The Contribution of Legal Semiotics in Unveiling Traditional Legal Texts: A Case Study of Structural Analysis of The Simbur Cahaya Law

Authors

  • Yamin Universitas Pancasila, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38035/jgsp.v3i4.532

Keywords:

Legal Semiotics, Traditional Legal Texts, Simbur Cahaya Law, Philology, Customary Law

Abstract

This study discusses the contribution of legal semiotics in uncovering the meaning of traditional legal texts through a case study of the Simbur Cahaya Law (UUSC), a 17th-century codification of Palembang customary law. This study begins with the gap between the written norms resulting from the codification of tradition and the reality of the application of customary law in society. The study aims to explain the position of the UUSC codification text in the Indonesian legal system, analyze its philosophical, sociological, and juridical validity, and interpret the codification process through a legal semiotic perspective. The method used combines philological research—including manuscript inventory, description, comparison, and text editing—with normative legal research and the support of the semiotic theories of Saussure and Peirce. The results show that the UUSC is a normative artifact that reflects the combination of customary law and Islamic values and is relevant in understanding the social construction of traditional law. Through semiotic analysis, it is found that the UUSC text is not simply a written rule, but a system of signs that reflects the social structure, cultural values, and legal dynamics of the Uluan Palembang community. This study emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to interpreting traditional legal texts in the context of modern law.

References

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Published

2025-11-25

How to Cite

Yamin. (2025). The Contribution of Legal Semiotics in Unveiling Traditional Legal Texts: A Case Study of Structural Analysis of The Simbur Cahaya Law. Jurnal Greenation Sosial Dan Politik, 3(4), 1080–1088. https://doi.org/10.38035/jgsp.v3i4.532

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 4 (2025): Jurnal Greenation Sosial dan Politik (November 2025 - Januari 2026)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Yamin

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