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2d ago

China Revokes Shaolin Temple Abbot’s Ordination as Investigation Expands

State religious authorities revoked Shi Yongxin’s ordination certificate following allegations of fund misappropriation alongside breaches of Buddhist celibacy rules.

Buddhist abbot Shi Yongxin, a delegate of the National People's Congress (NPC), walks towards the Great Hall of the People for a plenary meeting of the NPC, China's parliament, in Beijing, China, March 4, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo
The abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin, speaking at the famous temple in Henan province, on November 8, 2009.
Multiple agencies investigating Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin for alleged misconduct
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Overview

  • The Buddhist Association of China stripped Shi Yongxin of his monk status after declaring his alleged actions had harmed the reputation of the Buddhist community.
  • Shi Yongxin is under a joint criminal investigation by multiple government departments for suspected embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.
  • Shaolin Temple has suspended its ticketing operations and taken its official booking platform offline pending the outcome of the inquiry.
  • Since becoming abbot in 1999, Shi transformed the 1,500-year-old monastery into a global cultural and commercial brand, earning the nickname “CEO monk.”
  • His past entanglements—including a 2015 probe that cleared him over similar allegations—have resurfaced under renewed scrutiny.