In Portable Wrapping Or Vessel	narrower_than	1	1
Soul Located At The Mouth Or Nose	symbolic_variant	1	1
Soul Located In Reflection Or External Object	alias	1	1
Strength Residing In Hair	functional_variant	1	1
Animal Counterpart Killed, Human Dies Simultaneously	functional_variant	1	1
Birth Substance Transferred To Life Plant	functional_variant	1	1
Breaking Or Burning The Token Causes Death	functional_variant	1	1
Breath Caught As Departing Soul	symbolic_variant	1	1
Capture And Confinement Of The Separable Soul	functional_variant	1	1
Conditional Invulnerability With Human Exception	functional_variant	1	1
Contagious Magic Through Severed Body Parts	functional_variant	1	1
Dangerous Reflected Image Pierced Or Harmed	symbolic_variant	1	1
Distant Token Reveals A Loved One's Disaster	functional_variant	1	1
External Life In Object, Animal, Or Stone	alias	1	1
External Life Or Soul Hidden Outside The Body	alias	1	1
External Soul Harmed To Kill Its Owner	functional_variant	1	1
External Soul Kept Outside The Body	alias	1	1
External Soul Or External Life Kept In An Object	narrower_than	1	1
External Soul Or External Life Token	alias	1	1
External Soul Or Life Bound To Another Object	narrower_than	1	1
External Soul Or Life Bound To External Object	alias	1	1
External Soul Or Life Placed Outside The Body	alias	1	1
Externalized Life, Strength, Or Soul	alias	1	1
Family Betrayal Or Revenge Destroys Life Token	functional_variant	1	1
Fatal Hair As Life Token	symbolic_variant	1	1
Fatal Loss Or Capture Of Reflection Soul In Water	functional_variant	1	1
Hidden External Soul	child	1	1
Human Life Bound To An Animal’s Life	functional_variant	1	1
Image Possession Gives Fatal Power Over The Original Person	functional_variant	1	1
Invulnerability Through Soul Removal And Guarded Soul Box	child	1	1
Life Bound To A Tree Or Plant	functional_variant	1	1
Life Bound To A Vulnerable External Object	functional_variant	1	1
Life Bound To An Animal Or Plant	alias	1	1
Life Bound To Breakable Vessel	functional_variant	1	1
Life Of Spirit Bound To Tree	functional_variant	1	1
Life Or Death Bound To An Animal Receptacle	symbolic_variant	1	1
Life Or Soul Kept Outside The Body	broader_label	1	1
Life Or Strength Externally Located	alias	1	1
Life Bound Tree Spirit	symbolic_variant	1	1
Life Index Plant	functional_variant	1	1
Life Token Hidden In Animals Or Nested Containers	child	1	1
Life Token Indicating The Absent Hero's Fate	functional_variant	1	1
Life Token Plant Indicating Absent Person's Fate	functional_variant	1	1
Lifespan Tied To A Combustible Object	functional_variant	1	1
Nested Concealment Of Life In Animal, Box, And Necklace	narrower_than	1	1
Nested Containers Of A Monster's Strength	functional_variant	1	1
Nested Containers Protecting A Life Token	narrower_than	1	1
Nested Containment Of The Vulnerable Life Token	narrower_than	1	1
Opposed Elements As Soul Location And Means Of Death	symbolic_variant	1	1
Person's Life Bound To An External Animal Counterpart	functional_variant	1	1
Plant Fruit As External Strength Vessel	functional_variant	1	1
Portrait Or Likeness Contains The Soul	functional_variant	1	1
Protective Life Token Hidden In A Ruler's Body	functional_variant	1	1
Reflection As External Soul	symbolic_variant	1	1
Secret Vulnerability Disclosed To A Deceiver Or Captive	functional_variant	1	1
Shadow Capture As Magical Restraint	functional_variant	1	1
Soul Captured Or Transported In Ritual Objects	functional_variant	1	1
Soul Identified With Life Principle	heuristic_family_name_match	1	1
Soul Leaving The Body In Animal Form	functional_variant	1	1
Soul Located Outside Or In Bodily/reflected Substances	narrower_than	1	1
Soul Stored In Object Or Container	alias	1	1
Soul Transfer To Successor	functional_variant	1	1
External Detachable Soul	alias	0	0
External Soul Hidden Life	alias	0	0
External Soul Life Object	alias	0	0
External Soul Life Token	alias	0	0

Tradition Frequency

Relative bars compare traditions inside this family.

