BEIJING: The renowned Shaolin Temple has confirmed that its abbot, Shi Yongxin, is under official investigation for suspected embezzlement of project funds and misappropriation of temple assets.
In a notice posted on the temple’s official WeChat account on Sunday, authorities also accused Shi of serious ethical violations, including maintaining long-term relationships with multiple women and fathering at least one child—acts considered to breach Buddhist monastic codes. The statement added that a joint investigation is being conducted by multiple government departments, and the findings will be made public in due course.
Located in Henan province, the Shaolin Temple is internationally celebrated not only as a Buddhist monastery but also as the historic birthplace of kung fu. The temple has been immortalized in pop culture, especially through films such as the 1982 classic The Shaolin Temple. The allegations against Shi quickly became a trending topic across Chinese search engine Baidu and social media platform Weibo on Sunday night.
Shi Yongxin has faced similar accusations in the past. In 2015, he was dubbed the “CEO monk” by state news agency Xinhua, owing to his role in commercializing the temple’s activities, including kung fu shows and overseas ventures. He was also one of the first monks in China to earn an MBA, a move that sparked public debate over the commercialization of religious institutions.
Though earlier investigations reportedly cleared him of wrongdoing in 2016, the current probe marks a significant revival of scrutiny around his leadership.
Shi joined the Shaolin Temple in 1981 and became its abbot in 1999. Authorities have not yet provided a timeline for when the current investigation will conclude.
