8. Let's assume
α=∠BAC⩽β=∠CBA⩽γ=∠ACB.
Let the lengths of sides BC, CA, and AB of △ABC be a, b, and c respectively. Let D and E be points on side BC such that B1D∥AB and B1E bisects ∠BB1C. Since ∠B1DB=180∘−β is an obtuse angle,
⇒BB1>B1D
⇒ECBE=B1CBB1>B1CDB1=ACAB=A1CBA1
⇒BE>BA1
⇒21∠BB1C=∠BB1E>∠BB1A1.
Similarly, 21∠BB1A>∠BB1C1.
Thus, ∠A1B1C1=∠BB1A1+∠BB1C1
<21(∠BB1C+∠BB1A)=90∘,
which means ∠A1B1C1 is an acute angle.
By symmetry, △A1B1C1 is an acute triangle.
Let BB1 intersect A1C1 at point F.
Since α⩽γ, we have a⩽c.
This implies BA1=b+cca⩽a+bac=BC1.
Thus, ∠BC1A1⩽∠BA1C1.
Since ∠B1FC1=∠BFA1⩽90∘,
⇒points H and C1 are on the same side of BB1.
Therefore, point H is inside △BB1C1.
Similarly, since α⩽β⩽γ, point H is also inside △CC1B1 and △AA1C1.
Since α⩽β⩽γ, we have α⩽60∘⩽γ.
Thus, ∠BIC⩽120∘⩽∠AIB.
If ∠AIC⩾120∘, let the rotation transformation with center A and angle −60∘ map points B, I, and H to points B′, I′, and H′, as shown in Figure 7. Then points B′ and C are on opposite sides of AB.
Since △AI′I is an equilateral triangle, we have
AI+BI+CI=II′+B′I′+IC=B′I′+I′I+IC.
Similarly,
AH+BH+CH=HH′+B′H′+HC=B′H′+H′H+HC.Since ∠AII′=∠AI′I=60∘,∠AI′B′=∠AIB⩾120∘,
and ∠AIC⩾120∘, the quadrilateral B′I′IC is non-concave and on the same side of B′C as point A.
Since point H is inside △ACC1, i.e., outside the quadrilateral B′I′IC, and H is also inside △ABI, point H′ is inside △AB′I′.
This indicates that point H′ is outside the quadrilateral B′I′IC.
Thus, the quadrilateral B′I′IC is inside the quadrilateral B′H′HC.
From equations (1) and (2), we have
AH+BH+CH⩾AI+BI+CI.
If ∠AIC<120∘, let the rotation transformation with center C and angle 60∘ map points B, I, and H to points B′, I′, and H′. Then points B′ and A are on opposite sides of BC, and similarly to the case where ∠AIC⩾120∘, we get
AH+BH+CH⩾AI+BI+CI.