Comparative 93 Roman 5 Islamicate Folklore 3 Greek/Roman 2 Hindu 2 Buddhist 1 Celtic Welsh 1 Norse 1

How Each Tradition Tells It

Evidence is collapsed by default so the page stays scannable.

Comparative

How This Tradition Tells It

93 occurrences

In Comparative, this family appears through External Or Detachable Soul (2), External Soul Located Outside The Body (2), Balder's Life In The Mistletoe (1). The strongest concentration is currently in The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 2 of 2) and The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2). This is a deterministic summary of 93 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
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 3265-3343	medium	Soul Captured Or Transported In Ritual Objects	record
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 3345-3421	high	Soul Contained In Portable Wrapping Or Vessel	record
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 3423-3497	high	Soul Contained In Objects Or Vessels	record
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 3499-3538	high	Capture And Confinement Of The Separable Soul	record
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 3499-3538	high	External Soul Harmed To Kill Its Owner	record
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 3499-3538	medium	Soul Stored In Object Or Container	record
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 3540-3604	high	Death Through Loss Of Shadow	record
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 3540-3604	high	Injury To Shadow Causes Injury To Owner	record

Show 85 more passages

Roman

How This Tradition Tells It

5 occurrences

In Roman, this family appears through Life Bound To A Combustible Token (1), Life Bound To An External Object (1), Life Bound To An External Object Burned In Fire (1). The strongest concentration is currently in The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV and The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII. This is a deterministic summary of 5 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII	EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 1193-1221	high	Life Of Spirit Bound To Tree	record
The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV	BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 1128-1209	high	Life Bound To An External Object	record
The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV	BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 899-983	high	Life Bound To A Combustible Token	record
The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV	BOOK XIII. / BOOK XIV. / BOOK XV. / BOOK THE EIGHTH.; lines 411-502	high	Protective Life Token Hidden In A Ruler's Body	record
The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV	OF THE / PRINCIPAL TRANSFORMATIONS MENTIONED IN / THE METAMORPHOSES. / BOOK VIII.; lines 234-271	high	Life Bound To An External Object Burned In Fire	record

Islamicate Folklore

How This Tradition Tells It

3 occurrences

In Islamicate Folklore, this family appears through Life Token Reveals Absent Kin's Fate (1), Distant Token Reveals A Loved One's Disaster (1), Life Token Indicating The Absent Hero's Fate (1). The strongest concentration is currently in The Arabian Nights Entertainments. This is a deterministic summary of 3 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
The Arabian Nights Entertainments	The Arabian Nights Entertainments; lines 10618-10728	high	Life Token Indicating The Absent Hero's Fate	record
The Arabian Nights Entertainments	The Arabian Nights Entertainments; lines 10730-10836	high	Distant Token Reveals A Loved One's Disaster	record
The Arabian Nights Entertainments	The Arabian Nights Entertainments; lines 10838-10945	high	Life Token Reveals Absent Kin's Fate	record

Greek/Roman

How This Tradition Tells It

2 occurrences

In Greek/Roman, this family appears through Life Bound To An External Object (1), Life Bound Tree Spirit (1). The strongest concentration is currently in Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome. This is a deterministic summary of 2 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome	HECATE. / SELENE (LUNA). / ARTEMIS (DIANA). / ARCADIAN ARTEMIS.; lines 2881-2924	high	Life Bound To An External Object	record
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome	OCEANIDES. / THE NEREIDES. / THE NAIADES. / DRYADES, OR TREE NYMPHS.; lines 5386-5413	high	Life Bound Tree Spirit	record

