宗族 (zōng zú) refers to a traditional Chinese patrilineal clan — a kinship group bound by shared male-line ancestry, common surname, and especially the practice of worshipping ancestors together at a lineage temple (zōngmiào). The character 宗 means 'ancestral temple' or 'venerated origin', while 族 means 'clan' or 'kin group'; together, they emphasize ritual unity and descent from a founding patriarch. Historically,宗族 organized rural life, managed land and education, resolved disputes, and maintained genealogical records (jiāpǔ).

Though less dominant today,宗族 remains culturally significant in southern China, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities, especially during Qingming Festival or ancestral rites. It differs from the broader term 家族 (jiāzú, 'family') by its formal structure, collective identity, and religious-ritual focus — not just blood ties, but shared worship and lineage continuity.