<![CDATA[This paper discusses the urgency and significance of Tor-Tor Sombah in the traditional ceremony of the death of Saur Matua in the Toba Batak community. Tor-Tor Sombah is believed to be able to create brotherly bonds between those who are present at the death ceremony of people who are perfect in kinship. The person is called Saur Matua, which means complete or perfect, that is, a person who has had children and grandchildren, and is successful in life both socially and materially. The signs found on Tor-tor Sombah in the traditional ceremony of the death of Saur Matua such as sijaragon, ulos rake, andung, tandok, costumes, and movements. All of these signs were analyzed through Peirce's theory of Semiotics which includes icons, indexes, and symbols, so that the emic meaning of the presence of Tor-tor Sombah at the traditional ceremony of Saur Matua's death, among others was about pride, respect, and gratitude.Keywords: Tor-Tor Sombah; death rituals; Saur Matua; Batak; Peirce's Semiotics AbstrakTulisan ini membahas tentang urgensi dan signifikansi dari Tor-Tor Sombah dalam upacara adat kematian Saur Matua pada masyarakat Batak Toba. Tor-Tor Sombah dipercayai dapat mewujudkan ikatan persaudaraan antara sesama yang hadir di dalam upacara kematian orang yang sempurna dalam kekerabatan. Orang tersebut disebut Saur Matua, yang artinya lengkap atau sempurna, yaitu orang yang telah beranak cucu, dan berhasil dalam kehidupan baik secara sosial serta secara materi. Tanda-tanda yang terdapat pada Tor-tor Sombah dalam upacara adat kematian Saur Matua seperti sijaragon, ulos saput, andung, tandok, kostum, dan gerak. Kesemua tanda-tanda itu dianalisis melalui teori Semiotika Peirce yang meliputi tentang ikon, indeks, dan simbol, sehingga ditemukan makna emik dari kehadiran Tor-tor Sombah pada upacara adat kematian Saur Matua, antara lain tentang kebanggaan, penghormatan, juga tentang rasa terimakasih.Kata Kunci: Tor-Tor Sombah; ritual kematian; Saur Matua; Batak; Semiotika Peirce ]]>
