About the Mayan Tzolkin Calendar
The Mayan Tzolkin is a sacred 260 day calendar. It joins thirteen tones with twenty day signs. Each day moves one tone forward. It also moves one sign forward. The pair creates a repeating spiritual date. This tool converts a Gregorian date into that cycle.
Why This Calculator Helps
Manual conversion can be slow. It needs a Julian day number, a correlation constant, and modular arithmetic. The calculator handles those steps for you. It also shows the long count distance from the selected correlation base. You can check the kin number, tone, day sign, trecena, and the next matching day.
Understanding Tones and Signs
The tone shows the number from one to thirteen. The sign shows the named day from Imix to Ajaw. Both parts move together. After tone thirteen, tone one starts again. After Ajaw, Imix starts again. Because thirteen and twenty share no common factor, the same pair returns after 260 days.
Using Correlation Settings
Most modern conversions use the GMT correlation constant 584283. Some researchers use nearby constants. A different constant shifts every result by the same number of days. This is why the calculator includes preset and custom options. Use one method consistently when comparing dates.
Reading the Output
The kin number places the day inside the full 260 day cycle. The trecena sign shows the sign that began the current thirteen day group. The long count fields show elapsed baktun, katun, tun, uinal, and kin units. The Haab value adds a civil calendar reference for wider context.
Practical Uses
Writers can build timelines. Students can test calendar formulas. Researchers can compare historic dates. Designers can create themed planners. Export buttons help save results for notes, lessons, or reports. The example table also gives quick checks against known dates.
Accuracy Notes
This calculator uses the proleptic Gregorian calendar. It treats every entered date with the same modern date rules. Ancient records may require expert review. Correlation debates can also affect interpretation. Always state the chosen constant when sharing a result. That makes your conversion transparent and repeatable. Save the exported file with your source date. Include the timezone used if your study compares regions or midnight boundary questions. Review stays easy.