Tzolkʼin facts for kids
The Tzolkʼin (pronounced tsol-KEEN) is a special 260-day calendar used by the ancient Maya people in Mesoamerica. It was a very important part of their daily life and religious ceremonies. Even today, some Maya communities in Guatemala still use the Tzolkʼin calendar.
The word Tzolkʼin means "division of days" in the Yukatek Maya language. However, the Maya groups who have used this calendar for hundreds of years have their own names for it. For example, the Kʼicheʼ call it Aj Ilabal Qʼij, which means 'the sense of the day' or 'the round of the days'. The Kaqchikel call it Chol Qʼij, meaning 'the organization of time'. The ancient Maya's original name for this calendar is not fully known. The Aztecs had a similar calendar called tonalpohualli.
Contents
Understanding the Tzolkʼin Calendar
The Tzolkʼin calendar works by combining two cycles:
- A cycle of twenty different day names.
- A cycle of thirteen numbers.
When these two cycles combine, they create 260 unique days (20 × 13 = 260). Each day name is paired with a number from 1 to 13. After 13, the numbers start again at 1, while the day names continue through their cycle of twenty.
The Twenty Day Names
Here are the twenty special names for the days in the Tzolkʼin calendar, along with their meanings and symbols:
| Number | Day Name | Symbol (Glyph) | Meaning or Association | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Imix |  |
 |
Waterlily, crocodile, earth |
| 02 | Ikʼ |  |
 |
Wind, breath, life force |
| 03 | Akʼbʼal |  |
 |
Darkness, night, early dawn |
| 04 | Kʼan |  |
 |
Net, sacrifice, maize |
| 05 | Chikchan |  |
 |
Cosmic snake |
| 06 | Kimi |  |
 |
Death |
| 07 | Manikʼ |  |
 |
Deer |
| 08 | Lamat |  |
 |
Venus, star, ripe maize seeds |
| 09 | Muluk |  |
 |
Jade, water, offering |
| 10 | Ok |  |
 |
Dog |
| 11 | Chuwen |  |
 |
Howler monkey, craftsman |
| 12 | Ebʼ |  |
 |
Rain |
| 13 | Bʼen |  |
 |
Green/young maize, seed |
| 14 | Ix |  |
 |
Jaguar, night sun |
| 15 | Men |  |
 |
Eagle, wise one |
| 16 | Kibʼ |  |
 |
Wax, soul, insect |
| 17 | Kabʼan |  |
 |
Earth, earthquake, thought |
| 18 | Etzʼnabʼ |  |
 |
Flint, sacrificial blade |
| 19 | Kawak |  |
 |
Rain storm, celestial dragon |
| 20 | Ajaw |  |
 |
Lord, ruler, sun god |
The Tzolkʼin calendar does not have a clear start or end point. However, some ancient books suggest that 1 Imix was considered the first day. Each of the twenty days has a main meaning linked to its name.
Day Meanings and Associations
- Imix: Represents the crocodile, which symbolizes the Earth.
- Ik: Means wind, breath, and life. It can also be linked to strong forces.
- Akbal: Stands for night, darkness, and the underworld.
- Kan: Represents maize (corn), abundance, and ripeness.
- Chicchan: Symbolizes the celestial snake.
- Cimi: Means death.
- Manik: Represents the deer and the Lord of the Hunt.
- Lamat: Linked to the planet Venus and stars. It can also mean ripe maize grains.
- Muluc: Symbolizes water, often shown as jade, and fish.
- Oc: Represents the dog, who guides the sun through the underworld at night.
- Chuen: Means monkey, a symbol of great craftsmanship and knowledge.
- Eb: Represents grass or a point, linked to rain and storms.
- Ben: Means reed, which helps corn and people grow.
- Ix: Represents the jaguar and the night sun. It is also linked to maize.
- Men: Symbolizes the eagle, wisdom, birds, and the moon.
- Cib: Represents the owl or vulture, often linked to death. It can also mean wax or soul.
- Caban: Means earthquake, showing powerful force. It also relates to seasons and thought.
- Etzʼnab: Represents a knife, especially a sacrificial obsidian blade.
- Cauac: Means rain or storm, linked to celestial dragon serpents and thunder gods.
- Ahau: Means lord or ruler, representing the bright sun god.
How the Maya Used the Tzolkʼin
The ancient Maya used the Tzolkʼin calendar a lot in their writings and special books called codices. Even today, modern Maya communities use this calendar for many purposes:
- Farming: The Tzolkʼin helps them know the best times for planting and harvesting Maize (corn). For example, some days might be important for planting just before the rainy season.
- Training Leaders: The 260-day cycle is used to train the Aj Kʼij, who are 'calendar diviners' or spiritual guides. After about nine months of training, a new diviner is "reborn" and begins their role.
- Rituals and Celebrations: Special ceremonies are held every 260 days. A famous one is the "Initiation" celebration on 8 Chuwen in the Kʼiche town of Santa Cruz del Quiche.
- Daily Activities: Certain days are considered good for specific actions. For example, a low-numbered Akʼabʼal or Bʼen day might be good for a wedding. A Kʼan day could be good for building or fixing a house.
- Divination: People use the calendar to predict future events or understand situations. They might count forward from a specific day to find a day that gives them answers.
- Naming Children: Traditional Maya names are often based on the calendar day a person was born. Like in other systems, a person's characteristics might be linked to their birth day.
Where Did the Tzolkʼin Come From?
The 260-day calendar was used across the entire Mesoamerican region. It is thought to be the oldest and most important calendar system, even older than its first appearances in Maya writings. The earliest signs of this calendar might be from an ancient inscription in a cave called Oxtotitlán, dating back to 800-500 BCE.
Scientists are not entirely sure why this calendar has 260 days, as it doesn't directly match any obvious astronomical cycle. However, there are a few ideas:
- Numbers 13 and 20: The Maya considered the numbers 13 and 20 very important. Their counting system was based on 20 (like our system is based on 10), possibly because of the total number of human fingers and toes. The number 13 symbolized the levels of the Upperworld where the gods lived. When you multiply 13 by 20, you get 260.
- Human Pregnancy: One popular idea is that the 260-day period is similar to the length of a human pregnancy. It's thought that ancient midwives might have developed this calendar to help predict when babies would be born.
- Sun's Path: Another idea suggests it relates to the sun's path. In a specific narrow area of Mesoamerica, the sun is directly overhead twice a year, with about 260 days between these events. This period might have been important for planting corn.
- Multiple Reasons: It's also possible that the number 260 has several different origins, combining these different ideas.
The Tzolkʼin and Modern Ideas
The Tzolkʼin calendar has inspired some modern ideas, like the "Dreamspell" calendar. This calendar was created by an author named José Argüelles and mixes elements from Maya culture with other ideas. It's important to remember that Dreamspell is a new creation and not an exact copy of the original Maya calendar.
The mathematical patterns of the Tzolkʼin have also inspired music. Composers have translated the calendar's structure into musical notes and even full orchestral pieces.
zh:瑪雅曆#卓爾金曆
See also
In Spanish: Tzolkin para niños
