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VOL. 12, ISSUE 1 (2025)
Form, function, and meaning of symbols in traditional ceremony of Sayur Matua of the Simalungun Community
Authors
Warisman Sinaga, Ramlan Damanik
Abstract
The sayur matua ceremony is a traditional
death ceremony. This ceremony will be carried out if someone who dies has
grandchildren from sons or daughters. People who die with this status are
considered to have lived a perfect life. Therefore, a series of burial
processions must be carried out with traditional ceremonies. The main elements
of the community are the tolu sahundulan and the five saodoran, often
abbreviated as Tohunlidoran. Tolu sahundulan 'three elements in one position'
are: tondong, sanina, and anak boru. Lima saodoran 'five elements in one unit'
is the addition of two elements from the three main elements, namely suhut and
anak boru (mintori). These five elements act according to their respective
positions, functions, and roles in the traditional ceremonies carried out. At
the time of the death ceremony, speech appears accompanied by objects as
symbols. The presence of these symbols is absolute in traditional ceremonies.
The symbols are in the form of objects derived from animals, plants, and other
living equipment objects. Each object has a function and meaning. This
traditional ceremony is full of meaning. Therefore, this traditional ceremony
needs attention and revitalization. The appropriate theory used in analyzing
the problem is semiotic theory. Based on the results of the research, it is
known that there are 25 stages of traditional ceremony activities. However, not
all of these activities present symbols. The symbols that can be identified
are: demban, porsa, gotong, bulang, batu demban, pinggan, boras, apei, white
cloth, bulung, pisou pangolat, tinombu, hiou sintakan, untei pangir, and dayok
binatur. Some of these symbols are present with speech, but some are present
without speech. All of these symbols are absolutely present in the sayur matua
traditional ceremony. The research method used in this study is analytical
descriptive method, which is by structurally describing the series of events
and then analyzing them based on semiotic theory. The semiotic theory used
refers to Charles Sanders Pierce, where the sign is something that functions to
represent something else by presenting something that it represents. Each sign
can be described in terms of its form, function and meaning. The sayur matua
traditional ceremony found in the Simalungun community is a form of local
wisdom of mutual cooperation and togetherness that can realize the peace of
life.
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Pages:80-86
How to cite this article:
Warisman Sinaga, Ramlan Damanik "Form, function, and meaning of symbols in traditional ceremony of Sayur Matua of the Simalungun Community". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Vol 12, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 80-86
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