Most scholars believe the Hani originated in Tibet and moved down to southern China many centuries ago. Hani legends state their ancestors lived in 1,000 homes on a plain far to the north of their present location.

Among the Hani it is important to be able to recite their genealogy back to the progenitor of their race, Sm Mi O.

The Hani live near the Laos border with Yunnan Province, China. The vast majority of Hani live in southwest China.

The Hani are a needy and poverty-stricken people. They have a high infant mortality rate; many of their children die during infancy. The Hani life expectancy is just 58 years.

Most are rice farmers who skillfully build their terraces on mountain and hill slopes, using irrigation canals and dams. They use different kinds of pickaxes, hoes, spades, water buffalo drawn plows, and tillers for farming. Fertilizers, especially cattle dung, are used for farming. Cattle production is also slowly developing among the Hani.

A few Hani still practice slash and burn agriculture. These farmers generally live in separate groups, each with a few families, far away from each other.

Most Hani families are patrilineal, meaning that the line of descent is through the father. The father or eldest brother is the head of the family and makes all the decisions. Two to four family branches make up a clan. The members of each clan have a patronymic (name that is derived from a common father or ancestor).

Young Hani men and women are allowed to choose their marriage partner, but with parental consent. Wedding rituals vary from district to district. However, it is customary for the husband to live in the wife's home for three to four years.

The Hani like handicrafts such as wickerwork, cotton weaving, and dyeing. Their folk arts and literature are also fairly well developed. Many stories of literary and historic value, as well as folk tales, have been passed down. A number of Hani poems are about marriage and other customs.

The Hani have a legend of a lost book. They claim they once had their own script, which was written on buffalo skin by the Creator God. On a long journey the Hani got hungry and ate the book, and ever since have been without a written script.

The Hani have three major religious clergymen. The zuima is a male from the oldest household who directs all religious activities. The beima perform magic rites and exorcisms. Male and female nima make predictions and administer medicinal herbs.

The Hani people need skilled followers of Christ to help them with their many medical needs.

Pray for the Lord to thrust out loving and faithful workers to set up pre-natal care clinics among the Hani people in Laos.

Pray that hindrances to the advance of the gospel among the Hani be removed.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among the Hani people of Laos and China.

Scripture Prayers for the Hani in Laos.