ancestors. They are used to practicing rituals to venerate the different gods and thus to obtain their protection. The religious hierarchy of the Hani 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 practice Theravada Buddhism. Language The Hani language spoken by many of the Hani belongs to the Lolo-Burmese branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Many Hani speak languages related to Lolo-Burmese languages. Oral tradition tells of an ancient written script, tradition says it was lost on the migration from Sichuan. They now use a romanization of the Luchun dialect as a written script. Subgroups China According to You Weiqiong (2013:159-160), Hani subgroups were classified as follows in 1954, with 11 primary branches. Respective locations (counties) are listed as well. Hani 哈尼 Nuobi 糯比: in Xinping, Mojiang Qidi 其弟/期弟: in Honghe, Mojiang, Puer, Zhenyuan, Sipsongpanna Mahei 麻黑: in Puer, Jinggu, Zhenyuan Luomian 罗勉: in Luquan, Wuding Lami 腊米: in Zhenyuan, Mojiang, Honghe, Sipsongpanna Kabie 卡别: in Mojiang Duota 堕塔: in Puer, Xinping, Zhenyuan Sanda 三达: in Sipsongpanna. The Sanda people live in Sanda Township 三达乡 (including in Dazhai 大寨) of Jinghong City, and speak a Yi language with many Hani loanwords (You 2013:136-137). There are 2 elderly women in Dazhai 大寨 who can only remember just over 40 words in the Sanda language. The Chinese name for this group is Sanda 三达, while the Dai name is Lanqian 兰千. The Sanda claim to have migrated from Yibang 倚邦 and Yiwu 易武. Initially, they were classified by the Chinese government as ethnic Yi, but currently they are classified as ethnic Hani. Haini 海尼: in Jinggu Huagu 花姑: in Yuanyang Aka 阿卡: in Puer Yeni 耶尼 (exonym: Kaduo 卡多): in Mojiang, Xinping, Puer, Zhenyuan, Jingdong, Jinggu, Sipsongpanna Biyue 碧约: in Mojiang, Puer, Honghe, Xinping, Zhenyuan, Simao, Jinggu, Sipsongpanna, Jingdong Haoni 豪尼 Budu 布都: in Mojiang, Puer, Honghe, Sipsongpanna, Zhenyuan, Jinggu, Simao, Xinping Bujiao 补角: in Sipsongpanna Baike 白壳: in Zhenyuan Gecuo 哥搓 (exonym: Kucong 苦聪): in Zhenyuan, Xinping, Jinping, Mojiang, Puer, Honghe, Sipsongpanna, Yuanyang, Jinggu, Jingdong, Shuangbai Axiluma 阿西鲁吗 (exonym: Ximoluo 西摩洛): in Mojiang, Puer, Honghe, Sipsongpanna, Zhenyuan, Jinggu, Simao, Jingdong Duoni 多尼: in Yuanyang, Jinping Amu