Definition
宗族 refers to a traditional Chinese patrilineal clan—an extended family group that shares a common surname, ancestral hall, and genealogy. It was historically the basic unit of social organization in rural China, with its own norms, leadership, and property. The concept carries strong cultural and historical weight, distinct from the general English word 'clan' which lacks the specific ritual and hierarchical structure of Chinese 宗族.
n.
patriarchal clan (a Chinese social organization based on patrilineal descent, common ancestry, and shared rituals)
Examples
- 宗族，。Zhège cūnzi lǐ de zōng zú fēicháng tuánjié, měinián dōu huì yìqǐ jìzǔ.The clan in this village is very united; they hold ancestral worship together every year.
- 宗族。zōng zú zhìdù zài lìshǐ shàng duì Zhōngguó de shèhuì jiégòu yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.The clan system had a great influence on China's social structure in history.
- 。Tā chūshēn yú yī gè yǒumíng de dà zōng zú.He comes from a famous large clan.
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