Overview

• The Buddhist Association of China formally removed Shi Yongxin from his position as abbot on July 28, citing “extreme misconduct.”
• Accusations include embezzlement of project funds and temple assets, as well as a lavish personal lifestyle marked by luxury vehicles.
• Investigators from multiple state authorities have launched a joint probe into the monastery’s finances as part of the widening inquiry.
• Shi is also accused of violating Buddhist precepts by maintaining relationships with multiple women and fathering at least one child.
• The case underscores tensions between religious authority and state oversight as Shaolin’s commercial expansion under Shi earned him the nickname “CEO monk.”