The Hani people are polytheists and they profess a special adoration toward the spirits of their ancestors. They are used to practicing rituals and venerate to the different gods and thus to obtain their protection.
The religious hierarchy of the Hani people is divided into three main personages: the zuima that directs the main celebrations; the beima, responsible for practicing the exorcisms and the magical rituals; the nima that takes charge of carrying out predictions and to administer the medicinal herbs. This last charge can be performed indistinctly by men and women. Some Hani also profess Theravada Buddhism.
In the traditional Hani culture, the God adoration is the most complex which has three classifications: 1) God in the heaven such as Ouhu, Momi (the guardian of the human beings), Zuoma, Lama (God of the sun and moon), God of War and God of Conflicts and so on. 2) Gods living on the earth and beneath the earth. Gods on the earth, for instance, are God for Safeguarding the Village, God of the Earth, God of Fire, and God of Nature and so on. Gods that reside beneath the earth are Beiao God, Zhaolong God for governing one's fortunes and so on. 3) Ancestral Gods. Among all these Gods, Ouhu and Momi are the Creator and the Almighty in the world.
Ancestor worshipping is another important Hani belief. Each Hani family has a very old pedigree that passes on from father down to sons. They believe that the spirits of the ancestors resides in the tombs, Momiluoke, namely the entry to the heaven or the place where the ancestral shrine is worshiped. Therefore sacrifices should be done frequently to win the favors and protection of the God and ancestors.
Beima, in charge of various religious rituals, is classified as Yangpi (for hosting such important ritual as funerals and suchlike), Wengpi (for routine sacrifices or private rituals of less importance), and Sepi (Manily mid aged women, responsible for medical problems) according to their different social responsibilities, knowledge, capability and seniority.
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