Chicuei Tochtli (Mdz2r)

Chicuei Tochtli (Mdz2r)
Simplex Glyph
Notation

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This representation of the solar year (xihuitl) date, Eight Rabbit (Chicuei Tochtli), includes the notation of eight small circles (chicuei) and the simplex glyph that consists of the head of a rabbit (tochtli) shown in profile, facing to the viewer's left. The rabbit's eye is open and teeth protrude from its mouth. Its ears are somewhat upright, and the back corner of the jaw is represented with a short, curving line.

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

The number 8 is shown as two groups of small circles--of 5 and 3. This creates something of a math equation, 5 + 3. It may also echo the ancient way of counting on fingers, first the five fingers on one hand and then three on the other. While our image fails to capture it, this date was given within a box, meant to indicate that this is a date. Also, the entire box and its contents are painted over with a turquoise blue (xihuitl) wash. Year (xihuitl) and turquoise (xihuitl) are homophones. The blue coloring therefore serves as a phonetic indicator that this is a year date.

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Source Manuscript: 
Mendoza/Mendocino, Codex (Mdz)
Date of Manuscript: 

c. 1541, or by 1553 at the latest

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Mexico City

Semantic Categories: 
calendrics
year name
homophony, rebus
numbers
phonetic dimensions
Syntax: 
noun(s)
Writing Features: 
simplex or element as logogram
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Animals, incl. Birds, Bugs, Insects, Reptiles, etc.
Numbers, Math
Teeth Protruding/Noticeable
Time, Calendar, Frequency
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Colors: 
blue (turquoise)
Shapes and Perspectives: 
boxed in
circle, circular or rounded
facing left
profile view
Parts (compounds or simplex + notation): 
2
Reading Order (Compounds or Simplex + Notation): 
downward
Keywords: 

números, calendario, conejos, fechas, xiuhpohualli, año, turquesa, xihuitl

Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 

chicuei, eight, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/chicuei
toch(tli), rabbit, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/tochtli

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

Ocho Tochtli

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Codex Mendoza, folio 02 recto, https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/2fea788e-2aa2-4f08-b6d9-648c00..., image 14 of 188.

Image Source, Rights: 

The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, hold the original manuscript, the MS. Arch. Selden. A. 1. This image is published here under the UK Creative Commons, “Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License” (CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0).