In tenth grade, when we were learning about the Chinese dynasties, my AP World History teacher mentioned that the families that ruled (Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, etc.), didn't just disappear after being phased out by the dynastic cycle. Where are they now?

by aquaneedle

For example, have any died out? Are any hated for their legacies? Do people know/care about them any more?

dandan_noodles

Allegedly, the Shang Dynasty lives on through Confucius's descendents; they perform important rites for their ancestor, who traces his ancestry back to the Shang kings through the Dukes of Song, who were enfeoffed by the Zhou to perform rites for their royal ancestors.

The Qing line lives on; they have quite a few important scholars and artists among their ranks.

There are a few descendents from the Ming Dynasty House of Zhu still around; they have a communist party politician who was premier from 98-03, a Royal Society Chemist, and other academics.

The House of Zhao, from the Song Dynasty, have a family estate in Fujian, and others live in Guangdong province.