Hindu

How This Tradition Tells It

2 occurrences

In Hindu, this family appears through Conditional Invulnerability With Human Exception (1), Shadow Capture As Magical Restraint (1). The strongest concentration is currently in The Ramayan of Valmiki. This is a deterministic summary of 2 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
The Ramayan of Valmiki	Canto LII. The Exit. / Canto LXIV. The Sea. / Canto LXV. The Council. / BOOK V.(787); lines 44922-45050	high	Shadow Capture As Magical Restraint	record
The Ramayan of Valmiki	Canto XXIII. The Omens. / Canto XXIV. The Host In Sight. / Canto XXV. The Battle. / Canto XXVIII. Khara Dismounted.; lines 30643-30752	high	Conditional Invulnerability With Human Exception	record

Buddhist

How This Tradition Tells It

1 occurrences

In Buddhist, this family appears through False External Heart Deception (1). The strongest concentration is currently in The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India. This is a deterministic summary of 1 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India	CONTENTS / THE GIANT CRAB / THE HYPOCRITICAL CAT / THE CROCODILE AND THE MONKEY; lines 287-410	high	False External Heart Deception	record

Celtic Welsh

How This Tradition Tells It

1 occurrences

In Celtic Welsh, this family appears through Secret Vulnerability Sought Through Intimate Deception (1). The strongest concentration is currently in The Mabinogion. This is a deterministic summary of 1 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
The Mabinogion	PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC / GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN / THE DREAM OF RHONABWY / PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED; lines 7857-7953	high	Secret Vulnerability Sought Through Intimate Deception	record

Norse

How This Tradition Tells It

1 occurrences

In Norse, this family appears through Life Bound To A Vulnerable External Object (1). The strongest concentration is currently in Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas. This is a deterministic summary of 1 tagged motif occurrences, not a claim of historical transmission.

Text	Line Range	Confidence	Child Motif	Extraction
Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas	CHAPTER XIV: HERMOD / CHAPTER XV: VIDAR / CHAPTER XVI: VALI / CHAPTER XVII: THE NORNS; lines 6291-6393	high	Life Bound To A Vulnerable External Object	record

Converges

Shared Structure

The convergence is broad rather than concentrated in one child motif: traditions repeatedly tag passages into this family while emphasizing locally different scenes.

Diverges

Local Emphasis

Comparative leans toward External Or Detachable Soul; Hindu leans toward Conditional Invulnerability With Human Exception; Islamicate Folklore leans toward Life Token Reveals Absent Kin's Fate; Buddhist leans toward False External Heart Deception; Roman leans toward Life Bound To A Combustible Token; Norse leans toward Life Bound To A Vulnerable External Object.

Comparison Mode

Reading Rule

structuralthematiccontact not inferred

Timeline

Approximate eras from the cultural timeline index.

ca. 800-300 BCE

The Upanishads

Hindu - Vedic and early philosophical Sanskrit tradition - 2 tagged occurrences

ca. 300-100 BCE

Dhammapada, a Collection of Verses

Buddhist - Early Buddhist verse collection - 1 tagged occurrences

ca. 200 BCE-200 CE

The Song Celestial; Or, Bhagavad-Gita

Hindu - Sanskrit epic and devotional-philosophical tradition - 2 tagged occurrences

ca. 800-1270 CE

The Poetic Edda

Norse - Old Norse mythological and heroic poetic tradition - 1 tagged occurrences

ca. 1100-1400 CE

The Mabinogion

Celtic Welsh - Medieval Welsh narrative and romance tradition - 1 tagged occurrences

External Soul and Life-Token

Child Motifs

Tradition Frequency

How Each Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

How This Tradition Tells It

Shared Structure

Local Emphasis

Reading Rule

Related Families

Death, Rebirth, and Transformation

Sacred Vessel and Container

Sacred Treasures and Power Objects

Sacred Knowledge and Wisdom

Shapeshifter and Transformation

Conditional Invulnerability and Hidden Weakness

Timeline

The Upanishads

Dhammapada, a Collection of Verses

The Song Celestial; Or, Bhagavad-Gita

The Poetic Edda

The Mabinogion